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Best Schools for Special Education in Illinois
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.
Top Schools in Special Education
No school ranked higher than University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign this year for special education. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 50 special education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign 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. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $18,925 in student loans.
Get the full special education details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Loyola University Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in special education, ranking #2. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 17 special education degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Special Education graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,521.
Get the full special education details for Loyola University Chicago
Illinois State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in special education, ranking #3. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. About 263 special education degrees were awarded at Illinois State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their special education degree from Illinois State University earn around $52,626 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,436 to complete this degree.
See the full special education program report for Illinois State University
A rank of #4 makes Depaul University one of the top schools for special education. 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 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $67,561 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,310.
More information about a degree in special education from Depaul University
Olivet Nazarene University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best special education schools. Set in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 45 special education students who graduated with this degree at Olivet Nazarene University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Olivet Nazarene University earn around $68,371 in the first couple years of their career. Olivet Nazarene University graduates carry a median of $26,797 in student loans.
Read more about the special education program at Olivet Nazarene University
University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #6 among the best special education schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. About 34 special education degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their special education degree from University Of Illinois At Chicago earn around $73,322 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,115.
See the full special education program report for University Of Illinois At Chicago
Northern Illinois University came in at #7 for special education this year. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. About 49% of students finish within six years. About 112 special education degrees were awarded at Northern Illinois University in the most recent year. Students who receive their special education degree from Northern Illinois University earn around $53,426 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,452.
Get the full special education details for Northern Illinois University
Concordia University Chicago placed #8 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. There were roughly 40 special education students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University Chicago in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Concordia University Chicago earn around $64,673 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,956 to complete this degree.
See the full special education program report for Concordia University Chicago
Northeastern Illinois University landed the #9 spot for special education this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 22% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 58 special education degrees were awarded at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent year. Students who receive their special education degree from Northeastern Illinois University earn around $69,073 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,600.
Read more about the special education program at Northeastern Illinois University
Aurora University landed the #10 spot for special education this year. Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 12 special education degrees were awarded at Aurora University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Aurora University generally make around $56,992. Students borrow a median of $24,507 to complete this degree.
Get the full special education details for Aurora University
National Louis University earned the #11 position for special education this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. National Louis University graduates 30% of students within six years. National Louis University awarded about 97 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from National Louis University generally make around $57,644. Students borrow a median of $29,242 to complete this degree.
Get the full special education details for National Louis University
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best special education schools. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduates 60% of students within six years. There were roughly 22 special education students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn around $44,429 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,875 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in special education from Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Lewis University placed #13 among the best special education schools. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. About 69 special education degrees were awarded at Lewis University in the most recent year. Students who receive their special education degree from Lewis University earn around $48,819 in the first couple years of their career. Lewis University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
See the full special education program report for Lewis University
Roosevelt University placed #14 among the best special education schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. Roosevelt University awarded about 25 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Roosevelt University earn a median of $50,101 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,879 to complete this degree.
See the full special education program report for Roosevelt University
Dominican University earned the #15 position for special education this year. Set in the suburb of River Forest, Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Dominican University graduates 55% of students within six years. About 15 special education degrees were awarded at Dominican University in the most recent year. Special Education graduates of Dominican University earn a median of $45,546 early in their careers. Dominican University graduates carry a median of $26,236 in student loans.
More information about a degree in special education from Dominican University
Eastern Illinois University landed the #16 spot for special education this year. Located in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. About 33 special education degrees were awarded at Eastern Illinois University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, 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.
Get the full special education details for Eastern Illinois University
Saint Xavier University came in at #17 for special education this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 25 special education students who graduated with this degree at Saint Xavier University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Saint Xavier University earn around $54,613 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,735 to complete this degree.
Get the full special education details for Saint Xavier University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #18 for special education this year. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 18 special education students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $44,205 in their early career. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates carry a median of $19,850 in student loans.
Get the full special education details for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Trinity Christian College placed #19 among the best special education schools. Located in the suburb of Palos Heights, Trinity Christian College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 special education degrees were awarded at Trinity Christian College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Trinity Christian College generally make around $48,840. Students borrow a median of $35,611 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in special education from Trinity Christian College
