by our College Data Analytics Team
Special Education is taught at colleges nationwide, but only at some does it account for a large share of the degrees the school grants. This ranking identifies the schools most focused on special education — those where the major represents the largest percentage of degrees awarded.
To build this ranking, College Factual compared the degree focus of the 61 schools in the The Plains States Region offering special education.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools where special education makes up the largest share of degrees in the The Plains States Region.
Morningside College tops our list of the most focused special education schools. Morningside College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Sioux City. At this school, roughly 18% of all degrees awarded are in special education, or about 96 graduates in the most recent year. See more about special education at Morningside College
Northwestern College Iowa ranks #2 for special education by degree focus. Northwestern College Iowa is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Orange City. At this school, roughly 16% of all degrees awarded are in special education, or about 95 graduates in the most recent year. Get the full special education details for Northwestern College Iowa
Fontbonne University ranks #3 for special education by degree focus. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Fontbonne University is a private not-for-profit university. At this school, roughly 10% of all degrees awarded are in special education, or about 26 graduates in the most recent year. See more about special education at Fontbonne University
Minot State University is one of the most focused special education schools, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Minot, Minot State University is a public university. About 9% of the degrees Minot State University awards are in special education, or about 51 graduates in the most recent year. Get the full special education details for Minot State University
Buena Vista University is one of the most focused special education schools, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Storm Lake, Buena Vista University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 9% of the degrees Buena Vista University awards are in special education, or about 61 graduates in the most recent year. Get the full special education details for Buena Vista University
Augustana College South Dakota landed the #6 spot among the most focused special education schools. Set in the city of Sioux Falls, Augustana College South Dakota is a private not-for-profit institution. At this school, roughly 6% of all degrees awarded are in special education, or about 32 graduates in the most recent year. See more about special education at Augustana College South Dakota
Bethel University Minnesota comes in at #7 for special education focus this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a private not-for-profit university. At this school, roughly 5% of all degrees awarded are in special education, or about 51 graduates in the most recent year. Get the full special education details for Bethel University Minnesota
Chadron State College comes in at #8 for special education focus this year. Chadron State College is a public school located in the town of Chadron. About 5% of the degrees Chadron State College awards are in special education, or about 28 graduates in the most recent year. See more about special education at Chadron State College
Upper Iowa University placed #9 for special education by degree focus. Set in the rural area of Fayette, Upper Iowa University is a private not-for-profit institution. At this school, roughly 5% of all degrees awarded are in special education, or about 45 graduates in the most recent year. Get the full special education details for Upper Iowa University
Southwest Minnesota State University ranked #10 on our list of the most focused special education schools. Set in the town of Marshall, Southwest Minnesota State University is a public institution. At this school, roughly 5% of all degrees awarded are in special education, or about 27 graduates in the most recent year. Read the full special education report for Southwest Minnesota State University
Colby Community College comes in at #11 for special education focus this year. Colby Community College is a public school located in the town of Colby. About 4% of the degrees Colby Community College awards are in special education, or about 23 graduates in the most recent year. See more about special education at Colby Community College
University Of St Thomas Minnesota placed #12 for special education by degree focus. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. At this school, roughly 4% of all degrees awarded are in special education, or about 109 graduates in the most recent year. Read the full special education report for University Of St Thomas Minnesota
Drury University ranked #13 on our list of the most focused special education schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Drury University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 4% of the degrees Drury University awards are in special education, or about 17 graduates in the most recent year. See more about special education at Drury University
Bemidji State University comes in at #14 for special education focus this year. Located in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a public university. About 4% of the degrees Bemidji State University awards are in special education, or about 40 graduates in the most recent year. See more about special education at Bemidji State University
Fort Hays State University ranked #15 on our list of the most focused special education schools. Located in the town of Hays, Fort Hays State University is a public university. At this school, roughly 4% of all degrees awarded are in special education, or about 116 graduates in the most recent year. Get the full special education details for Fort Hays State University
University Of Nebraska At Omaha placed #16 for special education by degree focus. Located in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a public university. At this school, roughly 4% of all degrees awarded are in special education, or about 122 graduates in the most recent year. Get the full special education details for University Of Nebraska At Omaha
Saint Cloud State University placed #17 for special education by degree focus. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a public institution. Special Education accounts for around 3% of the degrees granted here, or about 69 graduates in the most recent year. Get the full special education details for Saint Cloud State University
Concordia University Seward landed the #18 spot among the most focused special education schools. Located in the town of Seward, Concordia University Seward is a private not-for-profit university. Special Education accounts for around 3% of the degrees granted here, or about 15 graduates in the most recent year. Get the full special education details for Concordia University Seward
University Of North Dakota placed #19 for special education by degree focus. Located in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a public university. At this school, roughly 3% of all degrees awarded are in special education, or about 102 graduates in the most recent year. Read the full special education report for University Of North Dakota
Emporia State University comes in at #20 for special education focus this year. Set in the town of Emporia, Emporia State University is a public institution. About 3% of the degrees Emporia State University awards are in special education, or about 50 graduates in the most recent year. See more about special education at Emporia State University
University Of Nebraska At Kearney landed the #21 spot among the most focused special education schools. University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a public school located in the town of Kearney. About 3% of the degrees University Of Nebraska At Kearney awards are in special education, or about 39 graduates in the most recent year. Read the full special education report for University Of Nebraska At Kearney
University Of Northern Iowa comes in at #22 for special education focus this year. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a public institution. About 3% of the degrees University Of Northern Iowa awards are in special education, or about 61 graduates in the most recent year. Read the full special education report for University Of Northern Iowa
Minnesota State University Mankato ranked #23 on our list of the most focused special education schools. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a public university. Special Education accounts for around 2% of the degrees granted here, or about 87 graduates in the most recent year. See more about special education at Minnesota State University Mankato
Wayne State College ranked #24 on our list of the most focused special education schools. Located in the town of Wayne, Wayne State College is a public university. At this school, roughly 2% of all degrees awarded are in special education, or about 22 graduates in the most recent year. Read the full special education report for Wayne State College
Dordt College ranked #25 on our list of the most focused special education schools. Set in the town of Sioux Center, Dordt College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 2% of the degrees Dordt College awards are in special education, or about 9 graduates in the most recent year. See more about special education at Dordt College
These schools are also among the most focused for special education this year:
Here are more schools with a notable focus on special education:
| Rank | School | Location | Special Education Degree Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| #51 | Hamline University | Saint Paul, MN | 0.6% |
| #52 | Washburn University | Topeka, KS | 0.5% |
| #53 | Webster University | Saint Louis, MO | 0.5% |
| #54 | Crowder College | Neosho, MO | 0.5% |
| #55 | University Of Minnesota Twin Cities | Minneapolis, MN | 0.5% |
| #56 | University Of South Dakota | Vermillion, SD | 0.4% |
| #57 | University Of Missouri Columbia | Columbia, MO | 0.4% |
| #58 | Kansas State University | Manhattan, KS | 0.2% |
| #59 | Capella University | Minneapolis, MN | 0.2% |
| #60 | University Of Iowa | Iowa City, IA | 0.1% |
| #61 | Walden University | Minneapolis, MN | 0.1% |
This list is compiled by College Factual. The ranking reflects how concentrated each school’s degrees are in the major (completions in the field as a share of all completions), drawn from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS).
More about our data sources and methodologies.