by our College Data Analytics Team
Special Education draws students to programs nationwide, with many schools offering the program in a mostly-online format. To top this list, a school graduates more special education students than other online colleges offering the major.
To build this ranking, College Factual compared yearly graduations across the 52 schools in the United States offering special education.
What’s on this page:
Below are the most popular online special education schools at the bachelor’s degree level, ranked by yearly graduations.
Leading the list of the most popular special education schools is Western Governors University. Located in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Western Governors University is a private not-for-profit university. This school awarded about 604 special education degrees in the most recent year. Read the full special education report for Western Governors University
Illinois State University came in at #2 on our list of the most popular special education schools. Illinois State University is a public school located in the suburb of Normal. This school awarded about 194 special education degrees in the most recent year. See more about special education at Illinois State University
A rank of #3 makes Northern Arizona University one of the most popular schools for special education. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a public institution. Northern Arizona University graduated around 68 special education students in the most recent data year. Get the full special education details for Northern Arizona University
Arizona State University came in at #4 on our list of the most popular special education schools. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a public institution. This school awarded about 60 special education degrees in the most recent year. See more about special education at Arizona State University
Bridgewater State University ranks #5 for special education by yearly graduations. Located in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a public university. This school awarded about 45 special education degrees in the most recent year. Read the full special education report for Bridgewater State University
University Of Georgia ranked #6 on our list of the most popular special education schools. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a public institution. This school awarded about 34 special education degrees in the most recent year. Get the full special education details for University Of Georgia
Lewis University landed the #7 spot among the most popular special education schools. Located in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a private not-for-profit university. During the most recent year for which we have data, roughly 32 students earned a degree in special education from this school. Get the full special education details for Lewis University
Saint Mary Of The Woods College landed the #8 spot among the most popular special education schools. Set in the rural area of Saint Mary of the Woods, Saint Mary Of The Woods College is a private not-for-profit institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, roughly 29 students earned a degree in special education from this school. Get the full special education details for Saint Mary Of The Woods College
University Of Central Florida comes in at #9 for special education this year. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a public university. University Of Central Florida graduated around 29 special education students in the most recent data year. See more about special education at University Of Central Florida
University Of Rio Grande comes in at #10 for special education this year. Set in the rural area of Rio Grande, University Of Rio Grande is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Rio Grande graduated around 24 special education students in the most recent data year. See more about special education at University Of Rio Grande
Colorado Christian University landed the #11 spot among the most popular special education schools. Colorado Christian University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lakewood. Colorado Christian University graduated around 23 special education students in the most recent data year. Read the full special education report for Colorado Christian University
Murray State University placed #12 for special education by yearly graduations. Murray State University is a public school located in the town of Murray. During the most recent year for which we have data, roughly 23 students earned a degree in special education from this school. Read the full special education report for Murray State University
Granite State College comes in at #13 for special education this year. Granite State College is a public school located in the city of Manchester. During the most recent year for which we have data, roughly 21 students earned a degree in special education from this school. See more about special education at Granite State College
Eastern Illinois University landed the #14 spot among the most popular special education schools. Eastern Illinois University is a public school located in the town of Charleston. Eastern Illinois University graduated around 20 special education students in the most recent data year. Get the full special education details for Eastern Illinois University
Georgia Gwinnett College placed #15 for special education by yearly graduations. Georgia Gwinnett College is a public school located in the suburb of Lawrenceville. Georgia Gwinnett College graduated around 20 special education students in the most recent data year. Get the full special education details for Georgia Gwinnett College
Morehead State University landed the #16 spot among the most popular special education schools. Located in the town of Morehead, Morehead State University is a public university. Morehead State University graduated around 19 special education students in the most recent data year. Read the full special education report for Morehead State University
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities landed the #17 spot among the most popular special education schools. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public school located in the city of Minneapolis. This school awarded about 16 special education degrees in the most recent year. See more about special education at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Western Michigan University landed the #18 spot among the most popular special education schools. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a public university. Western Michigan University graduated around 16 special education students in the most recent data year. Read the full special education report for Western Michigan University
College Of Charleston ranked #19 on our list of the most popular special education schools. Set in the city of Charleston, College Of Charleston is a public institution. College Of Charleston graduated around 14 special education students in the most recent data year. See more about special education at College Of Charleston
Eastern Kentucky University landed the #20 spot among the most popular special education schools. Located in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a public university. During the most recent year for which we have data, roughly 14 students earned a degree in special education from this school. Get the full special education details for Eastern Kentucky University
Chaminade University Of Honolulu ranked #21 on our list of the most popular special education schools. Chaminade University Of Honolulu is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Honolulu. Chaminade University Of Honolulu graduated around 12 special education students in the most recent data year. See more about special education at Chaminade University Of Honolulu
University Of West Alabama comes in at #22 for special education this year. Set in the rural area of Livingston, University Of West Alabama is a public institution. This school awarded about 12 special education degrees in the most recent year. Get the full special education details for University Of West Alabama
Bethel University Minnesota ranked #23 on our list of the most popular special education schools. Located in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a private not-for-profit university. During the most recent year for which we have data, roughly 11 students earned a degree in special education from this school. Read the full special education report for Bethel University Minnesota
Buena Vista University placed #24 for special education by yearly graduations. Set in the town of Storm Lake, Buena Vista University is a private not-for-profit institution. Buena Vista University graduated around 11 special education students in the most recent data year. See more about special education at Buena Vista University
Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies comes in at #25 for special education this year. Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Fayette. During the most recent year for which we have data, roughly 11 students earned a degree in special education from this school. Read the full special education report for Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s most popular special education list:
Here are more schools that award special education degrees:
| Rank | School | Location | Special Education Graduations |
|---|---|---|---|
| #51 | Seminole State College Of Florida | Sanford, FL | 1 |
| #52 | St Andrews Presbyterian College | Laurinburg, NC | 1 |
Explore the most popular online special education schools at other degree levels:
This list is compiled by College Factual. The ranking reflects yearly graduations in the major, drawn from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS). Only schools offering the program in a mostly-online format are included in this online ranking.
More about our data sources and methodologies.