by our College Data Analytics Team
[Special Education](/majors/education/special-education/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The schools below stand out for the salaries their special education graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 3 schools to find where special education graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send special education graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Salve Regina University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying special education schools in Rhode Island. Located in the suburb of Newport, Salve Regina University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career special education graduates from Salve Regina University make a median of around $58,989 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in special education will find them at Providence College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Providence, Providence College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, special education degree recipients from Providence College typically earn about $60,307 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in special education will find them at Rhode Island College, which ranked #3. Rhode Island College is a public school located in the suburb of Providence. Early-career special education graduates from Rhode Island College make a median of around $67,207 per year.
The ranking above is published 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 · 3 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.