2021 Highest Paid Special Education Graduates
Finding the Best Special Education School for You
Special Education is the #55 most popular major in the country with 8,866 bachelor's degrees awarded in 2018-2019.
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Highest Paid Special Ed Graduates ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
This year's Highest Paid Special Education Graduates ranking analyzed 134 colleges that offered a bachelor's degree in special ed.
The numbers used in this ranking are early career salaries, which we define to be 10 years after a student started college. This is the salary typically earned 4-6 years after graduation, but may be different depending on how long a person takes to complete their degree.
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Salaries of Special Education Majors After Graduation
After graduation, special education majors from schools in the United States earn an average salary of $36,194 per year. Unfortunately, that is 9% less than the average salary of a typical college graduate. However, graduates from the schools below may make more than this.
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2021 Highest Paid Special Education Grads in United States
The following colleges produce the highest paid special ed graduates.
Top 25 Best Schools for Highly Paid Special Ed Graduates
Our rankings recognize Vanderbilt University as the #1 school in this year's rankings. Located in the large city of Nashville, Vanderbilt is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
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Kean University earned the #1 spot in our 2021 rankings. Located in the suburb of Union, Kean is a public college with a large student population. Special Ed majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $48,800.
While working on their bachelor's, special ed majors at Kean accumulate an average of around $26,049 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $276, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Seton Hall University landed the #2 spot in our 2021 rankings for highest paid special education school. Seton Hall is a large private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of South Orange.
Special Ed majors at Seton Hall take out an average of $21,161 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $218.
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Our rankings recognize Towson University as the #2 school in this year's rankings. Towson is a very large public school located in the small city of Towson. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, special ed majors make an average salary of $45,900.
After completing their bachelor's degree, special ed graduates from Towson carry an average student debtload of $18,391. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $192, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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The #3 spot in this year's ranking belongs to University of Hawaii at Manoa. Located in the large city of Honolulu, UHM is a public college with a fairly large student population. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in special ed from the school is $44,900.
While working on their bachelor's, special ed majors at UHM accumulate an average of around $16,911 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $156.
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Central Washington University landed the #4 spot in our 2021 rankings for highest paid special education school. CWU is a fairly large public school located in the distant town of Ellensburg. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, special ed majors make an average salary of $44,600.
The average amount in student loans that special ed majors at CWU take out while working on their bachelor's is $22,239. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $239, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Syracuse University landed the #4 spot in our 2021 rankings for highest paid special education school. Located in the medium-sized city of Syracuse, Syracuse is a private not-for-profit college with a very large student population.
On average, special ed graduates from Syracuse take out $26,518 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $280, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Western Washington University earned the #5 spot in our 2021 rankings. Located in the city of Bellingham, WWU is a public college with a fairly large student population. Students who receive their bachelor's in special ed from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $43,600.
While working on their bachelor's, special ed majors at WWU accumulate an average of around $23,919 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $259.
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Southern Connecticut State University earned the #6 spot in our 2021 rankings. SCSU is a medium-sized public school located in the midsize city of New Haven. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, special ed majors make an average salary of $43,500.
After completing their bachelor's degree, special ed graduates from SCSU carry an average student debtload of $22,070. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $234.
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Boston University landed the #6 spot in our 2021 rankings for highest paid special education school. Located in the city of Boston, Boston U is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.
After completing their bachelor's degree, special ed graduates from Boston U carry an average student debtload of $25,356. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $280, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Our rankings recognize Manhattan College as the #7 school in this year's rankings. Manhattan is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Riverdale.
On average, special ed graduates from Manhattan take out $22,950 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $243.
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Florida Atlantic University landed the #7 spot in our 2021 rankings for highest paid special education school. Located in the small city of Boca Raton, FAU is a public college with a fairly large student population. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, special ed majors make an average salary of $43,400.
After completing their bachelor's degree, special ed graduates from FAU carry an average student debtload of $13,166. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $130.
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Our rankings recognize Texas Christian University as the #8 school in this year's rankings. TCU is a large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Fort Worth.
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Gonzaga University earned the #8 spot in our 2021 rankings. Gonzaga is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Spokane. Special Ed majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $43,100.
