by our College Data Analytics Team
[Special Education](/majors/education/special-education/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find where special education graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose special education graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Northern Michigan University, our #1 for special education graduate salaries in Michigan. Northern Michigan University is a public school located in the town of Marquette. Special Education graduates of Northern Michigan University earn a median of about $64,334 a year early in their careers.
Grand Valley State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying special education schools. Grand Valley State University is a public school located in the town of Allendale. Special Education graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median of about $70,494 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in special education will find them at Oakland University, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a public institution. Special Education graduates of Oakland University earn a median of about $61,788 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #4 makes Spring Arbor University one of the highest-paying schools for special education. Spring Arbor University is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Spring Arbor. Early-career special education graduates from Spring Arbor University make a median of around $59,950 per year.
Michigan State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in special education, landing the #5 spot this year. Michigan State University is a public school located in the city of East Lansing. Special Education graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of about $61,863 a year early in their careers.
Western Michigan University placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for special education. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a public institution. Early-career special education graduates from Western Michigan University make a median of around $63,012 per year.
Saginaw Valley State University placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for special education. Saginaw Valley State University is a public school located in the suburb of University Center. Students who complete the special education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $65,263.
Eastern Michigan University placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for special education. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a public institution. After graduating, special education degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University typically earn about $58,665 annually.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries special education graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 8 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.