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 1022 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best special education schools.
Our analysis ranked Pennsylvania State University Main Campus the best school in the country for a degree in special education. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 special education students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in special education from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
A rank of #2 makes California State University Fullerton one of the top schools for special education. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 36 special education students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fullerton in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $79,384 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,525 to complete this degree.
Read more about the special education program at California State University Fullerton
Students looking for a strong special education program will find one at Fordham University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Fordham University graduates 82% of students within six years. There were roughly 76 special education students who graduated with this degree at Fordham University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Fordham University earn around $71,684 in the first couple years of their career. Fordham University graduates carry a median of $25,643 in student loans.
More information about a degree in special education from Fordham University
Students looking for a strong special education program will find one at California State University Long Beach, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. California State University Long Beach awarded about 36 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $77,631 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,671.
See the full special education program report for California State University Long Beach
University Of Washington Seattle Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in special education, ranking #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Seattle. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 21 special education degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Special Education graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $73,549 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,481.
See the full special education program report for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Johns Hopkins University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best special education schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Baltimore. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 special education degrees were awarded at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $68,814. Typical student debt for the program is $13,426.
Read more about the special education program at Johns Hopkins University
San Jose State University earned the #7 position for special education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. About 69% of students finish within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 42 special education degrees in the most recent data year.
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San Francisco State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best special education schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Francisco State University awarded about 46 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $69,592 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,024 to complete this degree.
Get the full special education details for San Francisco State University
California State University East Bay placed #9 among the best special education schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Hayward. About 48% of students finish within six years. About 43 special education degrees were awarded at California State University East Bay in the most recent year. Special Education graduates of California State University East Bay earn a median of $77,402 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,073 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in special education from California State University East Bay
Boston College earned the #10 position for special education this year. Set in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 23 special education degrees were awarded at Boston College in the most recent year. Graduates of the special education program make about $59,583 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,101 to complete this degree.
See the full special education program report for Boston College
Loyola Marymount University came in at #11 for special education this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. There were roughly 27 special education students who graduated with this degree at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Loyola Marymount University earn a median of $71,022 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,248 to complete this degree.
Read more about the special education program at Loyola Marymount University
Rutgers University New Brunswick earned the #12 position for special education this year. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 55 special education degrees were awarded at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $64,297. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates carry a median of $25,120 in student loans.
Read more about the special education program at Rutgers University New Brunswick
California State University Los Angeles landed the #13 spot for special education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. About 65 special education degrees were awarded at California State University Los Angeles in the most recent year. Special Education graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $83,983 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,430 to complete this degree.
Read more about the special education program at California State University Los Angeles
University Of Connecticut ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best special education schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Storrs. University Of Connecticut graduates 83% of students within six years. About 36 special education degrees were awarded at University Of Connecticut in the most recent year. Students who receive their special education degree from University Of Connecticut earn around $58,784 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Connecticut graduates carry a median of $23,637 in student loans.
Get the full special education details for University Of Connecticut
Yeshiva University came in at #15 for special education this year. Yeshiva University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 special education students who graduated with this degree at Yeshiva University in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Yeshiva University earn a median of $52,838 early in their careers. Yeshiva University graduates carry a median of $20,625 in student loans.
See the full special education program report for Yeshiva University
Towson University landed the #16 spot for special education this year. Located in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 173 special education students who graduated with this degree at Towson University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $64,822 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,750 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in special education from Towson University
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #17 for special education this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of College Park. University Of Maryland College Park graduates 89% of students within six years. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 17 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $67,390. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $20,836 in student loans.
Read more about the special education program at University Of Maryland College Park
Pace University New York earned the #18 position for special education this year. Located in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit university. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 110 special education degrees were awarded at Pace University New York in the most recent year. Graduates of the special education program make about $79,259 in their early career. Pace University New York graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in special education from Pace University New York
University Of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #19 spot for special education this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Paul. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. There were roughly 108 special education students who graduated with this degree at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Minnesota generally make around $58,812. Students borrow a median of $23,923 to complete this degree.
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George Mason University placed #20 among the best special education schools. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 270 special education degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Students who receive their special education degree from George Mason University earn around $61,996 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in special education from George Mason University
California State University San Bernardino came in at #21 for special education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Bernardino. California State University San Bernardino graduates 55% of students within six years. There were roughly 38 special education students who graduated with this degree at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $42,421 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,149.
More information about a degree in special education from California State University San Bernardino
California State University Northridge earned the #22 position for special education this year. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. California State University Northridge graduates 57% of students within six years. California State University Northridge awarded about 43 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $68,093 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,202 to complete this degree.
See the full special education program report for California State University Northridge
The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #23 spot for special education this year. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 22 special education students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $60,791 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,275.
Read more about the special education program at The University Of Texas At Austin
California State University Fresno landed the #24 spot for special education this year. California State University Fresno is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 special education degrees were awarded at California State University Fresno in the most recent year. Special Education graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of $71,787 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,598.
See the full special education program report for California State University Fresno
University Of Hawaii At Manoa placed #25 among the best special education schools. Located in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public university. University Of Hawaii At Manoa graduates 64% of students within six years. University Of Hawaii At Manoa awarded about 29 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from University Of Hawaii At Manoa earn around $71,255 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete this degree.
Get the full special education details for University Of Hawaii At Manoa
Rest of the Top 50 Special Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s special education ranking:
This ranking is produced 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 · 1022 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).
