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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 183 schools to find the best for special education students.
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Best Schools for Special Education in the Middle Atlantic 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.
Leading the list is Pennsylvania State University Main Campus, our #1 school for special education. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 36 special education students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
Get the full special education details for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Fordham University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in special education, landing the #2 spot this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bronx. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. Fordham University awarded about 84 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $71,684 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,643.
Read more about the special education program at Fordham University
A rank of #3 makes Johns Hopkins University one of the top schools for special education. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Johns Hopkins University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 22 special education students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Johns Hopkins University earn a median of $68,814 early in their careers. Johns Hopkins University graduates carry a median of $13,426 in student loans.
More information about a degree in special education from Johns Hopkins University
Students looking for a strong special education program will find one at Towson University, which ranked #4. This very large public university is located in the city of Towson. About 70% of students finish within six years. Towson University awarded about 207 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Towson University earn a median of $59,077 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,750 to complete this degree.
Read more about the special education program at Towson University
A rank of #5 makes Adelphi University one of the top schools for special education. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Garden City. About 67% of students finish within six years. About 68 special education degrees were awarded at Adelphi University in the most recent year. Special Education graduates of Adelphi University earn a median of $67,573 early in their careers. Adelphi University graduates carry a median of $25,487 in student loans.
Read more about the special education program at Adelphi University
Rutgers University New Brunswick ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best special education schools. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 57 special education students who graduated with this degree at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $64,297 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,120 to complete this degree.
Get the full special education details for Rutgers University New Brunswick
Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best special education schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bethlehem. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary awarded about 17 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $48,472 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,857 to complete this degree.
See the full special education program report for Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary
Yeshiva University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best special education schools. Set in the city of New York, Yeshiva University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 10 special education degrees were awarded at Yeshiva University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Yeshiva University generally make around $52,838. Yeshiva University graduates carry a median of $20,625 in student loans.
Get the full special education details for Yeshiva University
University Of Maryland College Park landed the #9 spot for special education this year. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 25 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.
More information about a degree in special education from University Of Maryland College Park
Pace University New York ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best special education schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 111 special education degrees were awarded at Pace University New York in the most recent year. Students who receive their special education degree from Pace University New York earn around $70,803 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the special education program at Pace University New York
The College Of New Jersey earned the #11 position for special education this year. Located in the suburb of Ewing, The College Of New Jersey is a moderately-sized public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. The College Of New Jersey awarded about 130 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from The College Of New Jersey earn around $64,759 in the first couple years of their career. The College Of New Jersey graduates carry a median of $25,228 in student loans.
Read more about the special education program at The College Of New Jersey
Marist College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best special education schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 32 special education students who graduated with this degree at Marist College in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Marist College earn a median of $60,521 early in their careers. Marist College graduates carry a median of $25,962 in student loans.
Read more about the special education program at Marist College
George Washington University earned the #13 position for special education this year. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 22 special education degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. Students who receive their special education degree from George Washington University earn around $68,902 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,910 to complete this degree.
Get the full special education details for George Washington University
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania placed #14 among the best special education schools. Located in the town of Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania graduates 56% of students within six years. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 89 special education degrees in the most recent data year.
Read more about the special education program at Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania
Seton Hall University placed #15 among the best special education schools. Set in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 18 special education degrees were awarded at Seton Hall University in the most recent year. Students who receive their special education degree from Seton Hall University earn around $61,598 in the first couple years of their career. Seton Hall University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
See the full special education program report for Seton Hall University
St Johns University New York ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best special education schools. Set in the city of Queens, St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 66% of students finish within six years. About 65 special education degrees were awarded at St Johns University New York in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from St Johns University New York generally make around $75,441. St Johns University New York graduates carry a median of $25,521 in student loans.
See the full special education program report for St Johns University New York
Rowan University earned the #17 position for special education this year. Set in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. Rowan University awarded about 135 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $66,244 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,488 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in special education from Rowan University
University Of Delaware came in at #18 for special education this year. University Of Delaware is a very large public school located in the suburb of Newark. University Of Delaware graduates 82% of students within six years. About 28 special education degrees were awarded at University Of Delaware in the most recent year. Graduates of the special education program make about $59,316 in their early career. University Of Delaware graduates carry a median of $24,861 in student loans.
Read more about the special education program at University Of Delaware
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania came in at #19 for special education this year. Located in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 60 special education students who graduated with this degree at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in special education from West Chester University Of Pennsylvania
Cuny Hunter College placed #20 among the best special education schools. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public university. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 338 special education students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Cuny Hunter College generally make around $77,182. Typical student debt for the program is $11,091.
Get the full special education details for Cuny Hunter College
Montclair State University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best special education schools. Located in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a very large public university. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 41 special education degrees were awarded at Montclair State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the special education program make about $69,017 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,286 to complete this degree.
See the full special education program report for Montclair State University
Temple University placed #22 among the best special education schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 50 special education degrees were awarded at Temple University in the most recent year. Special Education graduates of Temple University earn a median of $57,286 early in their careers. Temple University graduates carry a median of $26,259 in student loans.
Get the full special education details for Temple University
Cuny Queens College placed #23 among the best special education schools. Located in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a very large public university. Cuny Queens College graduates 53% of students within six years. There were roughly 77 special education students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Queens College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Cuny Queens College earn around $74,496 in the first couple years of their career. Cuny Queens College graduates carry a median of $12,157 in student loans.
Get the full special education details for Cuny Queens College
Cuny Brooklyn College landed the #24 spot for special education this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 259 special education degrees were awarded at Cuny Brooklyn College in the most recent year. Special Education graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $77,678 early in their careers. Cuny Brooklyn College graduates carry a median of $13,303 in student loans.
See the full special education program report for Cuny Brooklyn College
Pennsylvania State University World Campus ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best special education schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public university. Pennsylvania State University World Campus graduates 34% of students within six years. About 61 special education degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University World Campus in the most recent year.
Read more about the special education program at Pennsylvania State University World Campus
Rest of the Top 50 Special Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s special education ranking:
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 · 183 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).
