General Special Education is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general special education programs.
College Factual analyzed 127 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best general special education schools.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in general special education. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 50 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,086. Typical student debt for the program is $18,925.
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Loyola University Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general special education, landing the #2 spot this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 75% of students finish 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. Typical student debt for the program is $23,521.
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Indiana University Bloomington came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best general special education schools. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 39 general special education degrees were awarded at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent year. General Special Education graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $51,306 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #4 makes Illinois State University one of the top schools for general special education. 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. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $52,626. Students borrow a median of $20,436 to complete this degree.
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Viterbo University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general special education, ranking #5. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of La Crosse. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 28 general special education degrees were awarded at Viterbo University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $60,309 in their early career. Viterbo University graduates carry a median of $29,107 in student loans.
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Depaul University placed #6 among the best general special education schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 48 general special education students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. General Special Education graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $67,561 early in their careers. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $25,310 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best general special education schools. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. About 90% of students finish within six years. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 45 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $50,174 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,863.
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Olivet Nazarene University came in at #8 for general special education this year. Located in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. There were roughly 45 general special education students who graduated with this degree at Olivet Nazarene University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $68,371 in their early career. Olivet Nazarene University graduates carry a median of $26,797 in student loans.
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University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #9 for general special education this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates 62% of students within six years. About 34 general special education degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their general special education degree from University Of Illinois At Chicago earn around $73,322 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,115.
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University Of Dayton placed #10 among the best general special education schools. Set in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Dayton awarded about 18 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $45,260 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,612 to complete this degree.
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Northern Illinois University came in at #11 for general special education this year. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Northern Illinois University graduates 49% of students within six years. About 112 general special education degrees were awarded at Northern Illinois University in the most recent year. General Special Education graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $53,426 early in their careers. Northern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $21,452 in student loans.
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Trine University placed #12 among the best general special education schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Angola. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 19 general special education degrees were awarded at Trine University in the most recent year. General Special Education graduates of Trine University earn a median of $54,881 early in their careers. Trine University graduates carry a median of $25,765 in student loans.
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Concordia University Chicago placed #13 among the best general special education schools. Located in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 36% of students complete a degree within six years here. Concordia University Chicago awarded about 28 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. General Special Education graduates of Concordia University Chicago earn a median of $64,673 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,956 to complete this degree.
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Northeastern Illinois University placed #14 among the best general special education schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 22% of students finish within six years. About 58 general special education degrees were awarded at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent year. General Special Education graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of $69,073 early in their careers. Northeastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $17,600 in student loans.
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Michigan State University landed the #15 spot for general special education this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. There were roughly 29 general special education students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general special education degree from Michigan State University earn around $57,308 in the first couple years of their career. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $26,375 in student loans.
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Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #16 spot for general special education this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 general special education degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. General Special Education graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $45,213 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,899.
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University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #17 among the best general special education schools. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates 74% of students within six years. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 44 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $51,104 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,742.
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Ball State University earned the #18 position for general special education this year. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public university. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 425 general special education degrees were awarded at Ball State University in the most recent year. General Special Education graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $54,096 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best general special education schools. University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Wayne. University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne graduates 54% of students within six years. University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne awarded about 28 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $57,192 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,520.
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Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global earned the #20 position for general special education this year. Set in the rural area of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit institution. Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global awarded about 97 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $53,752 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $32,807 to complete this degree.
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National Louis University came in at #21 for general special education this year. National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. National Louis University graduates 30% of students within six years. There were roughly 97 general special education students who graduated with this degree at National Louis University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from National Louis University generally make around $57,644. National Louis University graduates carry a median of $29,242 in student loans.
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Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #22 spot for general special education this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 general special education students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general special education degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn around $44,429 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,875 to complete this degree.
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Lewis University landed the #23 spot for general special education this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Romeoville. Lewis University graduates 67% of students within six years. About 18 general special education degrees were awarded at Lewis University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $48,819 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire earned the #24 position for general special education this year. This large public university is located in the city of Eau Claire. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire awarded about 111 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $46,508 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Roosevelt University came in at #25 for general special education this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. There were roughly 16 general special education students who graduated with this degree at Roosevelt University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Roosevelt University generally make around $50,101. Typical student debt for the program is $23,879.
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Rest of the Top 50 General Special Education Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong general special education education:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 127 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).
