by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Minnesota” 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 Minnesota, there were 862 special education graduates with average earnings and debt of $47,926 and $25,845 respectively.
This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Minnesota” ranking looked at 25 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in special education. That schools that top this list have a program in special education in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.
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 Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Minnesota”.
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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
The colleges and universities below are the best for minnesota special ed students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southwest Minnesota State University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Minnesota list. Southwest Minnesota State University is a public institution located in Marshall, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 26 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Southwest Minnesota State University Special Education Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Minnesota State University - Moorhead. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Minnesota. Minnesota State University - Moorhead is a public institution located in Moorhead, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 52 ’s degrees 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%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bethel University Minnesota. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Minnesota. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 40 degrees to qualified ’s special ed students 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
Out of the 25 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Minnesota that were part of this year’s ranking, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota landed the #4 spot on the list. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution located in Winona, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 58 ’s 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%.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of St Thomas Minnesota. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Minnesota list. UST MN is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 92 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Special Education at University of St Thomas Minnesota
Minnesota State University - Mankato came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Minnesota ranking. Mankato, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 224 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Special Education at Minnesota State Mankato
Mesabi Range College landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Minnesota ranking. Mesabi Range College is located in Virginia, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
Read full report on Special Education at Mesabi Range College
Bemidji State University ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Minnesota list. Bemidji, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 25 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Special Education at Bemidji State University
Saint Cloud State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #9. This fairly large school is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, and it awarded 80 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Special Education at St. Cloud State University
Concordia University, Saint Paul ranked #10 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Minnesota list. Concordia University, Saint Paul is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 46 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 Concordia University, Saint Paul
Augsburg University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Minnesota ranking. Augsburg is a small school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 12 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Special Education at Augsburg University
Winona State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #12. This medium-sized school is located in Winona, Minnesota, and it awarded 38 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
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%.
Martin Luther College landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Minnesota ranking. New Ulm, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 2 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Normandale Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Minnesota ranking. Bloomington, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Minnesota ranking. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a large public school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 84 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Capella University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #16. Capella University is a private for-profit institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 51 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
University of Minnesota - Duluth ranked #17 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Minnesota list. UMN Duluth is a medium-sized public school situated in Duluth, Minnesota. It awarded 0 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Special Education at University of Minnesota - Duluth
St Cloud Technical and Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, this small public school awarded 0 degrees to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Special Education at St Cloud Technical and Community College
Minneapolis Community and Technical College landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Minnesota ranking. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 0 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Special Education at Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Bethany Lutheran College landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Minnesota ranking. BLC is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Mankato, Minnesota. It awarded 0 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Anoka-Ramsey Community College landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Minnesota ranking. Anoka-Ramsey Community College is a public institution located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 0 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Anoka-Ramsey Community College Special Education Report
Metropolitan State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Minnesota ranking. Metropolitan State University is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 0 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
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%.
Ridgewater College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Minnesota ranking. Ridgewater College is a public institution located in Willmar, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 0 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Inver Hills Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Minnesota list. This small school is located in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, and it awarded 0 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
Century College ranked #17 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Special Ed Major in Minnesota list. Century College is a medium-sized public school situated in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. It awarded 0 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
