by our College Data Analytics Team
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois” ranking.
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 Illinois, there were 1,153 special education graduates with average earnings and debt of $47,433 and $23,191 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 558 special education graduates with average earnings and debt of $59,317 and $0 respectively.
For this year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois” ranking, we looked at 28 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.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
The special ed school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois”.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois”.
Out of the 28 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, National Louis University landed the #1 spot on the list. NLU is a medium-sized school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 116 masters’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Dominican University. The school came in at #2 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois. Dominican U is a small private not-for-profit school situated in River Forest, Illinois. It awarded 26 masters’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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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%.
Out of the 28 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Trinity Christian College landed the #3 spot on the list. This small school is located in Palos Heights, Illinois, and it awarded 10 masters’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Out of the 28 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Greenville University landed the #4 spot on the list. This small school is located in Greenville, Illinois, and it awarded 9 masters’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.9% 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%. 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.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Aurora University. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois. This medium-sized school is located in Aurora, Illinois, and it awarded 42 masters’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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%.
Concordia University, Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #6. Concordia University, Chicago is located in River Forest, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 32 masters’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 full report on Special Education at Concordia University, Chicago
Chicago State University ranked #7 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small public school awarded 8 degrees to qualified masters’s special ed students in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Northern Illinois University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois ranking. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large school located in Dekalb, Illinois that handed out 60 masters’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
Saint Xavier University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois ranking. Saint Xavier University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 13 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Special Education at Saint Xavier University
Northeastern Illinois University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois ranking. Northeastern Illinois University is a medium-sized public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 21 masters’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Northeastern Illinois University Special Education Report
With a ranking of #11, Lewis University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois list. Located in Romeoville, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 18 diplomas to qualified masters’s special ed students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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%.
With a ranking of #12, Rockford University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois list. Rockford University is a small school located in Rockford, Illinois that handed out 3 masters’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.
University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #13. UIC is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 67 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
DePaul University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois ranking. DePaul University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 45 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Eastern Illinois University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois ranking. EIU is a medium-sized public school situated in Charleston, Illinois. It awarded 12 masters’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Special Education at Eastern Illinois University
Roosevelt University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois ranking. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 10 masters’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
Western Illinois University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Macomb, Illinois, and it awarded 9 masters’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Special Education at Western Illinois University
Illinois State University ranked #18 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois list. Illinois State University is located in Normal, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 22 masters’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%.
With a ranking of #19, Elmhurst University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois list. Elmhurst University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Elmhurst, Illinois. It awarded 3 masters’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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%.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #20 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois list. This fairly large school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and it awarded 8 masters’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Special Education at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
With a ranking of #21, University of St Francis did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois list. University of Saint Francis is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Joliet, Illinois. It awarded 2 masters’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Special Education at University of St Francis
Governors State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #22. GSU is a small school located in University Park, Illinois that handed out 2 masters’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Special Education at Governors State University
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #23 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois list. UIUC is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 20 masters’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Special Education at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #24. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is located in Carbondale, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 26 masters’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
Benedictine University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois ranking. Benedictine U is a small school located in Lisle, Illinois that handed out 6 masters’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Loyola University Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #24. Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 16 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Special Education at Loyola University Chicago
Northwestern University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois ranking. Northwestern is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 0 masters’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. 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.
Bradley University ranked #24 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Illinois list. Bradley is a private not-for-profit institution located in Peoria, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 8 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
