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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Special Education in the Plains States Region

97 Ranked Colleges
2,681 Degrees Awarded
$23,800 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Plains States Region

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 the Plains States Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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 Plains States region, there were 2,681 special education graduates with average earnings and debt of $43,541 and $26,703 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Plains States Region” ranking looked at 97 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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 Plains States Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Plains States Region

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

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Special Education in the Plains States Region

1
Morningside crest
Morningside College
Sioux City, Iowa

Out of the 97 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Morningside College landed the #1 spot on the list. Sioux City, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 102 students in 2020-2021.

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%.

Read more about Special Education at Morningside College

2
Fontbonne University crest
Fontbonne University
Saint Louis, Missouri

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Fontbonne University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Plains States Region list. Fontbonne University is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 31 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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%.

Full Fontbonne University Special Education Report

3
Hastings crest
Hastings College
Hastings, Nebraska

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Hastings College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Plains States Region list. Hastings, Nebraska is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Special Education at Hastings

4
Drury University crest
Drury University
Springfield, Missouri

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Drury University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Plains States Region list. Drury University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Springfield, Missouri. It awarded 32 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Special Education at Drury University

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwest Missouri State University. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Plains States Region. Located in Maryville, Missouri, this medium-sized public school handed out 117 degrees to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.

Full Northwest Special Education Report

6
NSU crest
Northern State University
Aberdeen, South Dakota

Northern State University ranked #6 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Plains States Region list. Aberdeen, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 21 students in 2020-2021.

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%.

Full NSU Special Education Report

7
WSC crest
Wayne State College
Wayne, Nebraska

Wayne State College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Plains States Region ranking. WSC is a public institution located in Wayne, Nebraska. The school has a small population, and it awarded 48 ’s 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 more about Special Education at WSC

8

Southwest Minnesota State University ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Plains States Region list. Southwest Minnesota State University is located in Marshall, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 26 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

Full Southwest Minnesota State University Special Education Report

9
UND crest
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota

University of North Dakota did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #9. University of North Dakota is a fairly large school located in Grand Forks, North Dakota that handed out 130 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 UND Special Education Report

10
Peru State crest
Peru State College
Peru, Nebraska

With a ranking of #10, Peru State College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Plains States Region list. Located in Peru, Nebraska, this small public school handed out 14 degrees to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.

Full Peru State College Special Education Report

11

University of Nebraska at Kearney did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #11. UNK is located in Kearney, Nebraska and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 54 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Nebraska at Kearney Special Education Report

12
MSU crest
Minot State University
Minot, North Dakota

With a ranking of #12, Minot State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Plains States Region list. MSU is a public institution located in Minot, North Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 28 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Special Education at Minot State University

13
York College crest
York College
York, Nebraska

York College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Plains States Region ranking. York College is located in York, Nebraska and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Special Education at York College

14

Minnesota State University - Moorhead did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Moorhead, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school handed out 52 degrees to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Minnesota State University - Moorhead Special Education Report

15
Bethel University Minnesota crest
Bethel University Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Bethel University Minnesota landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it awarded 40 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, 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 full report on Special Education at Bethel University Minnesota

16

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota ranked #16 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Plains States Region list. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Winona, Minnesota. It awarded 58 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

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 full report on Special Education at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

17
UST MN crest
University of St Thomas Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota

With a ranking of #17, University of St Thomas Minnesota did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Plains States Region list. UST MN is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 92 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UST MN Special Education Report

18

University of Nebraska at Omaha ranked #18 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Plains States Region list. This fairly large school is located in Omaha, Nebraska, and it awarded 105 ’s special ed degrees 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%.

Full University of Nebraska at Omaha Special Education Report

19
Mount Marty crest
Mount Marty University
Yankton, South Dakota

With a ranking of #19, Mount Marty University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Plains States Region list. Yankton, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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 Mount Marty University

20

With a ranking of #20, Fort Hays State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Plains States Region list. Fort Hays State University is a public institution located in Hays, Kansas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 117 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Fort Hays State University Special Education Report

21
Dakota State crest
Dakota State University
Madison, South Dakota

Dakota State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #21. This small school is located in Madison, South Dakota, and it awarded 16 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Dakota State Special Education Report

22

With a ranking of #22, Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Plains States Region list. Minnesota State Mankato is a fairly large school located in Mankato, Minnesota that handed out 224 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Special Education at Minnesota State Mankato

23
ESU crest
Emporia State University
Emporia, Kansas

Emporia State University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Emporia, Kansas, and it awarded 50 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Special Education at Emporia State University

24
BVU crest
Buena Vista University
Storm Lake, Iowa

Buena Vista University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #24. Storm Lake, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 14 students 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%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full BVU Special Education Report

25
Baker crest
Baker University
Baldwin City, Kansas

Baker University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in Baldwin City, Kansas, and it awarded 17 ’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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% 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 Baker University Special Education Report

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