2027 Best Special Education Schools in Illinois
Special Education is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 20 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best special education schools.
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Best Schools for Special Education in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall special education education in Illinois.
Top Schools in Special Education
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in special education. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. About 42 special education degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Students who receive their special education degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $57,086 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,925 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in special education from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Depaul University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in special education, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 70 special education degrees were awarded at Depaul University in the most recent year. Special Education graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $67,561 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,340 to complete this degree.
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Illinois State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in special education, ranking #3. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 215 special education students who graduated with this degree at Illinois State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Illinois State University earn around $52,626 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,436.
See the full special education program report for Illinois State University
University Of Illinois At Chicago is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in special education, ranking #4. This very large public university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. There were roughly 22 special education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $73,322 in their early career. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates carry a median of $20,115 in student loans.
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Olivet Nazarene University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best special education schools. Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bourbonnais. Olivet Nazarene University graduates 61% of students within six years. Olivet Nazarene University awarded about 25 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $68,371 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,797.
Read more about the special education program at Olivet Nazarene University
Northern Illinois University landed the #6 spot for special education this year. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 57 special education students who graduated with this degree at Northern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $53,426 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,452.
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Concordia University Chicago landed the #7 spot for special education this year. Set in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 36%. Concordia University Chicago awarded about 23 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Concordia University Chicago earn around $64,673 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,956 to complete this degree.
See the full special education program report for Concordia University Chicago
Roosevelt University earned the #8 position for special education this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. About 41 special education degrees were awarded at Roosevelt University in the most recent year. Students who receive their special education degree from Roosevelt University earn around $50,101 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,879 to complete this degree.
Read more about the special education program at Roosevelt University
Northeastern Illinois University came in at #9 for special education this year. Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 22% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 55 special education students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of $69,073 early in their careers. Northeastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $17,600 in student loans.
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Lewis University placed #10 among the best special education schools. Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Romeoville. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 73 special education degrees were awarded at Lewis University in the most recent year. Special Education graduates of Lewis University earn a median of $48,819 early in their careers. Lewis University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in special education from Lewis University
Dominican University placed #11 among the best special education schools. Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. About 55% of students finish within six years. Dominican University awarded about 19 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $45,546 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,236 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in special education from Dominican University
University Of St Francis ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best special education schools. University Of St Francis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Joliet. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 special education students who graduated with this degree at University Of St Francis in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from University Of St Francis earn around $45,323 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,500 to complete this degree.
See the full special education program report for University Of St Francis
National Louis University landed the #13 spot for special education this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 30%. There were roughly 165 special education students who graduated with this degree at National Louis University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from National Louis University generally make around $57,644. National Louis University graduates carry a median of $29,242 in student loans.
Read more about the special education program at National Louis University
Southern Illinois University Carbondale placed #14 among the best special education schools. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduates 60% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 special education students who graduated with this degree at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $44,429 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,875 to complete this degree.
Read more about the special education program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Eastern Illinois University came in at #15 for special education this year. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. About 38 special education degrees were awarded at Eastern Illinois University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University generally make around $43,955. Typical student debt for the program is $26,046.
Read more about the special education program at Eastern Illinois University
Western Illinois University earned the #16 position for special education this year. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 45% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 25 special education students who graduated with this degree at Western Illinois University in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of $46,729 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,986 to complete this degree.
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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned the #17 position for special education this year. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. About 55% of students finish within six years. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville awarded about 14 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $44,205. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates carry a median of $19,850 in student loans.
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Saint Xavier University placed #18 among the best special education schools. Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 special education students who graduated with this degree at Saint Xavier University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Saint Xavier University generally make around $54,613. Saint Xavier University graduates carry a median of $25,735 in student loans.
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Trinity Christian College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best special education schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Palos Heights. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 special education degrees were awarded at Trinity Christian College in the most recent year. Students who receive their special education degree from Trinity Christian College earn around $48,840 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $35,611 to complete this degree.
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Chicago State University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best special education schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 16%. Chicago State University awarded about 14 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $47,477 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $43,322 to complete this degree.
Get the full special education details for Chicago State University
More Special Education Rankings
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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 · 20 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.