2027 Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools
Special Education degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their special education programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 182 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 the United States
Below are the best special education schools at the bachelor’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
Top Schools in Special Education
University Of Maryland College Park is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in special education. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 14 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $67,390 in their early career. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $20,836 in student loans.
More information about a degree in special education from University Of Maryland College Park
A rank of #2 makes Vanderbilt University one of the top schools for special education. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 special education students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $71,679. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans.
Read more about the special education program at Vanderbilt University
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best special education schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 special education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $51,922 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,925 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in special education from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
A rank of #4 makes University Of Minnesota Twin Cities one of the top schools for special education. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 41 special education degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Graduates of the special education program make about $49,771 in their early career. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $18,387 in student loans.
Get the full special education details for University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Florida State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best special education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tallahassee. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 26 special education degrees were awarded at Florida State University in the most recent year. Special Education graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $51,884 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,709.
More information about a degree in special education from Florida State University
University Of Hawaii At Manoa earned the #6 position for special education this year. University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public school located in the city of Honolulu. University Of Hawaii At Manoa graduates 64% of students within six years. University Of Hawaii At Manoa awarded about 36 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from University Of Hawaii At Manoa generally make around $60,396. University Of Hawaii At Manoa graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans.
Get the full special education details for University Of Hawaii At Manoa
Towson University came in at #7 for special education this year. Towson University is a very large public school located in the city of Towson. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. Towson University awarded about 108 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Towson University earn a median of $53,331 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,750.
More information about a degree in special education from Towson University
The College Of New Jersey earned the #8 position for special education this year. Located in the suburb of Ewing, The College Of New Jersey is a large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 66 special education students who graduated with this degree at The College Of New Jersey in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from The College Of New Jersey generally make around $64,759. Typical student debt for the program is $25,228.
See the full special education program report for The College Of New Jersey
University Of Connecticut came in at #9 for special education this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Storrs. University Of Connecticut graduates 83% of students within six years. About 14 special education degrees were awarded at University Of Connecticut in the most recent year. Students who receive their special education degree from University Of Connecticut earn around $58,784 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,637.
Read more about the special education program at University Of Connecticut
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania earned the #10 position for special education this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of West Chester. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 69 special education students who graduated with this degree at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year.
Read more about the special education program at West Chester University Of Pennsylvania
Indiana University Bloomington placed #11 among the best special education schools. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. Indiana University Bloomington graduates 80% of students within six years. Indiana University Bloomington awarded about 27 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Indiana University Bloomington earn around $51,306 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in special education from Indiana University Bloomington
Arizona State University came in at #12 for special education this year. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. Arizona State University awarded about 82 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $49,882. Typical student debt for the program is $19,375.
More information about a degree in special education from Arizona State University
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #13 among the best special education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 35 special education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $50,174 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,863 to complete this degree.
Get the full special education details for University Of Wisconsin Madison
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #14 among the best special education schools. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 special education students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the special education program make about $65,476 in their early career. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $22,607 in student loans.
See the full special education program report for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Illinois State University came in at #15 for special education this year. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. Illinois State University awarded about 174 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $48,358. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $20,436 in student loans.
See the full special education program report for Illinois State University
Miami Dade College earned the #16 position for special education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Miami. There were roughly 56 special education students who graduated with this degree at Miami Dade College in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Miami Dade College earn a median of $53,935 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,671 to complete this degree.
Read more about the special education program at Miami Dade College
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #17 for special education this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 16 special education students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $48,773 early in their careers. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $26,276 in student loans.
More information about a degree in special education from Purdue University Main Campus
Syracuse University earned the #18 position for special education this year. Set in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. Syracuse University awarded about 58 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $55,881 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full special education details for Syracuse University
Rowan University placed #19 among the best special education schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Glassboro. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. There were roughly 91 special education students who graduated with this degree at Rowan University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their special education degree from Rowan University earn around $66,244 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,488.
See the full special education program report for Rowan University
Seton Hall University earned the #20 position for special education this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of South Orange. Seton Hall University graduates 70% of students within six years. About 13 special education degrees were awarded at Seton Hall University in the most recent year. Graduates of the special education program make about $61,598 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the special education program at Seton Hall University
James Madison University earned the #21 position for special education this year. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 13 special education degrees were awarded at James Madison University in the most recent year. Students who receive their special education degree from James Madison University earn around $56,055 in the first couple years of their career. James Madison University graduates carry a median of $21,218 in student loans.
See the full special education program report for James Madison University
George Mason University landed the #22 spot for special education this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fairfax. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. George Mason University awarded about 56 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, special education degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $62,342. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete this degree.
Get the full special education details for George Mason University
Michigan State University earned the #23 position for special education this year. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 92 special education degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Special Education graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $57,308 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,375 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in special education from Michigan State University
Utah State University earned the #24 position for special education this year. Set in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. Utah State University awarded about 72 special education degrees in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of Utah State University earn a median of $61,474 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,125.
Get the full special education details for Utah State University
University Of Georgia placed #25 among the best special education schools. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 82 special education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Georgia in the most recent data year. Special Education graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $43,137 early in their careers. University Of Georgia graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
Read more about the special education program at University Of Georgia
Rest of the Top 50 Special Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s special education ranking:
Honorable Mentions
A few more special education schools worth a look:
- #51 — Ohio State University Main Campus · Columbus, OH
- #52 — Lewis University · Romeoville, IL
- #53 — Utah Valley University · Orem, UT
- #54 — University Of Arizona · Tucson, AZ
- #55 — Roosevelt University · Chicago, IL
- #56 — The University Of Alabama · Tuscaloosa, AL
- #57 — Hope College · Holland, MI
- #58 — Broward College · Fort Lauderdale, FL
- #59 — University Of Nebraska At Omaha · Omaha, NE
- #60 — Georgia College And State University · Milledgeville, GA
Other Special Education Degree Levels
Explore the best special education schools at other degree levels:
View All Special Education Rankings >
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 · 182 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.