2026 Best Elementary Special Education Schools in the The Plains States Region

Elementary Special Education is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for elementary special education students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

• Best Elementary Special Education Schools in the The Plains States Region

Best Schools for Elementary Special Education in the The Plains States Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall elementary special education education in the The Plains States Region.

Top Schools in Elementary Special Education

1

University Of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA

61 Elementary Special Education Degrees Awarded

$60,588 Median Starting Salary

University Of Northern Iowa is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in elementary special education. This large public university is located in the city of Cedar Falls. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 61 elementary special education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Northern Iowa in the most recent data year. Graduates of the elementary special education program make about $60,588 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,635. More information about a degree in elementary special education from University Of Northern Iowa

2

Buena Vista University
Storm Lake, IA

Associate's Degree Highest Degree Type

21 Elementary Special Education Degrees Awarded

$44,780 Median Starting Salary

A rank of #2 makes Buena Vista University one of the top schools for elementary special education. Located in the town of Storm Lake, Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Buena Vista University graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 elementary special education students who graduated with this degree at Buena Vista University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the elementary special education program make about $44,780 in their early career. Buena Vista University graduates carry a median of $29,317 in student loans. Read more about the elementary special education program at Buena Vista University

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 5 schools evaluated.

• The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
• Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).

More about our data sources and methodologies.