2027 Best Special Education Schools in Massachusetts
Special Education degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their special education programs.
College Factual analyzed 21 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best special education schools.
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Best Schools for Special Education in Massachusetts
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
Boston College tops our 2027 ranking of the best special education schools. Set in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 19 special education degrees were awarded at Boston College in the most recent year. Students who receive their special education degree from Boston College earn around $59,583 in the first couple years of their career. Boston College graduates carry a median of $18,101 in student loans.
See the full special education program report for Boston College
Students looking for a strong special education program will find one at Stonehill College, which ranked #2. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Easton. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. Stonehill College awarded about 27 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Stonehill College earn a median of $45,704 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,603 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in special education from Stonehill College
A rank of #3 makes Boston University one of the top schools for special education. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. Boston University awarded about 43 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Boston University earn a median of $59,238 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the special education program at Boston University
Worcester State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best special education schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Worcester. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. Worcester State University awarded about 84 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Worcester State University generally make around $45,297. Worcester State University graduates carry a median of $24,451 in student loans.
Get the full special education details for Worcester State University
Endicott College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in special education, landing the #5 spot this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Beverly. Endicott College graduates 75% of students within six years. Endicott College awarded about 74 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $60,292 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,973.
Get the full special education details for Endicott College
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth came in at #6 for special education this year. Set in the suburb of North Dartmouth, University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth awarded about 19 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth earn around $54,669 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth graduates carry a median of $27,106 in student loans.
See the full special education program report for University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Merrimack College came in at #7 for special education this year. Set in the suburb of North Andover, Merrimack College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Merrimack College graduates 70% of students within six years. Merrimack College awarded about 51 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Merrimack College earn a median of $50,506 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,913.
Get the full special education details for Merrimack College
University Of Massachusetts Boston came in at #8 for special education this year. Set in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public institution. University Of Massachusetts Boston graduates 49% of students within six years. University Of Massachusetts Boston awarded about 86 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $65,431 in their early career. University Of Massachusetts Boston graduates carry a median of $26,236 in student loans.
Get the full special education details for University Of Massachusetts Boston
Fitchburg State University earned the #9 position for special education this year. Set in the suburb of Fitchburg, Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 88 special education students who graduated with this degree at Fitchburg State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Fitchburg State University earn around $59,740 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,840.
See the full special education program report for Fitchburg State University
Simmons College landed the #10 spot for special education this year. Simmons College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Simmons College graduates 72% of students within six years. There were roughly 44 special education students who graduated with this degree at Simmons College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Simmons College earn around $58,142 in the first couple years of their career. Simmons College graduates carry a median of $26,740 in student loans.
More information about a degree in special education from Simmons College
Salem State University placed #11 among the best special education schools. Located in the suburb of Salem, Salem State University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. There were roughly 18 special education students who graduated with this degree at Salem State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Salem State University earn around $58,024 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,176.
Get the full special education details for Salem State University
Lesley University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best special education schools. Lesley University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. About 58% of students finish within six years. Lesley University awarded about 48 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Lesley University earn a median of $58,625 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,818 to complete this degree.
Read more about the special education program at Lesley University
Bridgewater State University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best special education schools. Set in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a large public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 118 special education degrees were awarded at Bridgewater State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the special education program make about $53,911 in their early career. Bridgewater State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full special education program report for Bridgewater State University
Assumption College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best special education schools. Set in the city of Worcester, Assumption College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Assumption College awarded about 26 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Assumption College generally make around $55,180. Assumption College graduates carry a median of $26,995 in student loans.
More information about a degree in special education from Assumption College
Framingham State University came in at #15 for special education this year. Located in the city of Framingham, Framingham State University is a moderately-sized public university. Framingham State University graduates 48% of students within six years. Framingham State University awarded about 16 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Framingham State University earn a median of $49,006 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,872.
Get the full special education details for Framingham State University
College Of Our Lady Of The Elms earned the #16 position for special education this year. College Of Our Lady Of The Elms is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Chicopee. About 68% of students finish within six years. College Of Our Lady Of The Elms awarded about 30 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from College Of Our Lady Of The Elms generally make around $57,569. Students borrow a median of $27,854 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in special education from College Of Our Lady Of The Elms
American International College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best special education schools. Located in the city of Springfield, American International College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. There were roughly 39 special education students who graduated with this degree at American International College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from American International College earn around $60,590 in the first couple years of their career. American International College graduates carry a median of $30,390 in student loans.
See the full special education program report for American International College
Regis College earned the #18 position for special education this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Weston. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 special education students who graduated with this degree at Regis College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Regis College earn around $50,691 in the first couple years of their career. Regis College graduates carry a median of $27,441 in student loans.
Get the full special education details for Regis College
Westfield State University earned the #19 position for special education this year. Westfield State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Westfield. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 27 special education students who graduated with this degree at Westfield State University in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Westfield State University earn a median of $48,579 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full special education details for Westfield State University
Lasell College landed the #20 spot for special education this year. Located in the city of Newton, Lasell College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 33 special education students who graduated with this degree at Lasell College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Lasell College generally make around $57,005. Students borrow a median of $26,808 to complete this degree.
Read more about the special education program at Lasell College
Cambridge College landed the #21 spot for special education this year. Cambridge College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. About 12% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 92 special education students who graduated with this degree at Cambridge College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $50,666 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,776.
Read more about the special education program at Cambridge College
More Special Education Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 21 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.