On average, special ed graduates from Gonzaga take out $23,357 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $280, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Hood College comes in at #9 in this year's ranking. Hood is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Frederick. The average salary for a student who gets a bachelor's degree in special ed from the school is $42,700.
On average, special ed graduates from Hood take out $22,929 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $259.
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Our rankings recognize University of Connecticut as the #10 school in this year's rankings. Located in the large suburb of Storrs, UCONN is a public college with a very large student population.
After completing their bachelor's degree, special ed graduates from UCONN carry an average student debtload of $19,777. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $221.
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The #10 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Illinois State University. Illinois State is a very large public school located in the medium-sized suburb of Normal. Students who receive their bachelor's in special ed from the school go on to jobs that make an average salary of $42,600.
Special Ed majors at Illinois State take out an average of $20,930 in student loans while working on their bachelor's degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $223.
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Our rankings recognize Millersville University of Pennsylvania as the #11 school in this year's rankings. Located in the large suburb of Millersville, Millersville is a public school with a medium-sized student population. Special Ed majors who obtain their bachelor's from the school make an average salary of $42,500.
While working on their bachelor's, special ed majors at Millersville accumulate an average of around $25,339 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $280, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Our rankings recognize Florida Gulf Coast University as the #12 school in this year's rankings. Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, FGCU is a public college with a fairly large student population. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, special ed majors make an average salary of $42,100.
While working on their bachelor's, special ed majors at FGCU accumulate an average of around $19,098 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $187, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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Our rankings recognize Florida State University as the #13 school in this year's rankings. Florida State is a fairly large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, special ed majors make an average salary of $42,100.
While working on their bachelor's, special ed majors at Florida State accumulate an average of around $18,258 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $156.
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Pennsylvania State University - University Park comes in at #13 in this year's ranking. Penn State University Park is a fairly large public school located in the small city of University Park.
While working on their bachelor's, special ed majors at Penn State University Park accumulate an average of around $24,727 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $309.
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The #14 spot in this year's ranking belongs to University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign. Located in the city of Champaign, UIUC is a public school with a very large student population. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, special ed majors make an average salary of $42,100.
The average amount in student loans that special ed majors at UIUC take out while working on their bachelor's is $19,579. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $223.
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Our rankings recognize West Chester University of Pennsylvania as the #15 school in this year's rankings. WCUPA is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of West Chester. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, special ed majors make an average salary of $42,100.
While working on their bachelor's, special ed majors at WCUPA accumulate an average of around $23,825 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $280, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
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The #15 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Pace University - New York. Pace University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of New York.
After completing their bachelor's degree, special ed graduates from Pace University carry an average student debtload of $27,074.
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The #16 spot in this year's ranking belongs to SUNY Cortland. SUNY Cortland is a moderately-sized public school located in the distant town of Cortland. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree, special ed majors make an average salary of $41,800.
After completing their bachelor's degree, special ed graduates from SUNY Cortland carry an average student debtload of $22,187. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $240.
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Request InformationRest of the Top Schools for Highest Paid Special Education Graduates
Additional Noteworthy Schools
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Highest Paid Special Education Graduates award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire | Eau Claire, WI |
| 36 | Touro College | New York, NY |
| 37 | Seattle Pacific University | Seattle, WA |
| 38 | University of Mississippi | University, MS |
| 40 | Michigan State University | East Lansing, MI |
| 44 | University of Tulsa | Tulsa, OK |
| 23 | Eastern Washington University | Cheney, WA |
| 23 | The College of New Jersey | Ewing, NJ |
| 24 | Marist College | Poughkeepsie, NY |
| 24 | University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh | Oshkosh, WI |
| 25 | Bradley University | Peoria, IL |
Special Education by Region
View the Highest Paid Special Education Graduates for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| The Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
Rankings in Majors Related to Special Ed
Special Education is one of 14 different types of Education programs to choose from.
Majors Similar to Special Ed
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Teacher Education Grade Specific | 50,540 |
| Teacher Education Subject Specific | 21,322 |
| General Education | 4,523 |
| Other Education | 1,730 |
| Educational Administration | 573 |
View All Special Ed Related Majors >
Notes and References
- 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 the rest 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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to woodleywonderworks.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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