General Special Education degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 813 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general special education students pursuing a degree.
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Choosing a Great General Special Education School
Where you study general special education matters for your future. To help, we created our Best General Special Education Schools rankings. For our Best Overall General Special Education School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
General Special Education Rankings by Degree Level
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best General Special Education Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Leading the list is University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, our #1 school for general special education. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 50 general special education degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $57,086 in their early career. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $18,925 in student loans.
Get the full general special education details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general special education, landing the #2 spot this year. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 36 general special education degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
Get the full general special education details for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
California State University Fullerton is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general special education, ranking #3. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fullerton. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Fullerton awarded about 36 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general special education degree from California State University Fullerton earn around $79,384 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,525.
More information about a degree in general special education from California State University Fullerton
Loyola University Chicago came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best general special education schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 17 general special education students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general special education degree from Loyola University Chicago earn around $58,568 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general special education from Loyola University Chicago
Indiana University Bloomington is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general special education, landing the #5 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Bloomington. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. Indiana University Bloomington awarded about 39 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general special education degree from Indiana University Bloomington earn around $51,306 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
Get the full general special education details for Indiana University Bloomington
Florida State University earned the #6 position for general special education this year. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Florida State University awarded about 10 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $51,884. Students borrow a median of $22,709 to complete this degree.
Get the full general special education details for Florida State University
University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #7 among the best general special education schools. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. About 29 general special education degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. General Special Education graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $73,549 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,481.
Get the full general special education details for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
California State University Long Beach earned the #8 position for general special education this year. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 25 general special education degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $77,631 in their early career. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $15,671 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general special education from California State University Long Beach
San Jose State University earned the #9 position for general special education this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 42 general special education degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
More information about a degree in general special education from San Jose State University
San Francisco State University landed the #10 spot for general special education this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. There were roughly 46 general special education students who graduated with this degree at San Francisco State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $69,592 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,024 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general special education program at San Francisco State University
California State University East Bay earned the #11 position for general special education this year. California State University East Bay is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. California State University East Bay graduates 48% of students within six years. California State University East Bay awarded about 43 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from California State University East Bay generally make around $77,402. Typical student debt for the program is $18,073.
More information about a degree in general special education from California State University East Bay
Towson University placed #12 among the best general special education schools. Towson University is a very large public school located in the city of Towson. About 70% of students finish within six years. Towson University awarded about 72 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general special education degree from Towson University earn around $59,077 in the first couple years of their career. Towson University graduates carry a median of $19,750 in student loans.
Get the full general special education details for Towson University
Boston College earned the #13 position for general special education this year. Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Boston College awarded about 23 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $59,583 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,101 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general special education from Boston College
Loyola Marymount University earned the #14 position for general special education this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. Loyola Marymount University awarded about 27 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Loyola Marymount University generally make around $71,022. Loyola Marymount University graduates carry a median of $22,248 in student loans.
Read more about the general special education program at Loyola Marymount University
University Of Hawaii At Manoa landed the #15 spot for general special education this year. Set in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 84 general special education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Hawaii At Manoa in the most recent data year. General Special Education graduates of University Of Hawaii At Manoa earn a median of $66,637 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete this degree.
Get the full general special education details for University Of Hawaii At Manoa
Rutgers University New Brunswick landed the #16 spot for general special education this year. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 57 general special education students who graduated with this degree at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent data year. General Special Education graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $64,297 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,120.
More information about a degree in general special education from Rutgers University New Brunswick
Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best general special education schools. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 general special education students who graduated with this degree at Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general special education degree from Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary earn around $48,472 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,857.
Read more about the general special education program at Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary
University Of Connecticut came in at #18 for general special education this year. Located in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. University Of Connecticut awarded about 54 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. General Special Education graduates of University Of Connecticut earn a median of $58,784 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,637 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general special education from University Of Connecticut
Illinois State University earned the #19 position for general special education this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Normal. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Illinois State University awarded about 225 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general special education degree from Illinois State University earn around $52,626 in the first couple years of their career. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $20,436 in student loans.
Get the full general special education details for Illinois State University
California State University Los Angeles earned the #20 position for general special education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Los Angeles awarded about 66 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from California State University Los Angeles generally make around $83,983. California State University Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $14,430 in student loans.
Get the full general special education details for California State University Los Angeles
George Mason University came in at #21 for general special education this year. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 285 general special education degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general special education degree from George Mason University earn around $62,342 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general special education from George Mason University
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #22 for general special education this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 25 general special education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $67,390. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete this degree.
See the full general special education program report for University Of Maryland College Park
Pace University New York came in at #23 for general special education this year. Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. About 60% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 93 general special education students who graduated with this degree at Pace University New York in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Pace University New York generally make around $70,803. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full general special education details for Pace University New York
The College Of New Jersey came in at #24 for general special education this year. The College Of New Jersey is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Ewing. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. The College Of New Jersey awarded about 122 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $64,759 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,228.
Read more about the general special education program at The College Of New Jersey
California State University San Bernardino came in at #25 for general special education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Bernardino. About 55% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 38 general special education students who graduated with this degree at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $42,421 in their early career. California State University San Bernardino graduates carry a median of $15,149 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general special education from California State University San Bernardino
Rest of the Top 50 General Special Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general special education ranking:
General Special Education Related Rankings by Major
General Special Education is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 813 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).
