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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 197 schools to find the best for general special education students.
No school ranked higher than Florida State University this year for general special education. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 general special education students who graduated with this degree at Florida State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $51,884 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,709.
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George Mason University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general special education, ranking #2. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 285 general special education students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data 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. Typical student debt for the program is $23,529.
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James Madison University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general special education, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public university. James Madison University graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 24 general special education students who graduated with this degree at James Madison University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $56,055 in their early career. James Madison University graduates carry a median of $21,218 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong general special education program will find one at Vanderbilt University, which ranked #4. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. About 94% of students finish within six years. About 70 general special education degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $71,679. Typical student debt for the program is $13,975.
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Miami Dade College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general special education, ranking #5. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public university. About 38 general special education degrees were awarded at Miami Dade College in the most recent year. Students who receive their general special education degree from Miami Dade College earn around $53,935 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,671.
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University Of Florida landed the #6 spot for general special education this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 143 general special education degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Students who receive their general special education degree from University Of Florida earn around $51,147 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,669.
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University Of Georgia earned the #7 position for general special education this year. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. About 55 general special education degrees were awarded at University Of Georgia in the most recent year. General Special Education graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $54,506 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,250.
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Florida International University came in at #8 for general special education this year. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 57 general special education degrees were awarded at Florida International University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $49,081 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,031 to complete this degree.
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University Of Arkansas came in at #9 for general special education this year. Located in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public university. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 42 general special education degrees were awarded at University Of Arkansas in the most recent year. General Special Education graduates of University Of Arkansas earn a median of $43,718 early in their careers. University Of Arkansas graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
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Queens University Of Charlotte placed #10 among the best general special education schools. Set in the city of Charlotte, Queens University Of Charlotte is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. Queens University Of Charlotte awarded about 12 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general special education degree from Queens University Of Charlotte earn around $59,654 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,245 to complete this degree.
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Florida Gulf Coast University earned the #11 position for general special education this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Fort Myers. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 34 general special education students who graduated with this degree at Florida Gulf Coast University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Florida Gulf Coast University generally make around $46,866. Florida Gulf Coast University graduates carry a median of $22,931 in student loans.
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The University Of Alabama earned the #12 position for general special education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Tuscaloosa. About 73% of students finish within six years. The University Of Alabama awarded about 83 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. General Special Education graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $45,631 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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University Of North Florida came in at #13 for general special education this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public university. University Of North Florida graduates 65% of students within six years. About 27 general special education degrees were awarded at University Of North Florida in the most recent year. Students who receive their general special education degree from University Of North Florida earn around $51,534 in the first couple years of their career. University Of North Florida graduates carry a median of $13,509 in student loans.
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University Of Central Florida ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best general special education schools. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. University Of Central Florida awarded about 86 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. General Special Education graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $53,313 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,620.
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University Of North Carolina At Charlotte ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best general special education schools. Set in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte awarded about 52 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. General Special Education graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of $47,549 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,602.
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Clemson University earned the #16 position for general special education this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Clemson. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. There were roughly 59 general special education students who graduated with this degree at Clemson University in the most recent data year. General Special Education graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $53,834 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,783.
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Lynchburg College placed #17 among the best general special education schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Lynchburg. About 57% of students finish within six years. Lynchburg College awarded about 19 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Lynchburg College generally make around $107,159.
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Appalachian State University came in at #18 for general special education this year. Appalachian State University is a very large public school located in the town of Boone. About 74% of students finish within six years. About 18 general special education degrees were awarded at Appalachian State University in the most recent year. General Special Education graduates of Appalachian State University earn a median of $43,424 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Broward College came in at #19 for general special education this year. Located in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Broward College is a very large public university. There were roughly 51 general special education students who graduated with this degree at Broward College in the most recent data year. General Special Education graduates of Broward College earn a median of $49,262 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,110 to complete this degree.
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University Of Mississippi Main Campus earned the #20 position for general special education this year. Set in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Mississippi Main Campus graduates 72% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 general special education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Mississippi Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general special education degree from University Of Mississippi Main Campus earn around $50,876 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,444 to complete this degree.
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The University Of Tennessee ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best general special education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Knoxville. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 14 general special education students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee generally make around $49,826. Students borrow a median of $22,859 to complete this degree.
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East Carolina University came in at #22 for general special education this year. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 general special education degrees were awarded at East Carolina University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $47,309 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,416 to complete this degree.
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Georgia Gwinnett College placed #23 among the best general special education schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Lawrenceville. The six-year graduation rate is 22%. About 20 general special education degrees were awarded at Georgia Gwinnett College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Georgia Gwinnett College generally make around $55,992. Georgia Gwinnett College graduates carry a median of $21,280 in student loans.
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University Of West Georgia landed the #24 spot for general special education this year. University Of West Georgia is a large public school located in the town of Carrollton. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. There were roughly 159 general special education students who graduated with this degree at University Of West Georgia in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from University Of West Georgia generally make around $67,672. University Of West Georgia graduates carry a median of $26,789 in student loans.
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Georgia College And State University earned the #25 position for general special education this year. Located in the town of Milledgeville, Georgia College And State University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. There were roughly 62 general special education students who graduated with this degree at Georgia College And State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general special education degree from Georgia College And State University earn around $49,364 in the first couple years of their career. Georgia College And State University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 General Special Education Schools
These schools also placed among the best for general special education this year:
The ranking above is published 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 · 197 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).
