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 schools below stand out for the salaries their special education graduates go on to command.
College Factual analyzed 10 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying special education schools.
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.
Leading the list is Bethel University Minnesota, our #1 for special education graduate salaries in Minnesota. Bethel University Minnesota is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Paul. Special Education graduates of Bethel University Minnesota earn a median of about $74,473 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Saint Marys University Of Minnesota earned it the #2 place for special education. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Winona. After graduating, special education degree recipients from Saint Marys University Of Minnesota typically earn about $69,289 annually.
A rank of #3 makes University Of St Thomas Minnesota one of the highest-paying schools for special education. Located in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the special education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $69,048.
Strong graduate earnings at Saint Cloud State University earned it the #4 place for special education. 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 $65,255 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Concordia University Saint Paul earned it the #5 place for special education. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Concordia University Saint Paul is a private not-for-profit institution. Special Education graduates of Concordia University Saint Paul earn a median of about $59,263 a year early in their careers.
Minnesota State University Moorhead came in at #6 for special education graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a public institution. After graduating, special education degree recipients from Minnesota State University Moorhead typically earn about $57,948 annually.
Bemidji State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying special education schools. Bemidji State University is a public school located in the town of Bemidji. Students who complete the special education program here go on to a median salary of roughly $57,616.
Capella University came in at #8 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.
Minnesota State University Mankato earned the #9 position for special education graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a public institution. After graduating, special education degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato typically earn about $56,364 annually.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #10 position for special education graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public institution. Special Education graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of about $53,829 a year early in their careers.
This list is compiled 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 · 10 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.