Elementary Special Education programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 36 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for elementary special education students pursuing a degree.
Choosing a Great Elementary Special Education School
The school you choose for elementary special education can shape your career. That is why we built our Best Elementary Special Education Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Elementary Special Education Rankings by Degree Level
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Elementary Special Education Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
No school ranked higher than Fordham University this year for elementary special education. Located in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. Fordham University awarded about 14 elementary special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their elementary special education degree from Fordham University earn around $71,684 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,643.
Get the full elementary special education details for Fordham University
A rank of #2 makes Towson University one of the top schools for elementary special education. Set in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. Towson University awarded about 39 elementary special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the elementary special education program make about $59,077 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,750 to complete this degree.
See the full elementary special education program report for Towson University
Students looking for a strong elementary special education program will find one at Adelphi University, which ranked #3. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Garden City. About 67% of students finish within six years. Adelphi University awarded about 21 elementary special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their elementary special education degree from Adelphi University earn around $67,573 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,487.
Get the full elementary special education details for Adelphi University
Cuny Hunter College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in elementary special education, ranking #4. This very large public university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. Cuny Hunter College awarded about 109 elementary special education degrees in the most recent data year. Elementary Special Education graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $77,182 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,091.
Get the full elementary special education details for Cuny Hunter College
A rank of #5 makes St Johns University New York one of the top schools for elementary special education. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Queens. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 30 elementary special education students who graduated with this degree at St Johns University New York in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, elementary special education degree recipients from St Johns University New York generally make around $75,441. Students borrow a median of $25,521 to complete this degree.
See the full elementary special education program report for St Johns University New York
Syracuse University earned the #6 position for elementary special education this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Syracuse. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 24 elementary special education degrees were awarded at Syracuse University in the most recent year. Graduates of the elementary special education program make about $57,964 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full elementary special education details for Syracuse University
Marist College placed #7 among the best elementary special education schools. Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 39 elementary special education students who graduated with this degree at Marist College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, elementary special education degree recipients from Marist College generally make around $60,521. Typical student debt for the program is $25,962.
See the full elementary special education program report for Marist College
Cuny Queens College placed #8 among the best elementary special education schools. Located in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a large public university. About 53% of students finish within six years. About 21 elementary special education degrees were awarded at Cuny Queens College in the most recent year. Graduates of the elementary special education program make about $74,496 in their early career. Cuny Queens College graduates carry a median of $12,157 in student loans.
More information about a degree in elementary special education from Cuny Queens College
Touro College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best elementary special education schools. Touro College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Touro College graduates 76% of students within six years. About 329 elementary special education degrees were awarded at Touro College in the most recent year. Graduates of the elementary special education program make about $66,800 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,285.
Get the full elementary special education details for Touro College
University Of Wyoming landed the #10 spot for elementary special education this year. Located in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a large public university. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 elementary special education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wyoming in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, elementary special education degree recipients from University Of Wyoming generally make around $49,890. Students borrow a median of $20,283 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in elementary special education from University Of Wyoming
Cuny City College came in at #11 for elementary special education this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public university. Cuny City College graduates 57% of students within six years. There were roughly 62 elementary special education students who graduated with this degree at Cuny City College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their elementary special education degree from Cuny City College earn around $76,836 in the first couple years of their career. Cuny City College graduates carry a median of $13,389 in student loans.
See the full elementary special education program report for Cuny City College
Suny College At Cortland earned the #12 position for elementary special education this year. Suny College At Cortland is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Cortland. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 92 elementary special education degrees were awarded at Suny College At Cortland in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, elementary special education degree recipients from Suny College At Cortland generally make around $55,507. Typical student debt for the program is $25,369.
Read more about the elementary special education program at Suny College At Cortland
Merrimack College earned the #13 position for elementary special education this year. Set in the suburb of North Andover, Merrimack College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Merrimack College graduates 70% of students within six years. About 51 elementary special education degrees were awarded at Merrimack College in the most recent year. Graduates of the elementary special education program make about $50,506 in their early career. Merrimack College graduates carry a median of $26,913 in student loans.
