by our College Data Analytics Team
[Special Education](/majors/education/special-education/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a special education degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 73 schools on the early-career earnings of their special education graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose special education graduates go on to earn the most.
Cuny Brooklyn College tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying special education schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a public institution. Early-career special education graduates from Cuny Brooklyn College make a median of around $91,781 per year.
Pace University New York produces some of the highest-paid graduates in special education, landing the #2 spot this year. Pace University New York is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students who complete the special education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $83,536.
A rank of #3 makes Cuny Hunter College one of the highest-paying schools for special education. Cuny Hunter College is a public school located in the city of New York. Students who complete the special education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $85,456.
Strong graduate earnings at Cuny City College earned it the #4 place for special education. Cuny City College is a public school located in the city of New York. Special Education graduates of Cuny City College earn a median of about $84,866 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #5 makes Cuny Lehman College one of the highest-paying schools for special education. Cuny Lehman College is a public school located in the city of Bronx. Students who complete the special education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $85,537.
St Johns University New York ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying special education schools. St Johns University New York is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Queens. Students who complete the special education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $85,605.
Cuny College Of Staten Island came in at #7 for special education graduate earnings this year. Cuny College Of Staten Island is a public school located in the city of Staten Island. Early-career special education graduates from Cuny College Of Staten Island make a median of around $85,086 per year.
Cuny Queens College landed the #8 spot for special education salaries this year. Set in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a public institution. Special Education graduates of Cuny Queens College earn a median of about $85,138 a year early in their careers.
Long Island University C W Post Campus earned the #9 position for special education graduate earnings this year. Long Island University C W Post Campus is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Brookville. Early-career special education graduates from Long Island University C W Post Campus make a median of around $83,011 per year.
Manhattan College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying special education schools. Set in the city of Riverdale, Manhattan College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career special education graduates from Manhattan College make a median of around $79,540 per year.
Hofstra University earned the #11 position for special education graduate earnings this year. Hofstra University is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hempstead. Special Education graduates of Hofstra University earn a median of about $75,676 a year early in their careers.
Fordham University earned the #12 position for special education graduate earnings this year. Fordham University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. Special Education graduates of Fordham University earn a median of about $79,207 a year early in their careers.
Johns Hopkins University earned the #13 position for special education graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, special education degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University typically earn about $72,483 annually.
Adelphi University came in at #14 for special education graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Adelphi University is a private not-for-profit institution. Special Education graduates of Adelphi University earn a median of about $80,056 a year early in their careers.
Touro College landed the #15 spot for special education salaries this year. Set in the city of New York, Touro College is a private not-for-profit institution. Special Education graduates of Touro College earn a median of about $79,696 a year early in their careers.
Ithaca College earned the #16 position for special education graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Ithaca, Ithaca College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the special education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $71,700.
George Washington University earned the #17 position for special education graduate earnings this year. George Washington University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Early-career special education graduates from George Washington University make a median of around $73,898 per year.
Teachers College At Columbia University placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for special education. Teachers College At Columbia University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students who complete the special education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $74,321.
Manhattanville College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying special education schools. Set in the suburb of Purchase, Manhattanville College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career special education graduates from Manhattanville College make a median of around $76,396 per year.
Saint Thomas Aquinas College earned the #20 position for special education graduate earnings this year. Saint Thomas Aquinas College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Sparkill. Special Education graduates of Saint Thomas Aquinas College earn a median of about $78,429 a year early in their careers.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania landed the #21 spot for special education salaries this year. Located in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a public institution. Special Education graduates of West Chester University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $70,085 a year early in their careers.
Rowan University earned the #22 position for special education graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a public institution. After graduating, special education degree recipients from Rowan University typically earn about $72,569 annually.
Chestnut Hill College landed the #23 spot for special education salaries this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Chestnut Hill College is a private not-for-profit institution. Special Education graduates of Chestnut Hill College earn a median of about $68,473 a year early in their careers.
University Of Maryland College Park earned the #24 position for special education graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a public institution. Special Education graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of about $69,894 a year early in their careers.
Kean University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying special education schools. Kean University is a public school located in the suburb of Union. Special Education graduates of Kean University earn a median of about $68,971 a year early in their careers.
These schools also send special education graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
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 · 73 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.
