2027 Best Special Education Associate’s Degree Schools
Special Education programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their special education programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 45 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for special education students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Special Education in the United States
Below are the best special education schools at the associate’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
Top Schools in Special Education
Our analysis ranked Utah State University the best school in the country for a degree in special education. This very large public university is located in the city of Logan. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 21 special education students who graduated with this degree at Utah State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Utah State University earn around $61,474 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,125 to complete this degree.
See the full special education program report for Utah State University
Miami Dade College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in special education, ranking #2. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public university. About 41 special education degrees were awarded at Miami Dade College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $53,935. Miami Dade College graduates carry a median of $9,671 in student loans.
See the full special education program report for Miami Dade College
Students looking for a strong special education program will find one at Moorpark College, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Moorpark. There were roughly 87 special education students who graduated with this degree at Moorpark College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Moorpark College earn around $105,599 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,075.
See the full special education program report for Moorpark College
Glendale Community College Glendale Az came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best special education schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Glendale. About 12 special education degrees were awarded at Glendale Community College Glendale Az in the most recent year. Graduates of the special education program make about $51,483 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,996.
Read more about the special education program at Glendale Community College Glendale Az
Students looking for a strong special education program will find one at College Of Southern Nevada, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Las Vegas, College Of Southern Nevada is a very large public university. About 21 special education degrees were awarded at College Of Southern Nevada in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from College Of Southern Nevada generally make around $35,850. College Of Southern Nevada graduates carry a median of $9,250 in student loans.
Read more about the special education program at College Of Southern Nevada
Foothill College placed #6 among the best special education schools. Set in the suburb of Los Altos Hills, Foothill College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 18 special education students who graduated with this degree at Foothill College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Foothill College earn around $94,152 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,595.
More information about a degree in special education from Foothill College
Cuesta College landed the #7 spot for special education this year. Located in the rural area of San Luis Obispo, Cuesta College is a large public university. There were roughly 33 special education students who graduated with this degree at Cuesta College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $64,492 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,958 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in special education from Cuesta College
Pasadena City College came in at #8 for special education this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. About 127 special education degrees were awarded at Pasadena City College in the most recent year. Students who receive their special education degree from Pasadena City College earn around $38,841 in the first couple years of their career. Pasadena City College graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans.
See the full special education program report for Pasadena City College
Saddleback College came in at #9 for special education this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Mission Viejo. About 49 special education degrees were awarded at Saddleback College in the most recent year. Graduates of the special education program make about $15,890 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $5,707.
More information about a degree in special education from Saddleback College
Evergreen Valley College came in at #10 for special education this year. Located in the city of San Jose, Evergreen Valley College is a large public university. There were roughly 39 special education students who graduated with this degree at Evergreen Valley College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Evergreen Valley College earn around $82,879 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,981.
Read more about the special education program at Evergreen Valley College
Santa Monica College placed #11 among the best special education schools. Set in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public institution. Santa Monica College graduates 81% of students within six years. There were roughly 41 special education students who graduated with this degree at Santa Monica College in the most recent data year.
See the full special education program report for Santa Monica College
West Valley College placed #12 among the best special education schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Saratoga. About 47 special education degrees were awarded at West Valley College in the most recent year. Graduates of the special education program make about $25,378 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,308 to complete this degree.
Read more about the special education program at West Valley College
Santa Barbara City College earned the #13 position for special education this year. Located in the city of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara City College is a large public university. Santa Barbara City College awarded about 16 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $68,184 in their early career. Santa Barbara City College graduates carry a median of $21,090 in student loans.
More information about a degree in special education from Santa Barbara City College
Golden West College earned the #14 position for special education this year. Golden West College is a large public school located in the suburb of Huntington Beach. Golden West College awarded about 27 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Golden West College generally make around $82,984. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
See the full special education program report for Golden West College
Fullerton College came in at #15 for special education this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, Fullerton College is a very large public university. There were roughly 78 special education students who graduated with this degree at Fullerton College in the most recent data year.
Get the full special education details for Fullerton College
Santiago Canyon College came in at #16 for special education this year. Santiago Canyon College is a very large public school located in the city of Orange. Santiago Canyon College awarded about 20 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Santiago Canyon College earn a median of $34,100 early in their careers. Santiago Canyon College graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans.
Get the full special education details for Santiago Canyon College
Oxnard College came in at #17 for special education this year. Located in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public university. About 26 special education degrees were awarded at Oxnard College in the most recent year.
See the full special education program report for Oxnard College
Miracosta College landed the #18 spot for special education this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Oceanside. About 96% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 special education students who graduated with this degree at Miracosta College in the most recent data year.
Read more about the special education program at Miracosta College
East Los Angeles College earned the #19 position for special education this year. Set in the suburb of Monterey Park, East Los Angeles College is a very large public institution. About 137 special education degrees were awarded at East Los Angeles College in the most recent year. Special Education graduates of East Los Angeles College earn a median of $33,595 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $8,180.
More information about a degree in special education from East Los Angeles College
Palomar College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best special education schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of San Marcos. About 16 special education degrees were awarded at Palomar College in the most recent year.
See the full special education program report for Palomar College
Mt San Antonio College earned the #21 position for special education this year. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public institution. About 13 special education degrees were awarded at Mt San Antonio College in the most recent year. Special Education graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $44,391 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,384 to complete this degree.
Get the full special education details for Mt San Antonio College
College Of The Sequoias landed the #22 spot for special education this year. College Of The Sequoias is a large public school located in the city of Visalia. College Of The Sequoias awarded about 61 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of College Of The Sequoias earn a median of $37,749 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,288 to complete this degree.
Read more about the special education program at College Of The Sequoias
Clovis Community College Fresno came in at #23 for special education this year. Located in the city of Fresno, Clovis Community College Fresno is a large public university. Clovis Community College Fresno awarded about 53 special education degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in special education from Clovis Community College Fresno
Southwestern College Chula Vista landed the #24 spot for special education this year. Southwestern College Chula Vista is a very large public school located in the city of Chula Vista. Southwestern College Chula Vista awarded about 40 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Southwestern College Chula Vista earn around $49,358 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,205.
Read more about the special education program at Southwestern College Chula Vista
Riverside City College came in at #25 for special education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Riverside. Riverside City College awarded about 57 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $37,102 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,767.
More information about a degree in special education from Riverside City College
Rest of the Top 45 Special Education Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong special education education:
Other Special Education Degree Levels
Explore the best special education schools at other degree levels:
View All Special Education Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 45 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
