Best Schools for General Special Education in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general special education education in California.
Top Schools in General Special Education
California State University Fullerton is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in general special education. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. California State University Fullerton graduates 70% of students within six years. California State University Fullerton awarded about 36 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. General Special Education graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $79,384 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,525.
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Students looking for a strong general special education program will find one at California State University Long Beach, which ranked #2. 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. General Special Education graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $77,631 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,671.
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San Jose State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general special education, ranking #3. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 42 general special education students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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Students looking for a strong general special education program will find one at San Francisco State University, which ranked #4. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Francisco State University awarded about 46 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $69,592. Typical student debt for the program is $17,024.
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California State University East Bay came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best general special education schools. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. California State University East Bay awarded about 43 general special education degrees in the most recent data 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.
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Loyola Marymount University came in at #6 for general special education this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 27 general special education degrees were awarded at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent year. General Special Education graduates of Loyola Marymount University earn a median of $71,022 early in their careers. Loyola Marymount University graduates carry a median of $22,248 in student loans.
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California State University Los Angeles placed #7 among the best general special education schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public university. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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. California State University Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $14,430 in student loans.
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California State University San Bernardino landed the #8 spot for general special education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Bernardino. California State University San Bernardino graduates 55% of students within six years. California State University San Bernardino awarded about 38 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $42,421 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,149.
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California State University Northridge placed #9 among the best general special education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Northridge. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 25 general special education students who graduated with this degree at California State University Northridge in the most recent data year. General Special Education graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $68,093 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,202 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general special education from California State University Northridge
California State University Fresno landed the #10 spot for general special education this year. California State University Fresno is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Fresno awarded about 24 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $71,787. Students borrow a median of $15,598 to complete this degree.
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National University placed #11 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. About 50% of students finish within six years. National University awarded about 352 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $70,672 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $30,426 to complete this degree.
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California State University Bakersfield came in at #12 for general special education this year. California State University Bakersfield is a large public school located in the city of Bakersfield. 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.
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California State University Sacramento ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best general special education schools. 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. Students who receive their general special education degree from California State University Sacramento earn around $33,783 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $16,750 in student loans.
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Point Loma Nazarene University landed the #14 spot for general special education this year. Located in the city of San Diego, Point Loma Nazarene University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. About 10 general special education degrees were awarded at Point Loma Nazarene University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $73,427 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,542.
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California Lutheran University ranked #15 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. There were roughly 16 general special education students who graduated with this degree at California Lutheran University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from California Lutheran University generally make around $68,342. California Lutheran University graduates carry a median of $22,727 in student loans.
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Azusa Pacific University placed #16 among the best general special education schools. Located in the suburb of Azusa, Azusa Pacific University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. Azusa Pacific University awarded about 15 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $58,302 in their early career. Azusa Pacific University graduates carry a median of $23,709 in student loans.
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California State University Dominguez Hills came in at #17 for general special education this year. California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public school located in the city of Carson. California State University Dominguez Hills graduates 43% of students within six years. About 12 general special education degrees were awarded at California State University Dominguez Hills in the most recent year. General Special Education graduates of California State University Dominguez Hills earn a median of $74,460 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,886.
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University Of La Verne ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best general special education schools. Located in the suburb of La Verne, University Of La Verne is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. 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. Graduates of the general special education program make about $35,364 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,314.
More information about a degree in general special education from University Of La Verne
Alliant International University earned the #19 position for general special education this year. This moderately-sized private for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. Alliant International University awarded about 108 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Alliant International University generally make around $63,647. Students borrow a median of $21,234 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general special education from Alliant International University
Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System earned the #20 position for general special education this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Aliso Viejo. About 73 general special education degrees were awarded at Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System generally make around $67,222. Students borrow a median of $27,471 to complete this degree.
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University Of Redlands placed #21 among the best general special education schools. Set in the city of Redlands, University Of Redlands is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 general special education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Redlands in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general special education degree from University Of Redlands earn around $63,411 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Redlands graduates carry a median of $27,175 in student loans.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best general special education schools. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 12 general special education students who graduated with this degree at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent data year. General Special Education graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $53,654 early in their careers. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $19,273 in student loans.
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Notre Dame De Namur University landed the #23 spot for general special education this year. Set in the suburb of Belmont, Notre Dame De Namur University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 7%. Notre Dame De Namur University awarded about 11 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. General Special Education graduates of Notre Dame De Namur University earn a median of $78,713 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,524.
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Santa Ana College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best general special education schools. Set in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 21 general special education students who graduated with this degree at Santa Ana College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $39,633 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,196 to complete this degree.
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Ashford University came in at #25 for general special education this year. Located in the city of San Diego, Ashford University is a very large private for-profit university. Ashford University graduates 10% of students within six years. Ashford University awarded about 61 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general special education degree from Ashford University earn around $41,048 in the first couple years of their career. Ashford University graduates carry a median of $39,515 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general special education from Ashford University
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 · 52 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.
