2027 Best General Special Education Schools in Illinois
General Special Education programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 20 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best general special education schools.
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Best Schools for General Special Education in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general special education education in Illinois.
Top Schools in General Special Education
No school ranked higher than University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign this year for general special education. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 42 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,086. Typical student debt for the program is $18,925.
More information about a degree in general special education from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
A rank of #2 makes Depaul University one of the top schools for general special education. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Depaul University graduates 68% of students within six years. 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. Depaul University graduates carry a median of $25,340 in student loans.
See the full general special education program report for Depaul University
Illinois State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general special education, ranking #3. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Illinois State University awarded about 188 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $52,626. Students borrow a median of $20,436 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general special education program at Illinois State University
A rank of #4 makes University Of Illinois At Chicago one of the top schools for general special education. This very large public university is located in the city of Chicago. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 22 general special education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $73,322 in their early career. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $20,115 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general special education from University Of Illinois At Chicago
Olivet Nazarene University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general special education, landing the #5 spot this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Bourbonnais. About 61% of students finish within six years. Olivet Nazarene University awarded about 25 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $68,371 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,797 to complete this degree.
Get the full general special education details for Olivet Nazarene University
Northern Illinois University landed the #6 spot for general special education this year. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 57 general special education degrees were awarded at Northern Illinois University in the most recent year. General Special Education graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $53,426 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,452 to complete this degree.
See the full general special education program report for Northern Illinois University
Concordia University Chicago landed the #7 spot for general special education this year. Set in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 36% of students complete a degree within six years here. Concordia University Chicago awarded about 18 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Concordia University Chicago generally make around $64,673. Students borrow a median of $26,956 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general special education from Concordia University Chicago
Roosevelt University earned the #8 position for general special education this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 46% of students finish within six years. About 34 general special education degrees were awarded at Roosevelt University in the most recent year. General Special Education graduates of Roosevelt University earn a median of $50,101 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,879.
More information about a degree in general special education from Roosevelt University
Northeastern Illinois University earned the #9 position for general special education this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 22% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 55 general special education students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. General Special Education graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of $69,073 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,600 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general special education from Northeastern Illinois University
Lewis University earned the #10 position for general special education this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Romeoville. Lewis University graduates 67% of students within six years. About 23 general special education degrees were awarded at Lewis University in the most recent year. General Special Education graduates of Lewis University earn a median of $48,819 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
See the full general special education program report for Lewis University
Dominican University landed the #11 spot for general special education this year. Located in the suburb of River Forest, Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. About 19 general special education degrees were awarded at Dominican University in the most recent year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $45,546 in their early career. Dominican University graduates carry a median of $26,236 in student loans.
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University Of St Francis earned the #12 position for general special education this year. Set in the suburb of Joliet, University Of St Francis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. University Of St Francis graduates 67% of students within six years. University Of St Francis awarded about 13 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general special education degree from University Of St Francis earn around $45,323 in the first couple years of their career. University Of St Francis graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans.
See the full general special education program report for University Of St Francis
National Louis University landed the #13 spot for general special education this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 30%. National Louis University awarded about 165 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general special education program make about $57,644 in their early career. National Louis University graduates carry a median of $29,242 in student loans.
See the full general special education program report for National Louis University
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best general special education schools. This large public university is located in the town of Carbondale. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 general special education degrees were awarded at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent year. General Special Education graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $44,429 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,875.
More information about a degree in general special education from Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Eastern Illinois University earned the #15 position for general special education this year. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. About 47% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 38 general special education students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University generally make around $43,955. Students borrow a median of $26,046 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general special education from Eastern Illinois University
Western Illinois University earned the #16 position for general special education this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Macomb. Western Illinois University graduates 45% of students within six years. Western Illinois University awarded about 25 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general special education degree from Western Illinois University earn around $46,729 in the first couple years of their career. Western Illinois University graduates carry a median of $25,986 in student loans.
See the full general special education program report for Western Illinois University
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #17 spot for general special education this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Edwardsville. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates 55% of students within six years. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville awarded about 14 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general special education degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $44,205. Typical student debt for the program is $19,850.
See the full general special education program report for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Saint Xavier University earned the #18 position for general special education this year. Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Saint Xavier University graduates 57% of students within six years. Saint Xavier University awarded about 14 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general special education degree from Saint Xavier University earn around $54,613 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,735.
Get the full general special education details for Saint Xavier University
Trinity Christian College came in at #19 for general special education this year. Trinity Christian College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Palos Heights. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. About 13 general special education degrees were awarded at Trinity Christian College in the most recent year. General Special Education graduates of Trinity Christian College earn a median of $48,840 early in their careers. Trinity Christian College graduates carry a median of $35,611 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general special education from Trinity Christian College
Chicago State University came in at #20 for general special education this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Chicago State University is a mid-sized public university. Roughly 16% of students complete a degree within six years here. Chicago State University awarded about 14 general special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general special education degree from Chicago State University earn around $47,477 in the first couple years of their career. Chicago State University graduates carry a median of $43,322 in student loans.
Read more about the general special education program at Chicago State University
More General Special Education Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 20 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.