General Special Education programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general special education programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 355 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general special education students pursuing a degree.
The general special education program you select can have a big impact on your future. To help, we created our Best General Special Education Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
General 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 General Special Education Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for General Special Education in the United States
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 general special education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is University Of Maryland College Park, our #1 school for general special education. This very large public university is located in the suburb of College Park. About 89% of students finish within six years. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 22 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general 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.
Get the full general special education details for University Of Maryland College Park
Students looking for a strong general special education program will find one at California State University Fullerton, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. About 70% of students finish within six years. California State University Fullerton awarded about 36 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general special education degree from California State University Fullerton earn around $79,384 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Fullerton graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general special education from California State University Fullerton
Florida State University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best general special education schools. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Florida State University awarded about 22 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $51,884. Students borrow a median of $22,709 to complete this degree.
Get the full general special education details for Florida State University
California State University Long Beach is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general special education, ranking #4. This very large public university is located in the city of Long Beach. California State University Long Beach graduates 69% of students within six years. About 25 general special education degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $77,631. Students borrow a median of $15,732 to complete this degree.
Get the full general special education details for California State University Long Beach
Students looking for a strong general special education program will find one at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 42 general special education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. General Special Education graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $57,086 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,925 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general special education program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
San Jose State University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best general special education schools. 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 51 general special education degrees in the most recent data year.
Read more about the general special education program at San Jose State University
Boston College placed #7 among the best general special education schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chestnut Hill. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 general special education students who graduated with this degree at Boston College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $59,583 in their early career. Boston College graduates carry a median of $18,101 in student loans.
Get the full general special education details for Boston College
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities landed the #8 spot for general special education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Minneapolis. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 59 general special education degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Students who receive their general special education degree from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn around $51,800 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,387 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general special education program at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Indiana University Bloomington came in at #9 for general special education this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 general special education degrees were awarded at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $51,306. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
See the full general special education program report for Indiana University Bloomington
Towson University landed the #10 spot for general special education this year. Set in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 120 general special education degrees were awarded at Towson University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $59,077 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,750 to complete this degree.
Get the full general special education details for Towson University
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #11 for general special education this year. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 28 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $73,549 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general special education from University Of Washington Seattle Campus
San Francisco State University landed the #12 spot for general special education this year. 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 48 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $69,592 in their early career. San Francisco State University graduates carry a median of $17,020 in student loans.
Get the full general special education details for San Francisco State University
California State University East Bay ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best general special education schools. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public university. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 45 general special education degrees were awarded at California State University East Bay in the most recent year. Students who receive their general special education degree from California State University East Bay earn around $77,402 in the first couple years of their career. California State University East Bay graduates carry a median of $18,073 in student loans.
Get the full general special education details for California State University East Bay
University Of Hawaii At Manoa placed #14 among the best general special education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Honolulu. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. University Of Hawaii At Manoa awarded about 79 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $66,637 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete this degree.
Get the full general special education details for University Of Hawaii At Manoa
University Of Connecticut ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best general special education schools. University Of Connecticut is a very large public school located in the town of Storrs. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 67 general special education degrees were awarded at University Of Connecticut in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from University Of Connecticut generally make around $58,784. University Of Connecticut graduates carry a median of $23,637 in student loans.
Read more about the general special education program at University Of Connecticut
California State University San Bernardino landed the #16 spot for general special education this year. California State University San Bernardino is a very large public school located in the city of San Bernardino. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 51 general special education students who graduated with this degree at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent data year. General Special Education graduates of California State University San Bernardino earn a median of $42,421 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,149 to complete this degree.
See the full general special education program report for California State University San Bernardino
George Mason University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best general special education schools. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. George Mason University awarded about 273 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $62,342 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,529.
Get the full general special education details for George Mason University
Rutgers University New Brunswick landed the #18 spot for general special education this year. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 44 general special education degrees were awarded at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent year. Students who receive their general special education degree from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn around $64,297 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,120.
Read more about the general special education program at Rutgers University New Brunswick
California State University Los Angeles came in at #19 for general special education this year. California State University Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. California State University Los Angeles graduates 53% of students within six years. California State University Los Angeles awarded about 67 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $83,983 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,430 to complete this degree.
See the full general special education program report for California State University Los Angeles
Gannon University earned the #20 position for general special education this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Erie. Gannon University graduates 67% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 general special education students who graduated with this degree at Gannon University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $73,658 in their early career. Gannon University graduates carry a median of $26,934 in student loans.
See the full general special education program report for Gannon University
Pace University New York placed #21 among the best general 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 68 general special education degrees were awarded at Pace University New York in the most recent year. Students who receive their general special education degree from Pace University New York earn around $70,803 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,000.
Get the full general special education details for Pace University New York
Depaul University landed the #22 spot for general special education this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 70 general special education students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $67,561 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,340 to complete this degree.
Get the full general special education details for Depaul University
George Washington University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best general special education schools. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. George Washington University graduates 84% of students within six years. George Washington University awarded about 13 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $68,902. George Washington University graduates carry a median of $22,910 in student loans.
See the full general special education program report for George Washington University
The College Of New Jersey earned the #24 position for general special education this year. Set in the suburb of Ewing, The College Of New Jersey is a large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. The College Of New Jersey awarded about 130 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $64,759 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,228.
Read more about the general special education program at The College Of New Jersey
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania landed the #25 spot for general 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 81 general special education students who graduated with this degree at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year.
See the full general special education program report for West Chester University Of Pennsylvania
Rest of the Top 50 General Special Education Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong general special education education:
The ranking above is published 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 · 355 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).
