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2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southwest Region

68 Ranked Colleges
5,829 Degrees Awarded
$22,400 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southwest Region

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southwest Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2020-2021, 36,792 people earned their degree in special education, making the major the 29th most popular in the United States. 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 the Southwest region, there were 5,829 special education graduates with average earnings and debt of $45,069 and $23,433 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southwest Region” ranking analyzed 68 colleges that offered a degree in special education. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in special education.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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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 the Southwest Region” 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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southwest Region

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

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Special Education in the Southwest Region

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Arizona State University - Skysong. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southwest Region list. Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, this large public school awarded 1,280 degrees to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Arizona State University - Skysong Special Education Report

2
Grand Canyon University crest
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, Arizona

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Grand Canyon University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southwest Region list. Phoenix, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 2,095 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Grand Canyon University Special Education Report

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas of the Permian Basin. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southwest Region. UT Permian Basin is a medium-sized school located in Odessa, Texas that handed out 92 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Special Education at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin

4
Lamar University crest
Lamar University
Beaumont, Texas

Out of the 68 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Lamar University landed the #4 spot on the list. Lamar University is a public institution located in Beaumont, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 542 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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%.

Read full report on Special Education at Lamar University

5
USW crest
University of the Southwest
Hobbs, New Mexico

Out of the 68 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of the Southwest landed the #5 spot on the list. University of the Southwest is a private not-for-profit institution located in Hobbs, New Mexico. The school has a small population, and it awarded 17 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Special Education at University of the Southwest

6

University of St. Thomas did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #6. UST is located in Houston, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 47 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of St. Thomas Special Education Report

7
MSU Texas crest
MSU Texas
Wichita Falls, Texas

MSU Texas came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Wichita Falls, Texas, this medium-sized public school handed out 48 degrees to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Special Education at MSU Texas

8

University of Houston - Victoria did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #8. UH Victoria is a public institution located in Victoria, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 49 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Special Education at UH Victoria

9
New Mexico Highlands University crest
New Mexico Highlands University
Las Vegas, New Mexico

With a ranking of #9, New Mexico Highlands University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southwest Region list. Las Vegas, New Mexico is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 30 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Special Education at New Mexico Highlands University

10
Dine College crest
Dine College
Tsaile, Arizona

With a ranking of #10, Dine College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southwest Region list. Dine College is a small school located in Tsaile, Arizona that handed out 3 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Special Education at Dine College

11

University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Chickasha, Oklahoma, this small public school awarded 3 degrees to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Special Education at University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma

12

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southwest Region list. UT Rio Grande Valley is a large school located in Edinburg, Texas that handed out 142 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Special Education at UT Rio Grande Valley

13
NAU crest
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, Arizona

Northern Arizona University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southwest Region ranking. NAU is a public institution located in Flagstaff, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 181 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% 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%.

Read full report on Special Education at NAU

14

Lubbock Christian University ranked #14 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southwest Region list. Lubbock Christian University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lubbock, Texas. It awarded 6 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Lubbock Christian University Special Education Report

15

Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southwest Region ranking. ENMU - Main Campus is located in Portales, New Mexico and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Special Education at Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus

16

Ottawa University - Phoenix landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 5 diplomas to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Special Education at Ottawa University - Phoenix

17

Hardin - Simmons University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #17. Abilene, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 7 students in 2020-2021.

Full Hardin - Simmons University Special Education Report

18
Prescot College crest
Prescott College
Prescott, Arizona

Prescott College landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southwest Region ranking. This small school is located in Prescott, Arizona, and it awarded 11 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Special Education at Prescott College

19
Texas Tech crest
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas

With a ranking of #19, Texas Tech University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southwest Region list. Texas Tech is a public institution located in Lubbock, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 129 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Special Education at Texas Tech

20
NSU crest
Northeastern State University
Tahlequah, Oklahoma

Northeastern State University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Tahlequah, Oklahoma is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 20 students 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%.

Full NSU Special Education Report

21

Stephen F Austin State University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southwest Region ranking. SFASU is located in Nacogdoches, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 30 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Special Education at SFASU

22

Southwestern Oklahoma State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #22. Weatherford, Oklahoma is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Special Education at SWOSU

23

East Central University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #23. Located in Ada, Oklahoma, this small public school handed out 7 diplomas to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.

Full East Central University Special Education Report

24
University of Arizona crest
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona

University of Arizona landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southwest Region ranking. This large school is located in Tucson, Arizona, and it awarded 110 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Special Education at University of Arizona

25

University of New Mexico - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #25. Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, this large public school handed out 44 diplomas to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Special Education at University of New Mexico - Main Campus

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