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 42 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.
Augsburg College earned the #1 spot for highest-paid special education graduates in the The Plains States Region. Augsburg College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. Special Education graduates of Augsburg College earn a median of about $53,437 a year early in their careers.
Bethel University Minnesota came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying special education schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the special education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $74,473.
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota produces some of the highest-paid graduates in special education, landing the #3 spot this year. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Winona. Special Education graduates of Saint Marys University Of Minnesota earn a median of about $69,289 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of St Thomas Minnesota earned it the #4 place for special education. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Students who complete the special education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $69,048.
Winona State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying special education schools. Set in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a public institution. Students who complete the special education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,938.
Black Hills State University came in at #6 for special education graduate earnings this year. Black Hills State University is a public school located in the town of Spearfish. Early-career special education graduates from Black Hills State University make a median of around $49,089 per year.
Saint Cloud State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying special education schools. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a public institution. Early-career special education graduates from Saint Cloud State University make a median of around $63,251 per year.
Southwestern College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying special education schools. Set in the town of Winfield, Southwestern College is a private not-for-profit institution. Special Education graduates of Southwestern College earn a median of about $59,310 a year early in their careers.
Concordia University Saint Paul came in at #9 for special education graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Concordia University Saint Paul is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the special education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,263.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities landed the #10 spot for special education salaries this year. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Special Education graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of about $51,424 a year early in their careers.
University Of Kansas earned the #11 position for special education graduate earnings this year. University Of Kansas is a public school located in the city of Lawrence. Special Education graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of about $58,818 a year early in their careers.
Minnesota State University Mankato landed the #12 spot for special education salaries this year. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a public institution. Students who complete the special education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,346.
Wichita State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying special education schools. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a public institution. Early-career special education graduates from Wichita State University make a median of around $62,039 per year.
Morningside College placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for special education. Located in the city of Sioux City, Morningside College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career special education graduates from Morningside College make a median of around $61,817 per year.
Minnesota State University Moorhead placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for special education. Located in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a public institution. Special Education graduates of Minnesota State University Moorhead earn a median of about $57,948 a year early in their careers.
Bemidji State University earned the #16 position for special education graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a public institution. Early-career special education graduates from Bemidji State University make a median of around $57,616 per year.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln came in at #17 for special education graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a public institution. Early-career special education graduates from University Of Nebraska Lincoln make a median of around $51,536 per year.
Friends University earned the #18 position for special education graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Wichita, Friends University is a private not-for-profit institution. Special Education graduates of Friends University earn a median of about $57,030 a year early in their careers.
Capella University earned the #19 position for special education graduate earnings this year. Capella University is a private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. Students who complete the special education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $59,188.
University Of Nebraska At Kearney ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying special education schools. Located in the town of Kearney, University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a public institution. Special Education graduates of University Of Nebraska At Kearney earn a median of about $58,907 a year early in their careers.
Southwest Minnesota State University landed the #21 spot for special education salaries this year. Set in the town of Marshall, Southwest Minnesota State University is a public institution. Special Education graduates of Southwest Minnesota State University earn a median of about $44,510 a year early in their careers.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha earned the #22 position for special education graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a public institution. Early-career special education graduates from University Of Nebraska At Omaha make a median of around $55,140 per year.
Upper Iowa University placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for special education. Set in the rural area of Fayette, Upper Iowa University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, special education degree recipients from Upper Iowa University typically earn about $48,391 annually.
Concordia University Seward placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for special education. Concordia University Seward is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Seward. Early-career special education graduates from Concordia University Seward make a median of around $55,085 per year.
University Of North Dakota came in at #25 for special education graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a public institution. Special Education graduates of University Of North Dakota earn a median of about $56,682 a year early in their careers.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning special education graduates:
This ranking is produced 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 · 42 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.