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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Special Education Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region

15 Colleges in the United States
1,575 Special Education Degrees Awarded
$49,915 Avg Early-Career Salary

Special Education is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their special education programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 32 schools to find the best for special education students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Special Education in the Rocky Mountains 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.

Top Schools in Special Education

1
University Of Utah crest
University Of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT

Leading the list is University Of Utah, our #1 school for special education. This very large public university is located in the city of Salt Lake City. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. University Of Utah awarded about 66 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from University Of Utah generally make around $65,971. Students borrow a median of $20,798 to complete this degree. Read more about the special education program at University Of Utah

2

A rank of #2 makes University Of Wyoming one of the top schools for special education. Set in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a large public institution. About 59% of students finish within six years. About 12 special education degrees were awarded at University Of Wyoming in the most recent year. Special Education graduates of University Of Wyoming earn a median of $49,890 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,283. See the full special education program report for University Of Wyoming

3

Students looking for a strong special education program will find one at Utah State University, which ranked #3. Utah State University is a very large public school located in the city of Logan. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 78 special education students who graduated with this degree at Utah State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $61,474 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,125. Read more about the special education program at Utah State University

4

Utah Valley University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in special education, ranking #4. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. Utah Valley University graduates 40% of students within six years. There were roughly 23 special education students who graduated with this degree at Utah Valley University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Utah Valley University earn around $50,647 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,478. More information about a degree in special education from Utah Valley University

5

A rank of #5 makes Brigham Young University Provo one of the top schools for special education. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 40 special education degrees were awarded at Brigham Young University Provo in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $50,331. Typical student debt for the program is $12,184. See the full special education program report for Brigham Young University Provo

6

Weber State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best special education schools. Weber State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ogden. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 18 special education students who graduated with this degree at Weber State University in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Weber State University earn a median of $53,920 early in their careers. Weber State University graduates carry a median of $19,176 in student loans. Get the full special education details for Weber State University

7
Regis University crest
Regis University
Denver, CO

Regis University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best special education schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Denver. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. Regis University awarded about 13 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Regis University earn a median of $72,028 early in their careers. Regis University graduates carry a median of $31,773 in student loans. Read more about the special education program at Regis University

8
Western Governors University crest
Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, UT

Western Governors University came in at #8 for special education this year. Located in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Western Governors University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 46% of students finish within six years. Western Governors University awarded about 898 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Western Governors University earn around $51,380 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,158. See the full special education program report for Western Governors University

9

The University Of Montana Western earned the #9 position for special education this year. Located in the town of Dillon, The University Of Montana Western is a small public university. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 special education students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Montana Western in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from The University Of Montana Western earn around $36,924 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of Montana Western graduates carry a median of $22,484 in student loans. More information about a degree in special education from The University Of Montana Western

10

University Of Northern Colorado placed #10 among the best special education schools. Located in the city of Greeley, University Of Northern Colorado is a large public university. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 158 special education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Northern Colorado in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of University Of Northern Colorado earn a median of $49,499 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,564 to complete this degree. Read more about the special education program at University Of Northern Colorado

11

University Of Colorado Denver placed #11 among the best special education schools. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public university. University Of Colorado Denver graduates 46% of students within six years. There were roughly 19 special education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Colorado Denver in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from University Of Colorado Denver generally make around $66,022. Students borrow a median of $26,582 to complete this degree. See the full special education program report for University Of Colorado Denver

12

Boise State University came in at #12 for special education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Boise. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. About 77 special education degrees were awarded at Boise State University in the most recent year. Special Education graduates of Boise State University earn a median of $46,171 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,675. Read more about the special education program at Boise State University

13

Brigham Young University Idaho ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best special education schools. Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Rexburg. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 special education students who graduated with this degree at Brigham Young University Idaho in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Brigham Young University Idaho generally make around $43,252. Brigham Young University Idaho graduates carry a median of $13,287 in student loans. See the full special education program report for Brigham Young University Idaho

14

Metropolitan State College Of Denver earned the #14 position for special education this year. Set in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a very large public institution. Metropolitan State College Of Denver graduates 31% of students within six years. Metropolitan State College Of Denver awarded about 14 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Metropolitan State College Of Denver earn around $39,638 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,027. Read more about the special education program at Metropolitan State College Of Denver

15
Fort Lewis College crest
Fort Lewis College
Durango, CO

Fort Lewis College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best special education schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Durango. Fort Lewis College graduates 36% of students within six years. About 10 special education degrees were awarded at Fort Lewis College in the most recent year. Graduates of the special education program make about $30,676 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,888 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in special education from Fort Lewis College

16

University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs placed #16 among the best special education schools. This large public university is located in the city of Colorado Springs. About 47% of students finish within six years. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs awarded about 33 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $52,083 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,559 to complete this degree. Read more about the special education program at University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs

17

Idaho State University placed #17 among the best special education schools. Idaho State University is a large public school located in the city of Pocatello. Roughly 35% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 special education degrees were awarded at Idaho State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the special education program make about $51,446 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,640. Read more about the special education program at Idaho State University

18

Western State College Of Colorado earned the #18 position for special education this year. Western State College Of Colorado is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Gunnison. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 special education degrees were awarded at Western State College Of Colorado in the most recent year. Graduates of the special education program make about $36,712 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,455. Read more about the special education program at Western State College Of Colorado

19

Colorado Christian University landed the #19 spot for special education this year. Set in the suburb of Lakewood, Colorado Christian University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. Colorado Christian University awarded about 36 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Colorado Christian University earn a median of $41,475 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $36,092 to complete this degree. Read more about the special education program at Colorado Christian University

20

Montana State University Billings earned the #20 position for special education this year. Montana State University Billings is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Billings. Montana State University Billings graduates 34% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 special education students who graduated with this degree at Montana State University Billings in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $48,764 in their early career. Montana State University Billings graduates carry a median of $25,465 in student loans. More information about a degree in special education from Montana State University Billings

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Notes and References

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 · 32 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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