Best Schools for Elementary Special Education in the United States
See the highest-ranked elementary special education schools offering a master’s degree below.
Top Schools in Elementary Special Education
Leading the list is Fordham University, our #1 school for elementary special education. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 82% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 elementary special education students who graduated with this degree at Fordham University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, elementary special education degree recipients from Fordham University generally make around $71,684. Fordham University graduates carry a median of $25,643 in student loans.
More information about a degree in elementary special education from Fordham University
Towson University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best elementary special education schools. Towson University is a very large public school located in the city of Towson. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 69 elementary special education degrees were awarded at Towson University in the most recent year. Students who receive their elementary special education degree from Towson University earn around $64,822 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,750.
Read more about the elementary special education program at Towson University
St Johns University New York is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in elementary special education, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Queens, St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 66% of students finish within six years. About 47 elementary special education degrees were awarded at St Johns University New York in the most recent year. Elementary Special Education graduates of St Johns University New York earn a median of $75,441 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,521 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in elementary special education from St Johns University New York
Adelphi University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best elementary special education schools. Adelphi University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Garden City. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. Adelphi University awarded about 12 elementary special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the elementary special education program make about $67,573 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,487.
Read more about the elementary special education program at Adelphi University
A rank of #5 makes Cuny Hunter College one of the top schools for elementary special education. 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. About 154 elementary special education degrees were awarded at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent year. Graduates of the elementary special education program make about $77,182 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,091 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Queens College placed #6 among the best elementary special education schools. Cuny Queens College is a very large public school located in the city of Queens. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 23 elementary special education students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Queens College in the most recent data year. Elementary Special Education graduates of Cuny Queens College earn a median of $74,496 early in their careers. Cuny Queens College graduates carry a median of $12,157 in student loans.
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Cuny City College placed #7 among the best elementary special education schools. This large public university is located in the city of New York. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 73 elementary special education students who graduated with this degree at Cuny City College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, elementary special education degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $76,836. Cuny City College graduates carry a median of $13,389 in student loans.
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Cuny Brooklyn College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best elementary special education schools. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public university. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 55 elementary special education students who graduated with this degree at Cuny Brooklyn College in the most recent data year. Elementary Special Education graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $77,678 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,303.
See the full elementary special education program report for Cuny Brooklyn College
Hofstra University came in at #9 for elementary special education this year. Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hempstead. About 68% of students finish within six years. Hofstra University awarded about 12 elementary special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the elementary special education program make about $76,264 in their early career. Hofstra University graduates carry a median of $24,848 in student loans.
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Touro College ranked #10 on our 2026 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. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. Touro College awarded about 333 elementary special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, elementary special education degree recipients from Touro College generally make around $66,800. Touro College graduates carry a median of $20,285 in student loans.
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Merrimack College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best elementary special education schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of North Andover. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. Merrimack College awarded about 55 elementary special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the elementary special education program make about $50,506 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,913.
More information about a degree in elementary special education from Merrimack College
Cuny Lehman College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best elementary special education schools. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public university. Cuny Lehman College graduates 51% of students within six years. About 22 elementary special education degrees were awarded at Cuny Lehman College in the most recent year. Students who receive their elementary special education degree from Cuny Lehman College earn around $75,783 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,213.
More information about a degree in elementary special education from Cuny Lehman College
Ball State University earned the #13 position for elementary special education this year. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public university. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. Ball State University awarded about 31 elementary special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their elementary special education degree from Ball State University earn around $58,958 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
See the full elementary special education program report for Ball State University
Manhattanville College placed #14 among the best elementary special education schools. Set in the suburb of Purchase, Manhattanville College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 40 elementary special education degrees were awarded at Manhattanville College in the most recent year. Elementary Special Education graduates of Manhattanville College earn a median of $67,476 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,372 to complete this degree.
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Buena Vista University came in at #15 for elementary special education this year. Set in the town of Storm Lake, Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Buena Vista University graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 elementary special education students who graduated with this degree at Buena Vista University in the most recent data year. Elementary Special Education graduates of Buena Vista University earn a median of $44,780 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $29,317.
See the full elementary special education program report for Buena Vista University
Molloy College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best elementary special education schools. Set in the suburb of Rockville Centre, Molloy College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Molloy College graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 elementary special education students who graduated with this degree at Molloy College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, elementary special education degree recipients from Molloy College generally make around $53,653. Typical student debt for the program is $27,420.
More information about a degree in elementary special education from Molloy College
Suny College At Cortland ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best elementary special education schools. Located in the town of Cortland, Suny College At Cortland is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 10 elementary special education students who graduated with this degree at Suny College At Cortland in the most recent data year. Elementary Special Education graduates of Suny College At Cortland earn a median of $55,507 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,369 to complete this degree.
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Suny College At Old Westbury placed #18 among the best elementary special education schools. Set in the suburb of Old Westbury, Suny College At Old Westbury is a moderately-sized public institution. About 45% of students finish within six years. Suny College At Old Westbury awarded about 23 elementary special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their elementary special education degree from Suny College At Old Westbury earn around $38,978 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,145.
Read more about the elementary special education program at Suny College At Old Westbury
Cuny College Of Staten Island ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best elementary special education schools. Set in the city of Staten Island, Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public institution. Cuny College Of Staten Island graduates 46% of students within six years. About 32 elementary special education degrees were awarded at Cuny College Of Staten Island in the most recent 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.
More information about a degree in elementary special education from Cuny College Of Staten Island
Niagara University landed the #20 spot for elementary special education this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Niagara University. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. Niagara University awarded about 172 elementary special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their elementary special education degree from Niagara University earn around $53,815 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
See the full elementary special education program report for Niagara University
Suny College At Plattsburgh landed the #21 spot for elementary special education this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Plattsburgh. Suny College At Plattsburgh graduates 58% of students within six years. Suny College At Plattsburgh awarded about 57 elementary special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, elementary special education degree recipients from Suny College At Plattsburgh generally make around $56,109. Typical student debt for the program is $24,217.
More information about a degree in elementary special education from Suny College At Plattsburgh
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #22 for elementary special education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 elementary special education degrees were awarded at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in the most recent year. Elementary Special Education graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $56,926 early in their careers. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates carry a median of $24,958 in student loans.
See the full elementary special education program report for University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Rhode Island College earned the #23 position for elementary special education this year. Located in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a large public university. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 18 elementary special education students who graduated with this degree at Rhode Island College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their elementary special education degree from Rhode Island College earn around $65,912 in the first couple years of their career. Rhode Island College graduates carry a median of $29,851 in student loans.
More information about a degree in elementary special education from Rhode Island College
Suny College At Buffalo placed #24 among the best elementary special education schools. Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Buffalo. The six-year graduation rate is 33%. Suny College At Buffalo awarded about 14 elementary special education degrees in the most recent data year. Elementary Special Education graduates of Suny College At Buffalo earn a median of $53,922 early in their careers. Suny College At Buffalo graduates carry a median of $22,610 in student loans.
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Boise State University came in at #25 for elementary special education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Boise. About 59% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 elementary special education students who graduated with this degree at Boise State University in the most recent data year. Elementary Special Education graduates of Boise State University earn a median of $50,038 early in their careers. Boise State University graduates carry a median of $26,675 in student loans.
See the full elementary special education program report for Boise State University
Rest of the Top 27 Elementary Special Education Schools
These schools also placed among the best for elementary special education this year:
Other Elementary Special Education Degree Levels
Explore the best elementary special education schools at other degree levels:
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 101 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
