2027 Best Special Education Schools in the Southwest Region
Special Education degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 46 schools to find the best for special education students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Special Education in the Southwest Region
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
Arizona State University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in special education. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 141 special education students who graduated with this degree at Arizona State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $52,899 in their early career. Arizona State University graduates carry a median of $19,375 in student loans.
Read more about the special education program at Arizona State University
Oklahoma State University Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best special education schools. Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Stillwater. About 68% of students finish within six years. Oklahoma State University Main Campus awarded about 14 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $50,993 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,337.
Read more about the special education program at Oklahoma State University Main Campus
Texas Christian University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best special education schools. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. Texas Christian University graduates 85% of students within six years. Texas Christian University awarded about 15 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $60,035 in their early career. Texas Christian University graduates carry a median of $22,960 in student loans.
See the full special education program report for Texas Christian University
Students looking for a strong special education program will find one at The University Of Texas At Austin, which ranked #4. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 33 special education students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $60,791 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,275 to complete this degree.
Get the full special education details for The University Of Texas At Austin
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best special education schools. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norman. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus awarded about 63 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn a median of $58,084 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,138.
See the full special education program report for University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #6 position for special education this year. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 special education students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $60,140 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,031 to complete this degree.
Read more about the special education program at Texas A And M University College Station
Texas Tech University landed the #7 spot for special education this year. Texas Tech University is a very large public school located in the city of Lubbock. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 106 special education degrees were awarded at Texas Tech University in the most recent year. Students who receive their special education degree from Texas Tech University earn around $59,988 in the first couple years of their career. Texas Tech University graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans.
Get the full special education details for Texas Tech University
University Of Houston placed #8 among the best special education schools. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 special education degrees were awarded at University Of Houston in the most recent year. Graduates of the special education program make about $57,529 in their early career. University Of Houston graduates carry a median of $21,255 in student loans.
Read more about the special education program at University Of Houston
Northern Arizona University placed #9 among the best special education schools. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. Northern Arizona University graduates 61% of students within six years. Northern Arizona University awarded about 104 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $54,048 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
See the full special education program report for Northern Arizona University
The University Of Texas At Arlington earned the #10 position for special education this year. The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public school located in the city of Arlington. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. The University Of Texas At Arlington awarded about 17 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $55,304 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,632 to complete this degree.
Read more about the special education program at The University Of Texas At Arlington
University Of Arizona earned the #11 position for special education this year. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 87 special education degrees were awarded at University Of Arizona in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $44,257. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
See the full special education program report for University Of Arizona
Sam Houston State University placed #12 among the best special education schools. Located in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public university. About 55% of students finish within six years. Sam Houston State University awarded about 50 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Sam Houston State University generally make around $62,215. Typical student debt for the program is $24,850.
Get the full special education details for Sam Houston State University
Glendale Community College Glendale Az placed #13 among the best special education schools. Located in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public university. There were roughly 12 special education students who graduated with this degree at Glendale Community College Glendale Az in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Glendale Community College Glendale Az earn around $51,483 in the first couple years of their career. Glendale Community College Glendale Az graduates carry a median of $15,996 in student loans.
Read more about the special education program at Glendale Community College Glendale Az
Arizona State University Skysong earned the #14 position for special education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Scottsdale. Arizona State University Skysong awarded about 1,492 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Arizona State University Skysong earn a median of $55,916 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,870.
Read more about the special education program at Arizona State University Skysong
University Of North Texas ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best special education schools. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. University Of North Texas awarded about 49 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $60,365 in their early career. University Of North Texas graduates carry a median of $21,817 in student loans.
More information about a degree in special education from University Of North Texas
Lamar University came in at #16 for special education this year. Set in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a very large public institution. Lamar University graduates 37% of students within six years. About 430 special education degrees were awarded at Lamar University in the most recent year. Graduates of the special education program make about $60,177 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,988 to complete this degree.
Get the full special education details for Lamar University
Texas Womans University placed #17 among the best special education schools. Set in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. About 33 special education degrees were awarded at Texas Womans University in the most recent year. Students who receive their special education degree from Texas Womans University earn around $57,313 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,211 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in special education from Texas Womans University
New Mexico State University Main Campus earned the #18 position for special education this year. Set in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. About 41 special education degrees were awarded at New Mexico State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Special Education graduates of New Mexico State University Main Campus earn a median of $46,548 early in their careers. New Mexico State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
Read more about the special education program at New Mexico State University Main Campus
Texas State University San Marcos earned the #19 position for special education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Marcos. About 55% of students finish within six years. Texas State University San Marcos awarded about 20 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of $58,153 early in their careers. Texas State University San Marcos graduates carry a median of $23,659 in student loans.
Get the full special education details for Texas State University San Marcos
Texas A And M International University landed the #20 spot for special education this year. Texas A And M International University is a large public school located in the city of Laredo. Texas A And M International University graduates 46% of students within six years. Texas A And M International University awarded about 46 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $53,256 in their early career. Texas A And M International University graduates carry a median of $18,229 in student loans.
Read more about the special education program at Texas A And M International University
Midwestern State University placed #21 among the best special education schools. Set in the city of Wichita Falls, Midwestern State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Midwestern State University graduates 43% of students within six years. Midwestern State University awarded about 46 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Midwestern State University earn around $60,084 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,415.
Read more about the special education program at Midwestern State University
The University Of Texas At El Paso came in at #22 for special education this year. Set in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 34 special education degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At El Paso in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from The University Of Texas At El Paso generally make around $65,786. The University Of Texas At El Paso graduates carry a median of $19,819 in student loans.
More information about a degree in special education from The University Of Texas At El Paso
West Texas A And M University placed #23 among the best special education schools. This large public university is located in the town of Canyon. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 special education students who graduated with this degree at West Texas A And M University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from West Texas A And M University generally make around $43,515. Students borrow a median of $22,333 to complete this degree.
Read more about the special education program at West Texas A And M University
The University Of Texas Pan American placed #24 among the best special education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Edinburg. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. The University Of Texas Pan American awarded about 84 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $55,668. The University Of Texas Pan American graduates carry a median of $14,694 in student loans.
Get the full special education details for The University Of Texas Pan American
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus earned the #25 position for special education this year. Set in the town of Portales, Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus graduates 39% of students within six years. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus awarded about 56 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus generally make around $49,087. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $19,277 in student loans.
Read more about the special education program at Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus
Rest of the Top 46 Special Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s special education ranking:
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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 · 46 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.
