2027 Best Special Education Schools in Ohio
Special Education programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 22 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best special education schools.
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Best Schools for Special Education in Ohio
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
University Of Dayton tops our 2027 ranking of the best special education schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Dayton. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 25 special education degrees were awarded at University Of Dayton in the most recent year. Graduates of the special education program make about $45,260 in their early career. University Of Dayton graduates carry a median of $20,612 in student loans.
More information about a degree in special education from University Of Dayton
Marietta College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in special education, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Marietta, Marietta College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 special education students who graduated with this degree at Marietta College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $79,641 in their early career. Marietta College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in special education from Marietta College
Students looking for a strong special education program will find one at Ohio State University Main Campus, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. About 14 special education degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their special education degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $45,213 in the first couple years of their career. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $26,899 in student loans.
More information about a degree in special education from Ohio State University Main Campus
Students looking for a strong special education program will find one at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus, which ranked #4. This very large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 98 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $51,104. Students borrow a median of $24,742 to complete this degree.
See the full special education program report for University Of Cincinnati Main Campus
Students looking for a strong special education program will find one at Ohio Wesleyan University, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Delaware, Ohio Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 special education degrees were awarded at Ohio Wesleyan University in the most recent year. Special Education graduates of Ohio Wesleyan University earn a median of $31,531 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,868.
Get the full special education details for Ohio Wesleyan University
University Of Toledo placed #6 among the best special education schools. University Of Toledo is a large public school located in the city of Toledo. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Toledo awarded about 30 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from University Of Toledo generally make around $47,722. University Of Toledo graduates carry a median of $22,073 in student loans.
Get the full special education details for University Of Toledo
College Of Mount St Joseph landed the #7 spot for special education this year. Located in the suburb of Cincinnati, College Of Mount St Joseph is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. College Of Mount St Joseph awarded about 49 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from College Of Mount St Joseph earn around $69,964 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,273.
Read more about the special education program at College Of Mount St Joseph
Bowling Green State University Main Campus landed the #8 spot for special education this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Bowling Green. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. About 260 special education degrees were awarded at Bowling Green State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the special education program make about $47,648 in their early career. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $26,313 in student loans.
More information about a degree in special education from Bowling Green State University Main Campus
Miami University Oxford landed the #9 spot for special education this year. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public institution. Miami University Oxford graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 48 special education students who graduated with this degree at Miami University Oxford in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $46,559 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the special education program at Miami University Oxford
Xavier University landed the #10 spot for special education this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 28 special education students who graduated with this degree at Xavier University in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Xavier University earn a median of $52,643 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,614 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in special education from Xavier University
Ohio University Main Campus placed #11 among the best special education schools. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. Ohio University Main Campus graduates 65% of students within six years. There were roughly 73 special education students who graduated with this degree at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $43,944 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,950.
More information about a degree in special education from Ohio University Main Campus
Kent State University At Kent earned the #12 position for special education this year. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. Kent State University At Kent graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 58 special education students who graduated with this degree at Kent State University At Kent in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Kent State University At Kent earn around $43,217 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full special education details for Kent State University At Kent
Lourdes College came in at #13 for special education this year. Located in the suburb of Sylvania, Lourdes College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 32% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 special education students who graduated with this degree at Lourdes College in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Lourdes College earn a median of $75,250 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $29,668 to complete this degree.
Get the full special education details for Lourdes College
Wright State University Main Campus came in at #14 for special education this year. Wright State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Dayton. Wright State University Main Campus graduates 42% of students within six years. Wright State University Main Campus awarded about 19 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Wright State University Main Campus earn a median of $46,116 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,836.
Read more about the special education program at Wright State University Main Campus
Central State University earned the #15 position for special education this year. Set in the rural area of Wilberforce, Central State University is a mid-sized public institution. Central State University graduates 23% of students within six years. About 27 special education degrees were awarded at Central State University in the most recent year. Special Education graduates of Central State University earn a median of $27,388 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $31,318 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in special education from Central State University
Baldwin Wallace College came in at #16 for special education this year. Set in the suburb of Berea, Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 special education degrees were awarded at Baldwin Wallace College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Baldwin Wallace College generally make around $52,975. Typical student debt for the program is $27,307.
More information about a degree in special education from Baldwin Wallace College
University Of Akron Main Campus earned the #17 position for special education this year. Located in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public university. About 52% of students finish within six years. About 61 special education degrees were awarded at University Of Akron Main Campus in the most recent year. Special Education graduates of University Of Akron Main Campus earn a median of $40,389 early in their careers. University Of Akron Main Campus graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in special education from University Of Akron Main Campus
Ashland University came in at #18 for special education this year. Set in the town of Ashland, Ashland University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Ashland University awarded about 57 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Ashland University generally make around $45,537. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full special education details for Ashland University
Mount Vernon Nazarene University landed the #19 spot for special education this year. Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Mount Vernon. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 special education students who graduated with this degree at Mount Vernon Nazarene University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $46,853 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,602 to complete this degree.
Get the full special education details for Mount Vernon Nazarene University
University Of Rio Grande ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best special education schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Rio Grande. Roughly 36% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 24 special education degrees were awarded at University Of Rio Grande in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from University Of Rio Grande generally make around $46,611. Students borrow a median of $27,044 to complete this degree.
Read more about the special education program at University Of Rio Grande
Youngstown State University landed the #21 spot for special education this year. Youngstown State University is a large public school located in the city of Youngstown. Youngstown State University graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 38 special education students who graduated with this degree at Youngstown State University in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Youngstown State University earn a median of $40,042 early in their careers. Youngstown State University graduates carry a median of $29,125 in student loans.
Read more about the special education program at Youngstown State University
Shawnee State University earned the #22 position for special education this year. Set in the town of Portsmouth, Shawnee State University is a mid-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 19 special education degrees were awarded at Shawnee State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Shawnee State University generally make around $37,020. Shawnee State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in special education from Shawnee 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. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 22 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.