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2024 Best Special Education Schools in Massachusetts

20 Colleges in Massachusetts
1,322 Special Ed Degrees Awarded
$49,720 Avg Early-Career Salary
Special Education is of the hottest degree programs in the United States, coming in as the #29 most popular major in the country. So, there are lots of possibilities to explore when you're trying to determine where you want to get your degree.

College Factual looked at 20 colleges and universities when compiling its 2024 Best Special Education Schools in Massachusetts ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 1,322 degrees in special education during the 2020-2021 academic year.

What's on this page: * Degree-Level Rankings

Choosing a Great Special Education School

Best Special Education Schools in Massachusetts The special ed program you select can have a big impact on your future. That's why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Special Education rankings. For our Best Overall Special Education School rankings, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.

In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.

Special Education Rankings by Degree Level

Bachelor's Degrees in Special Ed
Master's Degrees in Special Ed
Doctor's Degrees in Special Ed

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Special Education Schools in Massachusetts ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.

To further help you make the college decision, we've developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Read more about College Factual's methodology.


 

Best Schools for Special Education in Massachusetts

The schools below may not offer all types of special ed degrees so you may want to filter by degree level first. However, they are great for the degree levels they do offer.

10 Top Massachusetts Schools in Special Ed

1
Boston U crest
Boston University
Boston, MA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
44 Special Ed Degrees Awarded
$48,895 Median Starting Salary

Boston University is a wonderful choice for students pursuing a degree in special education. Located in the large city of Boston, Boston U is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #54 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Boston U is a great university overall.

There were roughly 44 special education students who graduated with this degree at Boston U in the most recent data year. Soon after graduating, special ed degree recipients generally earn around $48,895 in their early careers.

More information about a degree in special education from Boston University

2
Endicott crest
Endicott College
Beverly, MA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
226 Special Ed Degrees Awarded
21.2% Growth in Graduates

Endicott College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in special education. Located in the suburb of Beverly, Endicott is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. A Best Colleges rank of #499 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Endicott is a great college overall.

There were about 226 special education students who graduated with this degree at Endicott in the most recent data year. Special Education degree recipients from Endicott College receive an earnings boost of approximately $4,645 over the typical earnings of special education graduates.

More information about a degree in special education from Endicott College

3
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
82 Special Ed Degrees Awarded
15.9% Growth in Graduates

Any student pursuing a degree in special education needs to take a look at Simmons University. Located in the city of Boston, Simmons is a private not-for-profit university with a moderately-sized student population. A Best Colleges rank of #90 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Simmons is a great university overall.

There were roughly 82 special education students who graduated with this degree at Simmons in the most recent data year. Special Education degree recipients from Simmons University get an earnings boost of around $2,139 over the average income of special education majors.

More information about a degree in special education from Simmons University

4
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
144 Special Ed Degrees Awarded
11.8% Growth in Graduates

It's difficult to beat Bridgewater State University if you want to pursue a degree in special education. Located in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State is a public university with a moderately-sized student population. A Best Colleges rank of #529 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Bridgewater State is a great university overall.

There were roughly 144 special education students who graduated with this degree at Bridgewater State in the most recent data year. Students who receive their degree from the special ed program make about $45,506 for their early career.

More information about a degree in special education from Bridgewater State University

5
Graduate Certificate Highest Degree Type
13.8% Growth in Graduates

Located in the city of Worcester, Worcester State is a public university with a medium-sized student population. This university ranks 40th out of 63 schools for overall quality in the state of Massachusetts.More information about a degree in special education from Worcester State University

6
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
106 Special Ed Degrees Awarded
$51,546 Median Starting Salary

Located in the medium-sized suburb of Fitchburg, Fitchburg State is a public university with a moderately-sized student population. This university ranks 44th out of 63 colleges for overall quality in the state of Massachusetts.

There were about 106 special education students who graduated with this degree at Fitchburg State in the most recent data year. Soon after graduating, special ed degree recipients typically make around $51,546 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a degree in special education from Fitchburg State University

7
Boston College crest
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA

Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #60 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Boston College is a great college overall.

After graduating, special ed degree recipients usually earn about $51,380 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a degree in special education from Boston College

8
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
89 Special Ed Degrees Awarded
$52,358 Median Starting Salary

Located in the city of Boston, UMass Boston is a public university with a large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #433 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means UMass Boston is a great university overall.

There were approximately 89 special education students who graduated with this degree at UMass Boston in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the special education program at University of Massachusetts - Boston make $2,638 above the typical graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a degree in special education from University of Massachusetts - Boston

9
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
$43,812 Median Starting Salary
$27,000 Median Student Debt

Westfield is a small public university located in the large suburb of Westfield. A Best Colleges rank of #714 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Westfield is a great university overall.

There were approximately 24 special education students who graduated with this degree at Westfield in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special ed degree recipients usually make an average of $43,812 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a degree in special education from Westfield State University

10
Lesley crest
Lesley University
Cambridge, MA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
81 Special Ed Degrees Awarded
16.0% Growth in Graduates

Lesley is a small private not-for-profit university located in the midsize city of Cambridge. A Best Colleges rank of #559 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means Lesley is a great university overall.

There were approximately 81 special education students who graduated with this degree at Lesley in the most recent year we have data available. Special Education degree recipients from Lesley University earn a boost of around $5,102 above the average income of special education graduates.

More information about a degree in special education from Lesley University


 

Best Special Education Colleges in the New England Region

Explore all the Best Special Education Schools in the New England Area or other specific states within that region.

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Connecticut 241 369
New Hampshire 210 59
Maine 202 79
Rhode Island 200 141
Vermont 194 48

View All Rankings >

One of 14 majors within the Education area of study, Special Education has other similar majors worth exploring.

Special Ed Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
General Special Education 719
Education/Teaching of Individuals Who are Developmentally Delayed 158
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities 151
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism 112
Elementary Special Education 77
Other Special Education & Teaching 44
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Vision Impairments Including Blindness 43
Education of the Deaf 10
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs 6
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Secondary Special Education Programs 2

View All Special Ed Focus Areas >

Related Major Annual Graduates
Teacher Education Grade Specific 2,709
Teacher Education Subject Specific 1,296
General Education 1,285
Educational Administration 777
Curriculum & Instruction 671
Other Education 447
Student Counseling 217
Instructional Media Design 210
Teaching English or French 177
Educational Assessment 28

View All Special Ed Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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