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 highest-paying schools turn a special education degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 31 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying special education schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose special education graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in special education, no school beat Sam Houston State University this year. Located in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a public institution. Students who complete the special education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $68,891.
Strong graduate earnings at Texas A And M University Commerce earned it the #2 place for special education. Set in the town of Commerce, Texas A And M University Commerce is a public institution. Students who complete the special education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $64,004.
Students chasing top earnings in special education will find them at The University Of Texas At El Paso, which ranked #3. Set in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a public institution. Early-career special education graduates from The University Of Texas At El Paso make a median of around $58,824 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in special education will find them at New Mexico State University Main Campus, which ranked #4. New Mexico State University Main Campus is a public school located in the suburb of Las Cruces. Students who complete the special education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $65,686.
Strong graduate earnings at The University Of Texas At Austin earned it the #5 place for special education. The University Of Texas At Austin is a public school located in the city of Austin. Early-career special education graduates from The University Of Texas At Austin make a median of around $65,215 per year.
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #6 for special education graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. Special Education graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of about $65,722 a year early in their careers.
Texas Tech University landed the #7 spot for special education salaries this year. Set in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a public institution. After graduating, special education degree recipients from Texas Tech University typically earn about $64,416 annually.
University Of North Texas came in at #8 for special education graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a public institution. After graduating, special education degree recipients from University Of North Texas typically earn about $63,201 annually.
Lamar University came in at #9 for special education graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a public institution. Early-career special education graduates from Lamar University make a median of around $63,456 per year.
Midwestern State University placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for special education. Set in the city of Wichita Falls, Midwestern State University is a public institution. Early-career special education graduates from Midwestern State University make a median of around $63,072 per year.
University Of Houston Victoria ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying special education schools. Located in the city of Victoria, University Of Houston Victoria is a public institution. Special Education graduates of University Of Houston Victoria earn a median of about $60,024 a year early in their careers.
Texas Womans University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying special education schools. Set in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a public institution. Students who complete the special education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $62,187.
Texas A And M University Corpus Christi ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying special education schools. Set in the city of Corpus Christi, Texas A And M University Corpus Christi is a public institution. Special Education graduates of Texas A And M University Corpus Christi earn a median of about $58,804 a year early in their careers.
The University Of Texas At Tyler landed the #14 spot for special education salaries this year. Set in the city of Tyler, The University Of Texas At Tyler is a public institution. Students who complete the special education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,656.
Texas A And M International University landed the #15 spot for special education salaries this year. Texas A And M International University is a public school located in the city of Laredo. After graduating, special education degree recipients from Texas A And M International University typically earn about $58,691 annually.
Texas State University San Marcos landed the #16 spot for special education salaries this year. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a public institution. Students who complete the special education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,436.
The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin landed the #17 spot for special education salaries this year. Set in the city of Odessa, The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a public institution. Students who complete the special education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,645.
The University Of Texas Pan American came in at #18 for special education graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a public institution. Early-career special education graduates from The University Of Texas Pan American make a median of around $61,736 per year.
Stephen F Austin State University came in at #19 for special education graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Nacogdoches, Stephen F Austin State University is a public institution. Students who complete the special education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,753.
Texas A And M University San Antonio landed the #20 spot for special education salaries this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, Texas A And M University San Antonio is a public institution. Early-career special education graduates from Texas A And M University San Antonio make a median of around $57,080 per year.
University Of Arizona landed the #21 spot for special education salaries this year. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a public institution. Special Education graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of about $60,522 a year early in their careers.
Arizona State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying special education schools. Arizona State University is a public school located in the city of Tempe. After graduating, special education degree recipients from Arizona State University typically earn about $56,460 annually.
Arizona State University Skysong landed the #23 spot for special education salaries this year. Located in the city of Scottsdale, Arizona State University Skysong is a public institution. Students who complete the special education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,460.
Northern Arizona University came in at #24 for special education graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a public institution. After graduating, special education degree recipients from Northern Arizona University typically earn about $52,011 annually.
Grand Canyon University came in at #25 for special education graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit institution. Students who complete the special education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,016.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning special education graduates:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their special education graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 31 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.