2027 Best Special Education Schools in the The Plains States Region
Special Education programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their special education programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 44 schools to find the best for special education students.
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Best Schools for Special Education in the The Plains States 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
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities tops our 2027 ranking of the best special education schools. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 79 special education degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Students who receive their special education degree from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn around $51,800 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $18,387 in student loans.
See the full special education program report for University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
University Of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best special education schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Paul. University Of St Thomas Minnesota graduates 77% of students within six years. University Of St Thomas Minnesota awarded about 109 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $58,812 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,923 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in special education from University Of St Thomas Minnesota
Northwestern College Iowa came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best special education schools. Located in the town of Orange City, Northwestern College Iowa is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Northwestern College Iowa graduates 66% of students within six years. About 75 special education degrees were awarded at Northwestern College Iowa in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Northwestern College Iowa generally make around $54,845. Typical student debt for the program is $25,415.
Get the full special education details for Northwestern College Iowa
Augustana College South Dakota is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in special education, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Sioux Falls, Augustana College South Dakota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 73% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 29 special education students who graduated with this degree at Augustana College South Dakota in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $50,088 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,217.
Read more about the special education program at Augustana College South Dakota
Students looking for a strong special education program will find one at Saint Marys University Of Minnesota, which ranked #5. Set in the town of Winona, Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 66% of students finish within six years. About 18 special education degrees were awarded at Saint Marys University Of Minnesota in the most recent year. Special Education graduates of Saint Marys University Of Minnesota earn a median of $60,963 early in their careers. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota graduates carry a median of $27,081 in student loans.
Read more about the special education program at Saint Marys University Of Minnesota
Bethel University Minnesota landed the #6 spot for special education this year. Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Paul. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 42 special education degrees were awarded at Bethel University Minnesota in the most recent year. Graduates of the special education program make about $58,506 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,639.
See the full special education program report for Bethel University Minnesota
University Of Iowa ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best special education schools. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. University Of Iowa awarded about 12 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $57,375 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,463.
See the full special education program report for University Of Iowa
Dordt College earned the #8 position for special education this year. Located in the town of Sioux Center, Dordt College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 special education degrees were awarded at Dordt College in the most recent year. Graduates of the special education program make about $54,926 in their early career. Dordt College graduates carry a median of $21,812 in student loans.
See the full special education program report for Dordt College
University Of Kansas earned the #9 position for special education this year. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. University Of Kansas graduates 69% of students within six years. About 136 special education degrees were awarded at University Of Kansas in the most recent year. Students who receive their special education degree from University Of Kansas earn around $58,196 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,608 to complete this degree.
Read more about the special education program at University Of Kansas
Minnesota State University Mankato placed #10 among the best special education schools. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. There were roughly 269 special education students who graduated with this degree at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $51,748. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Read more about the special education program at Minnesota State University Mankato
Concordia University Saint Paul landed the #11 spot for special education this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Paul. Concordia University Saint Paul graduates 45% of students within six years. There were roughly 31 special education students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University Saint Paul in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Concordia University Saint Paul earn around $59,263 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,026 to complete this degree.
Get the full special education details for Concordia University Saint Paul
Buena Vista University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best special education schools. Set in the town of Storm Lake, Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 54 special education degrees were awarded at Buena Vista University in the most recent year. Students who receive their special education degree from Buena Vista University earn around $44,780 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,317 to complete this degree.
Get the full special education details for Buena Vista University
University Of Nebraska At Omaha earned the #13 position for special education this year. Located in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public university. University Of Nebraska At Omaha graduates 49% of students within six years. There were roughly 109 special education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nebraska At Omaha in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from University Of Nebraska At Omaha earn around $46,623 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,860 to complete this degree.
Read more about the special education program at University Of Nebraska At Omaha
University Of North Dakota landed the #14 spot for special education this year. Located in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. There were roughly 119 special education students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Dakota in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from University Of North Dakota generally make around $53,957. University Of North Dakota graduates carry a median of $25,110 in student loans.
Get the full special education details for University Of North Dakota
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best special education schools. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 36 special education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $42,889 early in their careers. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates carry a median of $20,357 in student loans.
Read more about the special education program at University Of Missouri Columbia
Winona State University landed the #16 spot for special education this year. Set in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. There were roughly 37 special education students who graduated with this degree at Winona State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Winona State University earn around $46,697 in the first couple years of their career. Winona State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
See the full special education program report for Winona State University
University Of Northern Iowa ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best special education schools. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 20 special education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Northern Iowa in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $60,588. University Of Northern Iowa graduates carry a median of $22,635 in student loans.
Read more about the special education program at University Of Northern Iowa
Kansas State University landed the #18 spot for special education this year. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. There were roughly 12 special education students who graduated with this degree at Kansas State University in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $51,543 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,546 to complete this degree.
See the full special education program report for Kansas State University
Chadron State College placed #19 among the best special education schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Chadron. About 50% of students finish within six years. Chadron State College awarded about 20 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Chadron State College earn around $47,254 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,912.
More information about a degree in special education from Chadron State College
Morningside College earned the #20 position for special education this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Sioux City. About 50% of students finish within six years. Morningside College awarded about 76 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $55,760 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,281.
More information about a degree in special education from Morningside College
University Of Nebraska Lincoln earned the #21 position for special education this year. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 51 special education degrees were awarded at University Of Nebraska Lincoln in the most recent year. Students who receive their special education degree from University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn around $49,528 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full special education program report for University Of Nebraska Lincoln
Wichita State University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best special education schools. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. About 52 special education degrees were awarded at Wichita State University in the most recent year. Special Education graduates of Wichita State University earn a median of $55,624 early in their careers. Wichita State University graduates carry a median of $24,262 in student loans.
Get the full special education details for Wichita State University
Fort Hays State University landed the #23 spot for special education this year. Fort Hays State University is a large public school located in the town of Hays. About 46% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 116 special education students who graduated with this degree at Fort Hays State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Fort Hays State University earn around $53,586 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,967 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in special education from Fort Hays State University
Minot State University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best special education schools. Set in the city of Minot, Minot State University is a mid-sized public institution. Minot State University graduates 45% of students within six years. Minot State University awarded about 51 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Minot State University earn around $50,645 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,788.
Get the full special education details for Minot State University
Bemidji State University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best special education schools. Located in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. Bemidji State University awarded about 34 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Bemidji State University earn around $57,616 in the first couple years of their career. Bemidji State University graduates carry a median of $25,819 in student loans.
More information about a degree in special education from Bemidji State University
Rest of the Top 44 Special Education Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong special education education:
Narrow Special Education Schools by State
More Special Education Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 44 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.