2027 Best Special Education Schools in Florida
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.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for special education students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Special Education in Florida
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
Florida State University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in special education. This very large public university is located in the city of Tallahassee. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Florida State University awarded about 26 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Florida State University earn around $51,884 in the first couple years of their career. Florida State University graduates carry a median of $22,709 in student loans.
See the full special education program report for Florida State University
Miami Dade College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in special education, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public university. About 56 special education degrees were awarded at Miami Dade College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $53,935. Students borrow a median of $9,671 to complete this degree.
See the full special education program report for Miami Dade College
A rank of #3 makes University Of Florida one of the top schools for special education. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students within six years. University Of Florida awarded about 141 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from University Of Florida earn around $51,147 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans.
See the full special education program report for University Of Florida
A rank of #4 makes Florida International University one of the top schools for special education. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Miami. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 113 special education students who graduated with this degree at Florida International University in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $49,081 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,031.
Get the full special education details for Florida International University
Students looking for a strong special education program will find one at Daytona State College, which ranked #5. This large public university is located in the city of Daytona Beach. There were roughly 15 special education students who graduated with this degree at Daytona State College in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Daytona State College earn a median of $43,320 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,227 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in special education from Daytona State College
Florida Gulf Coast University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best special education schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Fort Myers. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 25 special education students who graduated with this degree at Florida Gulf Coast University in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Florida Gulf Coast University earn a median of $46,866 early in their careers. Florida Gulf Coast University graduates carry a median of $22,931 in student loans.
Read more about the special education program at Florida Gulf Coast University
University Of Central Florida landed the #7 spot for special education this year. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. University Of Central Florida graduates 78% of students within six years. About 101 special education degrees were awarded at University Of Central Florida in the most recent year. Graduates of the special education program make about $53,313 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,620.
See the full special education program report for University Of Central Florida
Broward College came in at #8 for special education this year. Located in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Broward College is a very large public university. About 59 special education degrees were awarded at Broward College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Broward College generally make around $49,262. Students borrow a median of $13,110 to complete this degree.
Get the full special education details for Broward College
University Of North Florida came in at #9 for special education this year. University Of North Florida is a large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 25 special education degrees were awarded at University Of North Florida in the most recent year. Graduates of the special education program make about $51,534 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,509.
Read more about the special education program at University Of North Florida
Florida Atlantic University came in at #10 for special education this year. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. Florida Atlantic University awarded about 20 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Florida Atlantic University generally make around $56,009. Students borrow a median of $20,212 to complete this degree.
Read more about the special education program at Florida Atlantic University
Barry University landed the #11 spot for special education this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Miami. About 37% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 special education students who graduated with this degree at Barry University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Barry University earn around $64,906 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,180.
Read more about the special education program at Barry University
The University Of West Florida ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best special education schools. Located in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a large public university. The University Of West Florida graduates 59% of students within six years. The University Of West Florida awarded about 383 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from The University Of West Florida generally make around $51,390. The University Of West Florida graduates carry a median of $29,750 in student loans.
Get the full special education details for The University Of West Florida
Nova Southeastern University earned the #13 position for special education this year. Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 43 special education degrees were awarded at Nova Southeastern University in the most recent year. Students who receive their special education degree from Nova Southeastern University earn around $55,480 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,021.
More information about a degree in special education from Nova Southeastern University
Flagler College St Augustine ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best special education schools. Located in the suburb of Saint Augustine, Flagler College St Augustine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 56% of students finish within six years. Flagler College St Augustine awarded about 12 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $33,583 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,547 to complete this degree.
Get the full special education details for Flagler College St Augustine
Florida State College At Jacksonville came in at #15 for special education this year. Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. There were roughly 10 special education students who graduated with this degree at Florida State College At Jacksonville in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $46,748 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,139 to complete this degree.
Read more about the special education program at Florida State College At Jacksonville
Florida Memorial University earned the #16 position for special education this year. Set in the suburb of Miami Gardens, Florida Memorial University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 31% of students complete a degree within six years here. Florida Memorial University awarded about 22 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Florida Memorial University generally make around $69,656. Florida Memorial University graduates carry a median of $31,300 in student loans.
More information about a degree in special education from Florida Memorial University
Southeastern University came in at #17 for special education this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Lakeland. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. There were roughly 24 special education students who graduated with this degree at Southeastern University in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Southeastern University earn a median of $39,595 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,460.
Read more about the special education program at Southeastern University
More Special Education Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 17 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.