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2026 Best General Special Education Schools in the Far Western Region

24 Colleges in the United States
1,780 General Special Education Degrees Awarded
$59,434 Avg Early-Career Salary

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

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 84 schools to find the best for general special education students.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for General Special Education in the Far Western Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general special education education in the Far Western Region.

Top Schools in General Special Education

1

Our analysis ranked California State University Fullerton the best school in the country for a degree in general special education. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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. Get the full general special education details for California State University Fullerton

2

University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general special education, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 29 general special education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. General Special Education graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $73,549 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete this degree. Read more about the general special education program at University Of Washington Seattle Campus

3

California State University Long Beach is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general special education, ranking #3. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 25 general special education students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $77,631 in their early career. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $15,671 in student loans. Get the full general special education details for California State University Long Beach

4

San Jose State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best general special education schools. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. About 69% of students finish within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 42 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. More information about a degree in general special education from San Jose State University

5

San Francisco State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general special education, landing the #5 spot this year. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 46 general special education students who graduated with this degree at San Francisco State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general special education degree from San Francisco State University earn around $69,592 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,024 to complete this degree. Read more about the general special education program at San Francisco State University

6

California State University East Bay came in at #6 for general special education this year. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public institution. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 43 general special education degrees were awarded at California State University East Bay in the most recent year. General Special Education graduates of California State University East Bay earn a median of $77,402 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,073. See the full general special education program report for California State University East Bay

7

Loyola Marymount University came in at #7 for general special education this year. Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. About 79% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 27 general special education students who graduated with this degree at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Loyola Marymount University generally make around $71,022. Loyola Marymount University graduates carry a median of $22,248 in student loans. See the full general special education program report for Loyola Marymount University

8

University Of Hawaii At Manoa landed the #8 spot for general special education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Honolulu. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Hawaii At Manoa awarded about 84 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. Typical student debt for the program is $22,250. More information about a degree in general special education from University Of Hawaii At Manoa

9

California State University Los Angeles landed the #9 spot for general special education this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. California State University Los Angeles awarded about 66 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. General Special Education graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $83,983 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,430 to complete this degree. Get the full general special education details for California State University Los Angeles

10

California State University San Bernardino placed #10 among the best general special education schools. Located in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public university. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 38 general special education students who graduated with this degree at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $42,421 in their early career. 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

11

California State University Northridge earned the #11 position for general special education this year. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. About 57% of students finish within six years. California State University Northridge awarded about 25 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general special education degree from California State University Northridge earn around $68,093 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,202. Get the full general special education details for California State University Northridge

12

California State University Fresno earned the #12 position for general special education this year. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 24 general special education students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fresno in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $71,787. California State University Fresno graduates carry a median of $15,598 in student loans. Read more about the general special education program at California State University Fresno

13
National University crest
National University
San Diego, CA

National University placed #13 among the best general special education schools. National University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. There were roughly 352 general special education students who graduated with this degree at National University in the most recent data year. General Special Education graduates of National University earn a median of $70,672 early in their careers. National University graduates carry a median of $30,426 in student loans. More information about a degree in general special education from National University

14

California State University Bakersfield came in at #14 for general special education this year. Set in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a large public institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Bakersfield awarded about 15 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. More information about a degree in general special education from California State University Bakersfield

15

California State University Sacramento earned the #15 position for general special education this year. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 45 general special education degrees were awarded at California State University Sacramento in the most recent year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $33,783 in their early career. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $16,750 in student loans. More information about a degree in general special education from California State University Sacramento

16

Point Loma Nazarene University placed #16 among the best general special education schools. Point Loma Nazarene University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Point Loma Nazarene University graduates 77% of students within six years. Point Loma Nazarene University awarded about 10 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. General Special Education graduates of Point Loma Nazarene University earn a median of $73,427 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,542. Read more about the general special education program at Point Loma Nazarene University

17

California Lutheran University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best general special education schools. Set in the city of Thousand Oaks, California Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. California Lutheran University awarded about 16 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general special education degree from California Lutheran University earn around $68,342 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,727 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general special education from California Lutheran University

18

College Of Southern Nevada ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best general special education schools. Set in the city of Las Vegas, College Of Southern Nevada is a very large public institution. College Of Southern Nevada awarded about 18 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from College Of Southern Nevada generally make around $35,850. Typical student debt for the program is $9,250. Get the full general special education details for College Of Southern Nevada

19

Azusa Pacific University placed #19 among the best general special education schools. Azusa Pacific University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Azusa. About 62% of students finish within six years. Azusa Pacific University awarded about 15 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. General Special Education graduates of Azusa Pacific University earn a median of $58,302 early in their careers. Azusa Pacific University graduates carry a median of $23,709 in student loans. See the full general special education program report for Azusa Pacific University

20

California State University Dominguez Hills earned the #20 position for general special education this year. California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public school located in the city of Carson. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Dominguez Hills awarded about 12 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general special education degree from California State University Dominguez Hills earn around $74,460 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,886. Get the full general special education details for California State University Dominguez Hills

21
Gonzaga University crest
Gonzaga University
Spokane, WA

Gonzaga University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best general special education schools. Gonzaga University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Spokane. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Gonzaga University awarded about 12 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $58,733 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the general special education program at Gonzaga University

22

University Of La Verne landed the #22 spot for general special education this year. Set in the suburb of La Verne, University Of La Verne is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. University Of La Verne graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 general special education students who graduated with this degree at University Of La Verne in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from University Of La Verne generally make around $35,364. Typical student debt for the program is $26,314. See the full general special education program report for University Of La Verne

23

Alliant International University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best general special education schools. This moderately-sized private for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. About 108 general special education degrees were awarded at Alliant International University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $63,647 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,234 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in general special education from Alliant International University

24

Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System landed the #24 spot for general special education this year. Set in the suburb of Aliso Viejo, Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System is a large public institution. Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System awarded about 73 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System generally make around $67,222. Typical student debt for the program is $27,471. Get the full general special education details for Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System

25

University Of Redlands ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best general special education schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Redlands. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. About 20 general special education degrees were awarded at University Of Redlands in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from University Of Redlands generally make around $63,411. University Of Redlands graduates carry a median of $27,175 in student loans. Get the full general special education details for University Of Redlands

Rest of the Top 38 General Special Education Schools

These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general special education ranking:

26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
Santa Ana College crest
Santa Ana College
Santa Ana, CA
36
37
38
Ashford University crest
Ashford University
San Diego, CA

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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 · 84 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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