College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois

39 Ranked Colleges
1,153 Degrees Awarded
$27,900 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois” 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 Illinois, there were 1,153 special education graduates with average earnings and debt of $47,433 and $23,191 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois” ranking analyzed 39 colleges that offered a degree in special education. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular special education programs in the United States.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Special Ed Rankings Other Ranking Categories

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois

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

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Illinois State University. The school came in at #1 for the Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois. Illinois State University is a public institution located in Normal, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 214 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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%.

Read more about Special Education at Illinois State

2
NLU crest
National Louis University
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend National Louis University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois list. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 127 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Special Education at National Louis University

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northern Illinois University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois list. This fairly large school is located in Dekalb, Illinois, and it awarded 114 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Special Education at Northern Illinois University

4

Out of the 39 schools in the Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #4 spot on the list. UIC is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 69 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Special Education at UIC

5
DePaul crest
DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend DePaul University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois list. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 58 ’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 full report on Special Education at DePaul

6
Aurora crest
Aurora University
Aurora, Illinois

Aurora University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois ranking. Aurora University is located in Aurora, Illinois 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 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Special Education at Aurora

7

With a ranking of #7, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois list. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 52 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Special Education at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

8
Lewis crest
Lewis University
Romeoville, Illinois

With a ranking of #8, Lewis University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois list. This medium-sized school is located in Romeoville, Illinois, and it awarded 50 ’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 Lewis

9
EIU crest
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois ranking. EIU is a medium-sized public school situated in Charleston, Illinois. It awarded 38 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Eastern Illinois University Special Education Report

10
Trinity Christian crest
Trinity Christian College
Palos Heights, Illinois

Trinity Christian College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #10. This small school is located in Palos Heights, Illinois, and it awarded 37 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

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. 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%.

Read full report on Special Education at Trinity Christian College

11
Concordia University, Chicago crest
Concordia University, Chicago
River Forest, Illinois

Concordia University, Chicago ranked #11 on this year’s Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois list. Concordia University, Chicago is located in River Forest, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 36 ’s special ed degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Special Education at Concordia University, Chicago

12

Northeastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 35 degrees to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Special Education at Northeastern Illinois University

13

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois ranking. SIUE is a fairly large school located in Edwardsville, Illinois that handed out 32 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Special Education at SIUE

14
Dominican U crest
Dominican University
River Forest, Illinois

Dominican University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois ranking. This small school is located in River Forest, Illinois, and it awarded 29 ’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 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Special Education at Dominican University

15
Elmhurst crest
Elmhurst University
Elmhurst, Illinois

With a ranking of #15, Elmhurst University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois list. Located in Elmhurst, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 28 degrees to qualified ’s special ed students 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%.

Full Elmhurst Special Education Report

16

Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois ranking. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois. It awarded 26 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Special Education at SIUC

17
Roosevelt crest
Roosevelt University
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #17, Roosevelt University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois list. Roosevelt is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 21 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Special Education at Roosevelt

18

Western Illinois University ranked #18 on this year’s Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois list. Western Illinois University is a public institution located in Macomb, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 19 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Special Education at Western Illinois University

19
SXU crest
Saint Xavier University
Chicago, Illinois

Saint Xavier University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 13 degrees to qualified ’s special ed students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Special Education at SXU

20
Greenville crest
Greenville University
Greenville, Illinois

Greenville University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois ranking. Greenville is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Greenville, Illinois. It awarded 12 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. 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%.

Full Greenville Special Education Report

21
CSU crest
Chicago State University
Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #21, Chicago State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois list. Chicago State University is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 8 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Special Education at Chicago State University

21
Bradley crest
Bradley University
Peoria, Illinois

Bradley University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois ranking. Peoria, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s special ed degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 full report on Special Education at Bradley University

23
University of Saint Francis crest
University of St Francis
Joliet, Illinois

University of St Francis did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #23. University of Saint Francis is a small school located in Joliet, Illinois that handed out 6 ’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%.

Full University of Saint Francis Special Education Report

23
Benedictine U crest
Benedictine University
Lisle, Illinois

Benedictine University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois ranking. Benedictine University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lisle, Illinois. It awarded 6 ’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%.

Full Benedictine University Special Education Report

23
Loyola Chicago crest
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Loyola University Chicago ranked #23 on this year’s Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois list. Loyola University Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 16 ’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Loyola University Chicago Special Education Report

23
Rockford crest
Rockford University
Rockford, Illinois

Rockford University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Special Ed Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #23. Located in Rockford, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 6 diplomas to qualified ’s special ed students 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.

Full Rockford Special Education Report

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Credits

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options