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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best General Special Education Schools in Illinois

18 Colleges in the United States
874 General Special Education Degrees Awarded
$55,714 Avg Early-Career Salary

General 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 35 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general special education students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for General Special Education in Illinois

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general special education education in Illinois.

Top Schools in General Special Education

1

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign tops our 2026 ranking of the best general special education schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. About 50 general special education degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,086. Students borrow a median of $18,925 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general special education from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

2

Students looking for a strong general special education program will find one at Loyola University Chicago, which ranked #2. This large private not-for-profit university is 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. General Special Education graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Read more about the general special education program at Loyola University Chicago

3

A rank of #3 makes Illinois State University one of the top schools for general special education. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. About 64% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 225 general special education students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $52,626 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,436. More information about a degree in general special education from Illinois State University

4
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best general special education schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 68% of students finish within six years. Depaul University awarded about 48 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. General Special Education graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $67,561 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,310 to complete this degree. Get the full general special education details for Depaul University

5

Olivet Nazarene University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general special education, ranking #5. Located in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 45 general special education degrees were awarded at Olivet Nazarene University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $68,371 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,797. Read more about the general special education program at Olivet Nazarene University

6

University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #6 among the best general special education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Chicago. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates 62% of students within six years. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 34 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $73,322. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $20,115 in student loans. More information about a degree in general special education from University Of Illinois At Chicago

7

Northern Illinois University earned the #7 position for general special education this year. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. 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. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $53,426. Students borrow a median of $21,452 to complete this degree. Read more about the general special education program at Northern Illinois University

8

Concordia University Chicago came in at #8 for general special education this year. Located in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 36%. There were roughly 28 general special education students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University Chicago in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general special education degree from Concordia University Chicago earn around $64,673 in the first couple years of their career. Concordia University Chicago graduates carry a median of $26,956 in student loans. See the full general special education program report for Concordia University Chicago

9

Northeastern Illinois University landed the #9 spot for general special education this year. Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 22%. There were roughly 58 general special education students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. General Special Education graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of $69,073 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,600 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general special education from Northeastern Illinois University

10

National Louis University placed #10 among the best general special education schools. Located in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 30% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 97 general special education degrees were awarded at National Louis University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general special education degree from National Louis University earn around $57,644 in the first couple years of their career. National Louis University graduates carry a median of $29,242 in student loans. More information about a degree in general special education from National Louis University

11

Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned the #11 position for general special education this year. This large public university is located in the town of Carbondale. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Southern Illinois University Carbondale awarded about 22 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $44,429. Students borrow a median of $22,875 to complete this degree. See the full general special education program report for Southern Illinois University Carbondale

12
Lewis University crest
Lewis University
Romeoville, IL

Lewis University landed the #12 spot for general special education this year. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 18 general special education students who graduated with this degree at Lewis University in the most recent data year. General Special Education graduates of Lewis University earn a median of $48,819 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. See the full general special education program report for Lewis University

13

Roosevelt University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best general special education schools. Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. 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. Graduates of the general special education program make about $50,101 in their early career. Roosevelt University graduates carry a median of $23,879 in student loans. More information about a degree in general special education from Roosevelt University

14
Dominican University crest
Dominican University
River Forest, IL

Dominican University landed the #14 spot for general special education this year. Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. About 55% of students finish within six years. About 15 general special education degrees were awarded at Dominican University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $45,546 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,236 to complete this degree. Read more about the general special education program at Dominican University

15

Eastern Illinois University landed the #15 spot for general special education this year. Located in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public university. About 47% of students finish within six years. Eastern Illinois University awarded about 33 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University generally make around $43,955. Eastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $26,046 in student loans. Read more about the general special education program at Eastern Illinois University

16

Saint Xavier University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best general special education schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Saint Xavier University graduates 57% of students within six years. Saint Xavier University awarded about 25 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Saint Xavier University generally make around $54,613. Saint Xavier University graduates carry a median of $25,735 in student loans. See the full general special education program report for Saint Xavier University

17

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #17 for general special education this year. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville awarded about 18 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. General Special Education graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $44,205 early in their careers. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates carry a median of $19,850 in student loans. Get the full general special education details for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

18
Trinity Christian College crest
Trinity Christian College
Palos Heights, IL

Trinity Christian College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best general special education schools. Trinity Christian College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Palos Heights. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 general special education degrees were awarded at Trinity Christian College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general special education degree from Trinity Christian College earn around $48,840 in the first couple years of their career. Trinity Christian College graduates carry a median of $35,611 in student loans. Get the full general special education details for Trinity Christian College

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 35 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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