Get the full elementary special education details for Merrimack College
Cuny Lehman College placed #14 among the best elementary special education schools. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public university. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 elementary special education students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Lehman College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the elementary special education program make about $79,551 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,213 to complete this degree.
Get the full elementary special education details for Cuny Lehman College
Messiah College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best elementary special education schools. Located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg, Messiah College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 elementary special education degrees were awarded at Messiah College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, elementary special education degree recipients from Messiah College generally make around $48,957. Messiah College graduates carry a median of $26,195 in student loans.
Get the full elementary special education details for Messiah College
Alma College earned the #16 position for elementary special education this year. Located in the town of Alma, Alma College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 38 elementary special education students who graduated with this degree at Alma College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, elementary special education degree recipients from Alma College generally make around $42,740. Alma College graduates carry a median of $27,248 in student loans.
Get the full elementary special education details for Alma College
Marietta College came in at #17 for elementary special education this year. Marietta College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Marietta. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 elementary special education degrees were awarded at Marietta College in the most recent year. Graduates of the elementary special education program make about $79,641 in their early career. Marietta College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full elementary special education program report for Marietta College
Molloy College came in at #18 for elementary special education this year. Molloy College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rockville Centre. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 15 elementary special education degrees were awarded at Molloy College in the most recent year. Students who receive their elementary special education degree from Molloy College earn around $53,653 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,420 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in elementary special education from Molloy College
Manhattanville College came in at #19 for elementary special education this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Purchase. Manhattanville College graduates 58% of students within six years. About 36 elementary special education degrees were awarded at Manhattanville College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, elementary special education degree recipients from Manhattanville College generally make around $67,476. Manhattanville College graduates carry a median of $25,372 in student loans.
More information about a degree in elementary special education from Manhattanville College
Ball State University placed #20 among the best elementary special education schools. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. About 62% of students finish within six years. About 17 elementary special education degrees were awarded at Ball State University in the most recent year. Elementary Special Education graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $54,096 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
More information about a degree in elementary special education from Ball State University
Cuny College Of Staten Island placed #21 among the best elementary special education schools. Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public school located in the city of Staten Island. About 46% of students finish within six years. Cuny College Of Staten Island awarded about 45 elementary special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, elementary special education degree recipients from Cuny College Of Staten Island generally make around $75,212. Cuny College Of Staten Island graduates carry a median of $14,688 in student loans.
Read more about the elementary special education program at Cuny College Of Staten Island
Glendale Community College Glendale Az earned the #22 position for elementary special education this year. Located in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public university. About 12 elementary special education degrees were awarded at Glendale Community College Glendale Az in the most recent year. Elementary Special Education graduates of Glendale Community College Glendale Az earn a median of $51,483 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,996.
More information about a degree in elementary special education from Glendale Community College Glendale Az
Buena Vista University placed #23 among the best elementary special education schools. Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Storm Lake. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. About 21 elementary special education degrees were awarded at Buena Vista University in the most recent year. Elementary Special Education graduates of Buena Vista University earn a median of $44,780 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $29,317 to complete this degree.
Read more about the elementary special education program at Buena Vista University
Ohio Wesleyan University came in at #24 for elementary special education this year. Set in the suburb of Delaware, Ohio Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. About 13 elementary special education degrees were awarded at Ohio Wesleyan University in the most recent year. Elementary Special Education graduates of Ohio Wesleyan University earn a median of $31,531 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,868 to complete this degree.
See the full elementary special education program report for Ohio Wesleyan University
Niagara University came in at #25 for elementary special education this year. Set in the suburb of Niagara University, Niagara University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Niagara University graduates 74% of students within six years. There were roughly 191 elementary special education students who graduated with this degree at Niagara University in the most recent data year. Elementary Special Education graduates of Niagara University earn a median of $53,815 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
Get the full elementary special education details for Niagara University
Rest of the Top 36 Elementary Special Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s elementary special education ranking:
Elementary Special Education Related Rankings by Major
Elementary Special Education is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 36 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).
