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2025 Best Special Education Schools in Massachusetts

12 Colleges in Massachusetts
1,255 Special Ed Degrees Awarded
$52,862 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 12 colleges and universities when compiling its 2025 Best Special Education Schools in Massachusetts ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 1,255 degrees in special education to qualified students.

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

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
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
44 Special Ed Degrees Awarded
$59,238 Median Starting Salary

Boston University is a good option for students pursuing a degree in special education. Located in the city of Boston, Boston U is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #23 out of 2,152 colleges 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 year we have data available. Those special education students who get their degree from Boston University receive $6,376 more than the typical special ed graduate.

More information about a degree in special education from Boston University

2
Boston College crest
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
$59,583 Median Starting Salary

Boston College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in special education. 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 #17 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Boston College is a great college overall.

Those special education students who get their degree from Boston College earn $6,721 more than the typical special ed grad.

More information about a degree in special education from Boston College

3
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
111 Special Ed Degrees Awarded
$56,401 Median Starting Salary

It's difficult to beat Bridgewater State University if you wish 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 #452 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Bridgewater State is a great university overall.

There were about 111 special education students who graduated with this degree at Bridgewater State in the most recent data year. Special Education degree recipients from Bridgewater State University earn a boost of about $3,539 over the typical income of special education majors.

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

4

Westfield State University is one of the best schools in the United States for getting a degree in special education. Westfield is a small public university located in the suburb of Westfield. A Best Colleges rank of #505 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Westfield is a great university overall.

There were approximately 25 special education students who graduated with this degree at Westfield in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the special ed program state that they receive average early career earnings of $45,402.

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

5
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
55 Special Ed Degrees Awarded
47.3% Growth in Graduates

Located in the medium-sized city of Worcester, Worcester State is a public university with a moderately-sized student population. This university ranks 35th out of 63 colleges 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
93 Special Ed Degrees Awarded
$59,740 Median Starting Salary

Located in the medium-sized suburb of Fitchburg, Fitchburg State is a public university with a medium-sized student population. A Best Colleges rank of #496 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Fitchburg State is a great university overall.

There were about 93 special education students who graduated with this degree at Fitchburg State in the most recent year we have data available. Those special education students who get their degree from Fitchburg State University receive $6,878 more than the average special ed grad.

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

7
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
105 Special Ed Degrees Awarded
15.2% Growth in Graduates

Located in the large city of Boston, UMass Boston is a public university with a large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #455 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UMass Boston is a great university overall.

There were approximately 105 special education students who graduated with this degree at UMass Boston in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the special education degree program at University of Massachusetts - Boston earn $12,569 more than the average college graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

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

8
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
20th Most Popular In MA
23.1% Growth in Graduates

Stonehill is a small private not-for-profit college located in the suburb of Easton. This college ranks 31st out of 63 schools for overall quality in the state of Massachusetts.

There were about 13 special education students who graduated with this degree at Stonehill in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in special education from Stonehill College

9

Located in the medium-sized city of Worcester, Assumption is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population. This university ranks 48th out of 63 colleges for overall quality in the state of Massachusetts.

There were approximately 25 special education students who graduated with this degree at Assumption in the most recent year we have data available. Special Education degree recipients from Assumption University get an earnings boost of around $2,318 above the typical earnings of special education majors.

More information about a degree in special education from Assumption University

10
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
114 Special Ed Degrees Awarded
25.4% Growth in Graduates

Cambridge College is a small private not-for-profit college located in the large city of Boston. This college ranks 60th out of 63 colleges for overall quality in the state of Massachusetts.

There were roughly 114 special education students who graduated with this degree at Cambridge College in the most recent year we have data available. Students who receive their degree from the special ed program make an average of $50,666 in their early career salary.

More information about a degree in special education from Cambridge College

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.

StateCollegesDegrees Awarded
Connecticut241369
New Hampshire21059
Maine20279
Rhode Island200141
Vermont19448

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

MajorAnnual Graduates
General Special Education704
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities152
Education/Teaching of Individuals Who are Developmentally Delayed100
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism97
Elementary Special Education77
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Vision Impairments Including Blindness64
Other Special Education & Teaching44
Education of the Deaf9
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs4
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Secondary Special Education Programs4

View All Special Ed Focus Areas >

Related MajorAnnual Graduates
Teacher Education Grade Specific2,575
General Education1,455
Teacher Education Subject Specific1,396
Educational Administration798
Curriculum & Instruction584
Educational Assessment433
Other Education417
Student Counseling293
Teaching English or French214
Instructional Media Design152

View All Special Ed Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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