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.
College Factual analyzed 163 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best special education schools.
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Best Schools for Special Education in the Great Lakes Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the special education degrees they offer, see the list below.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign tops our 2026 ranking of the best special education schools. 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 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $57,086 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,925.
Get the full special education details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Students looking for a strong 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. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 special education students who graduated with this degree at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent data year. Students who receive their 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.
More information about a degree in special education from Loyola University Chicago
Indiana University Bloomington is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in special education, ranking #3. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. Indiana University Bloomington graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 61 special education students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Indiana University Bloomington earn around $51,306 in the first couple years of their career. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
See the full special education program report for Indiana University Bloomington
A rank of #4 makes Illinois State University one of the top schools for special education. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. There were roughly 263 special education students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Illinois State University earn around $52,626 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,436.
See the full special education program report for Illinois State University
A rank of #5 makes Viterbo University one of the top schools for special education. Set in the city of La Crosse, Viterbo University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Viterbo University awarded about 29 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Viterbo University earn around $60,309 in the first couple years of their career. Viterbo University graduates carry a median of $29,107 in student loans.
See the full special education program report for Viterbo University
Depaul University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best special education schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 48 special education degrees were awarded at Depaul University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $67,561. Students borrow a median of $25,310 to complete this degree.
Read more about the special education program at Depaul University
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best special education schools. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. University Of Wisconsin Madison awarded about 45 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $50,174 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,863.
See the full special education program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison
Purdue University Main Campus earned the #8 position for special education this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. About 15 special education degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Special Education graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $48,773 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,276 to complete this degree.
See the full special education program report for Purdue University Main Campus
Olivet Nazarene University came in at #9 for special education this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Bourbonnais. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 45 special education degrees were awarded at Olivet Nazarene University in the most recent year. Graduates of the special education program make about $68,371 in their early career. Olivet Nazarene University graduates carry a median of $26,797 in student loans.
See the full special education program report for Olivet Nazarene University
University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #10 for special education this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 34 special education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $73,322 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,115.
Get the full special education details for University Of Illinois At Chicago
University Of Dayton came in at #11 for special education this year. University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dayton. University Of Dayton graduates 80% of students within six years. About 30 special education degrees were awarded at University Of Dayton in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from University Of Dayton generally make around $45,260. Typical student debt for the program is $20,612.
More information about a degree in special education from University Of Dayton
Northern Illinois University landed the #12 spot for special education this year. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 112 special education students who graduated with this degree at Northern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $53,426 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,452 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in special education from Northern Illinois University
Trine University landed the #13 spot for special education this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Angola. Trine University graduates 64% of students within six years. About 19 special education degrees were awarded at Trine University in the most recent year. Graduates of the special education program make about $54,881 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,765 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in special education from Trine University
Concordia University Chicago placed #14 among the best special education schools. Set in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Concordia University Chicago graduates 36% of students within six years. Concordia University Chicago awarded about 40 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $64,673 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,956 to complete this degree.
Read more about the special education program at Concordia University Chicago
Northeastern Illinois University earned the #15 position for special education this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 22%. Northeastern Illinois University awarded about 58 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Northeastern Illinois University generally make around $69,073. Northeastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $17,600 in student loans.
See the full special education program report for Northeastern Illinois University
Michigan State University landed the #16 spot for special education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of East Lansing. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. About 76 special education degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the special education program make about $57,308 in their early career. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $26,375 in student loans.
Read more about the special education program at Michigan State University
Marietta College earned the #17 position for special education this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Marietta. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. There were roughly 14 special education students who graduated with this degree at Marietta College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Marietta College generally make around $79,641. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the special education program at Marietta College
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best special education schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 21 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $45,213 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,899 to complete this degree.
Get the full special education details for Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best special education schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 126 special education degrees were awarded at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the special education program make about $51,104 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,742.
More information about a degree in special education from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Aurora University came in at #20 for special education this year. Set in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 12 special education degrees were awarded at Aurora University in the most recent year. Special Education graduates of Aurora University earn a median of $56,992 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,507.
Get the full special education details for Aurora University
Hope College landed the #21 spot for special education this year. Set in the city of Holland, Hope College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. Hope College awarded about 18 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $48,630 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,334 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in special education from Hope College
Ball State University placed #22 among the best special education schools. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 1,723 special education degrees were awarded at Ball State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Ball State University generally make around $54,096. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
Get the full special education details for Ball State University
Carroll University landed the #23 spot for special education this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Waukesha. About 71% of students finish within six years. Carroll University awarded about 24 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Carroll University generally make around $46,661. Carroll University graduates carry a median of $26,904 in student loans.
Read more about the special education program at Carroll University
University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne earned the #24 position for special education this year. 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. About 28 special education degrees were awarded at University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne in the most recent year. Graduates of the special education program make about $57,192 in their early career. University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne graduates carry a median of $27,520 in student loans.
More information about a degree in special education from University Of Saint Francis Fort Wayne
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global earned the #25 position for special education this year. Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Marion. About 97 special education degrees were awarded at Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global in the most recent year. Graduates of the special education program make about $53,752 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $32,807.
Get the full special education details for Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global
Rest of the Top 50 Special Education Schools
These schools also placed among the best for special education this year:
This list is compiled 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 · 163 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).
