Best Schools for Special Education in California
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the special education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Special Education
Leading the list is California State University Fullerton, our #1 school for special education. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 36 special education degrees were awarded at California State University Fullerton in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $79,384. California State University Fullerton graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans.
Read more about the special education program at California State University Fullerton
A rank of #2 makes California State University Long Beach one of the top schools for special education. This very large public university is located in the city of Long Beach. California State University Long Beach graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 36 special education students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $77,631 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,671.
Read more about the special education program at California State University Long Beach
San Jose State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in special education, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 42 special education degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
See the full special education program report for San Jose State University
A rank of #4 makes San Francisco State University one of the top schools for special education. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. San Francisco State University graduates 50% of students within six years. San Francisco State University awarded about 46 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $69,592 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,024 to complete this degree.
See the full special education program report for San Francisco State University
Students looking for a strong special education program will find one at California State University East Bay, which ranked #5. California State University East Bay is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. There were roughly 43 special education students who graduated with this degree at California State University East Bay in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $77,402 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,073 to complete this degree.
Read more about the special education program at California State University East Bay
Loyola Marymount University came in at #6 for special education this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 79% of students finish within six years. Loyola Marymount University awarded about 27 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Loyola Marymount University generally make around $71,022. Typical student debt for the program is $22,248.
More information about a degree in special education from Loyola Marymount University
California State University Los Angeles came in at #7 for special education this year. California State University Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. California State University Los Angeles graduates 53% of students within six years. California State University Los Angeles awarded about 68 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $83,983 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,430 to complete this degree.
See the full special education program report for California State University Los Angeles
University Of Southern California placed #8 among the best special education schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 14 special education degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Special Education graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $58,147 early in their careers. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans.
See the full special education program report for University Of Southern California
California State University San Bernardino earned the #9 position for special education this year. Set in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University San Bernardino awarded about 38 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $42,421 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,149 to complete this degree.
Read more about the special education program at California State University San Bernardino
California State University Northridge placed #10 among the best special education schools. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. About 52 special education degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. Students who receive their special education degree from California State University Northridge earn around $68,093 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Northridge graduates carry a median of $16,202 in student loans.
See the full special education program report for California State University Northridge
California State University Fresno came in at #11 for special education this year. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Fresno awarded about 29 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $71,787. Students borrow a median of $15,598 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in special education from California State University Fresno
National University earned the #12 position for special education this year. Located in the city of San Diego, National University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 352 special education degrees were awarded at National University in the most recent year. Students who receive their special education degree from National University earn around $70,672 in the first couple years of their career. National University graduates carry a median of $30,426 in student loans.
Get the full special education details for National University
California State University Bakersfield came in at #13 for special education this year. Located in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 15 special education degrees were awarded at California State University Bakersfield in the most recent year.
More information about a degree in special education from California State University Bakersfield
California State University Sacramento came in at #14 for special education this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. California State University Sacramento graduates 56% of students within six years. California State University Sacramento awarded about 50 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $33,783 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,750.
Get the full special education details for California State University Sacramento
Point Loma Nazarene University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best special education schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. Point Loma Nazarene University graduates 77% of students within six years. About 10 special education degrees were awarded at Point Loma Nazarene University in the most recent year. Special Education graduates of Point Loma Nazarene University earn a median of $73,427 early in their careers. Point Loma Nazarene University graduates carry a median of $22,542 in student loans.
Get the full special education details for Point Loma Nazarene University
California Lutheran University placed #16 among the best special education schools. California Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Thousand Oaks. About 70% of students finish within six years. California Lutheran University awarded about 16 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from California Lutheran University earn around $68,342 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,727 to complete this degree.
See the full special education program report for California Lutheran University
Azusa Pacific University landed the #17 spot for special education this year. Azusa Pacific University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Azusa. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 special education degrees were awarded at Azusa Pacific University in the most recent year. Special Education graduates of Azusa Pacific University earn a median of $58,302 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,709.
See the full special education program report for Azusa Pacific University
California State University Dominguez Hills ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best special education schools. Located in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public university. About 43% of students finish within six years. California State University Dominguez Hills awarded about 12 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of California State University Dominguez Hills earn a median of $74,460 early in their careers. California State University Dominguez Hills graduates carry a median of $15,886 in student loans.
See the full special education program report for California State University Dominguez Hills
Fresno Pacific University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best special education schools. Located in the city of Fresno, Fresno Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Fresno Pacific University graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 16 special education students who graduated with this degree at Fresno Pacific University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Fresno Pacific University earn around $80,696 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,596.
Read more about the special education program at Fresno Pacific University
University Of La Verne ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best special education schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of La Verne. About 63% of students finish within six years. About 16 special education degrees were awarded at University Of La Verne in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from University Of La Verne generally make around $35,364. University Of La Verne graduates carry a median of $26,314 in student loans.
Read more about the special education program at University Of La Verne
Alliant International University landed the #21 spot for special education this year. Alliant International University is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. About 108 special education degrees were awarded at Alliant International University in the most recent year. Graduates of the special education program make about $63,647 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,234.
Get the full special education details for Alliant International University
Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System came in at #22 for special education this year. Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System is a large public school located in the suburb of Aliso Viejo. Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System awarded about 81 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System earn a median of $67,222 early in their careers. Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System graduates carry a median of $27,471 in student loans.
More information about a degree in special education from Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System
University Of Redlands ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best special education schools. University Of Redlands is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Redlands. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 special education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Redlands in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of University Of Redlands earn a median of $63,411 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,175 to complete this degree.
Read more about the special education program at University Of Redlands
Moorpark College earned the #24 position for special education this year. Located in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public university. About 83 special education degrees were awarded at Moorpark College in the most recent year. Students who receive their special education degree from Moorpark College earn around $105,599 in the first couple years of their career. Moorpark College graduates carry a median of $17,075 in student loans.
See the full special education program report for Moorpark College
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned the #25 position for special education this year. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 special education students who graduated with this degree at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $53,654 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,273 to complete this degree.
Read more about the special education program at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Rest of the Top 50 Special Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s special education ranking:
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 109 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.
