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2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in California

78 Ranked Colleges
3,154 Degrees Awarded
$33,300 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in California

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in California” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Special Education is the 29th most popular major in the country with 36,792 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, special education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $45,679 and had an average of $24,977 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 3,154 special education graduates with average earnings and debt of $59,751 and $17,326 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in California” ranking, we looked at 78 colleges that offer a degree in special education. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their special education program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Special Education Schools

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More Special Ed Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in California” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in California

The colleges and universities below are the best for california special ed students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Special Education in California

1
Alliant crest
Alliant International University
San Diego, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Alliant International University. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in California. Located in San Diego, California, this small private for-profit school handed out 118 degrees to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Special Education at Alliant

2
NDNU crest
Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Notre Dame de Namur University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in California list. NDNU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Belmont, California. It awarded 33 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Special Education at NDNU

3
National University crest
National University
La Jolla, California

Out of the 78 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, National University landed the #3 spot on the list. National University is a fairly large school located in La Jolla, California that handed out 436 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Special Education at National University

4
TUC crest
Touro University California
Vallejo, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Touro University California. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in California list. Touro University California is a private not-for-profit institution located in Vallejo, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Special Education at TUC

5
Evergreen Valley College crest
Evergreen Valley College
San Jose, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Evergreen Valley College. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in California. Located in San Jose, California, this medium-sized public school awarded 53 diplomas to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Special Education at Evergreen Valley College

6
University of Redlands crest
University of Redlands
Redlands, California

University of Redlands did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in California ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Redlands, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 68 diplomas to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of Redlands Special Education Report

7
Brandman crest
Brandman University
Irvine, California

Brandman University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in California ranking, coming in at #7. This medium-sized school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 103 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Special Education at Brandman University

8
San Bernardino Valley College crest
San Bernardino Valley College
San Bernardino, California

San Bernardino Valley College landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in California ranking. San Bernardino Valley College is located in San Bernardino, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 64 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

Full San Bernardino Valley College Special Education Report

9
HNU crest
Holy Names University
Oakland, California

Holy Names University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in California ranking. HNU is located in Oakland, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Special Education at HNU

10
MSJC crest
Mt. San Jacinto College
San Jacinto, California

Mt. San Jacinto College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in California ranking, coming in at #10. MSJC is a fairly large public school situated in San Jacinto, California. It awarded 80 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Special Education at Mt. San Jacinto College

11
Pasadena City College crest
Pasadena City College
Pasadena, California

Pasadena City College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in California ranking. Pasadena City College is a public institution located in Pasadena, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 172 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Special Education at Pasadena City College

12
Los Angeles Trade Technical College crest
Los Angeles Trade Technical College
Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles Trade Technical College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in California ranking. Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 31 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Special Education at Los Angeles Trade Technical College

13
Fullerton College crest
Fullerton College
Fullerton, California

Fullerton College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in California ranking. Fullerton College is a fairly large school located in Fullerton, California that handed out 105 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Fullerton College Special Education Report

14
Riverside City College crest
Riverside City College
Riverside, California

With a ranking of #14, Riverside City College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in California list. Riverside City College is located in Riverside, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 101 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

Full Riverside City College Special Education Report

15
Woodland Community College crest
Woodland Community College
Woodland, California

Woodland Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in California list. Located in Woodland, California, this small public school awarded 9 diplomas to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.

Full Woodland Community College Special Education Report

16
College of the Sequoias crest
College of the Sequoias
Visalia, California

With a ranking of #16, College of the Sequoias did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in California list. This fairly large school is located in Visalia, California, and it awarded 50 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Special Education at College of the Sequoias

17
Norco College crest
Norco College
Norco, California

With a ranking of #17, Norco College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in California list. Norco College is located in Norco, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 42 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Special Education at Norco College

18
SWC Chula Vista crest
Southwestern College
Chula Vista, California

Southwestern College ranked #18 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in California list. This fairly large school is located in Chula Vista, California, and it awarded 48 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Special Education at SWC Chula Vista

19
Moorpark College crest
Moorpark College
Moorpark, California

Moorpark College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in California ranking. Moorpark, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 75 students in 2020-2021.

Full Moorpark College Special Education Report

20
PLNU crest
Point Loma Nazarene University
San Diego, California

With a ranking of #20, Point Loma Nazarene University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in California list. PLNU is located in San Diego, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 19 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Special Education at PLNU

21

22
Loyola Marymount crest
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, California

With a ranking of #22, Loyola Marymount University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in California list. This fairly large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 40 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Special Education at Loyola Marymount

23

California State University - East Bay ranked #23 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in California list. Cal State East Bay is a fairly large school located in Hayward, California that handed out 65 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Special Education at Cal State East Bay

24
Foothill College crest
Foothill College
Los Altos Hills, California

Foothill College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in California ranking, coming in at #24. Foothill College is a fairly large public school situated in Los Altos Hills, California. It awarded 39 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Special Education at Foothill College

25

With a ranking of #25, California State University - San Bernardino did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in California list. This fairly large school is located in San Bernardino, California, and it awarded 49 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Special Education at California State University - San Bernardino

Notes and References

References

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