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Best Schools for Special Education in 2026

170 schools ranked by DegreeWorth Score · Updated 2026

These are the top schools offering Special Education, ranked by DegreeWorth Score. The score combines graduate earnings, AI automation resilience, job market demand, and return on tuition investment. The average Special Education graduate earns $44,105/yr across 170 schools.

Programs Ranked

170

Avg Earnings

$44,105/yr

Avg DW Score

52/100

AI Risk

High

45% task exposure

All Special Education Programs Ranked

Click any row for full AI scenario analysis, earnings projections, and career path breakdown.

#	Program	DW Score	Earnings	AI Risk	ROI
1	Special Education Florida Atlantic University · Boca Raton, FL	68 64–70	$56,009/yr	High	28.2x
2	Special Education Miami Dade College · Miami, FL	68 63–70	$53,935/yr	High	46.5x
3	Special Education Broward College · Fort Lauderdale, FL	67 62–69	$49,262/yr	High	45.9x
4	Special Education University of South Florida · Tampa, FL	65 61–66	$50,975/yr	High	19.6x
5	Special Education Nevada State University · Henderson, NV	66 62–68	$53,159/yr	High	19.9x
6	Special Education Utah Valley University · Orem, UT	65 61–67	$50,647/yr	High	19.2x
7	Special Education Western Washington University · Bellingham, WA	64 60–65	$52,912/yr	High	17.0x
8	Special Education Florida Gulf Coast University · Fort Myers, FL	64 60–65	$46,866/yr	High	21.5x
9	Special Education University of Central Florida · Orlando, FL	64 60–65	$48,147/yr	High	17.9x
10	Special Education University of North Florida · Jacksonville, FL	64 60–65	$47,734/yr	High	19.5x
11	Special Education Utah State University · Logan, UT	67 63–67	$61,474/yr	High	13.7x
12	Special Education University of West Florida · Pensacola, FL	63 59–63	$46,643/yr	High	17.6x
13	Special Education Brigham Young University-Idaho · Rexburg, ID	63 58–64	$43,252/yr	High	22.2x
14	Special Education CUNY Medgar Evers College · Brooklyn, NY	64 60–64	$49,413/yr	High	15.8x
15	Special Education Texas A & M International University · Laredo, TX	62 59–64	$47,820/yr	High	17.9x
16	Special Education University of Nevada-Las Vegas · Las Vegas, NV	61 58–62	$49,827/yr	High	14.4x
17	Special Education Western Carolina University · Cullowhee, NC	61 57–63	$41,376/yr	High	22.9x
18	Special Education University of Hawaii at Manoa · Honolulu, HI	62 60–61	$60,396/yr	High	11.7x
19	Special Education Northeastern State University · Tahlequah, OK	61 58–61	$46,045/yr	High	15.6x
20	Special Education University of Wisconsin-Whitewater · Whitewater, WI	61 58–61	$47,592/yr	High	14.5x
21	Special Education Western Governors University · Salt Lake City, UT	60 57–61	$46,271/yr	High	14.9x
22	Special Education Towson University · Towson, MD	60 58–60	$53,331/yr	High	11.8x
23	Special Education East Carolina University · Greenville, NC	60 57–60	$44,185/yr	High	14.9x
24	Special Education University of North Carolina Wilmington · Wilmington, NC	59 55–60	$42,584/yr	High	16.6x
25	Special Education Ohio University-Eastern Campus · Saint Clairsville, OH	59 56–60	$41,362/yr	High	17.8x
26	Special Education Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus · Chillicothe, OH	59 56–60	$41,362/yr	High	17.8x
27	Special Education Ohio University-Southern Campus · Ironton, OH	59 56–60	$41,362/yr	High	17.8x
28	Special Education Ohio University-Lancaster Campus · Lancaster, OH	59 56–60	$41,362/yr	High	17.8x
29	Special Education Ohio University-Zanesville Campus · Zanesville, OH	59 56–60	$41,362/yr	High	17.8x
30	Special Education Black Hills State University · Spearfish, SD	61 58–61	$49,134/yr	High	12.6x
31	Special Education Florida International University · Miami, FL	56 51–60	$36,598/yr	High	22.8x
32	Special Education Georgia College & State University · Milledgeville, GA	58 55–59	$45,167/yr	High	13.7x
33	Special Education Indiana University-Bloomington · Bloomington, IN	59 56–59	$51,306/yr	High	11.7x
34	Special Education Bridgewater State University · Bridgewater, MA	58 56–59	$50,061/yr	High	11.5x
35	Special Education Minnesota State University-Mankato · Mankato, MN	59 56–58	$47,132/yr	High	12.5x
36	Special Education SUNY Old Westbury · Old Westbury, NY	56 51–61	$38,978/yr	High	19.4x
37	Special Education Appalachian State University · Boone, NC	59 56–60	$43,283/yr	High	15.4x
38	Special Education University of North Carolina at Charlotte · Charlotte, NC	59 56–59	$42,692/yr	High	14.9x
39	Special Education East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania · East Stroudsburg, PA	59 56–59	$50,327/yr	High	12.2x
40	Special Education Kutztown University of Pennsylvania · Kutztown, PA	59 56–59	$50,645/yr	High	11.8x
41	Special Education Rhode Island College · Providence, RI	59 56–59	$50,060/yr	High	12.0x
42	Special Education Brigham Young University · Provo, UT	65 61–66	$50,331/yr	High	11.5x
43	Special Education Eastern Washington University · Cheney, WA	58 53–60	$41,883/yr	High	16.4x
44	Special Education University of Nebraska-Lincoln · Lincoln, NE	58 55–57	$47,017/yr	High	11.7x
45	Special Education University of North Carolina at Greensboro · Greensboro, NC	58 55–57	$42,967/yr	High	13.7x
46	Special Education University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire · Eau Claire, WI	58 56–58	$46,508/yr	High	12.3x
47	Special Education University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh · Oshkosh, WI	59 56–58	$44,945/yr	High	13.2x
48	Special Education University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI	58 56–58	$50,174/yr	High	11.3x
49	Special Education Purdue University-Main Campus · West Lafayette, IN	59 57–60	$48,773/yr	High	11.2x
50	Special Education Winona State University · Winona, MN	57 55–57	$46,697/yr	High	11.6x
51	Special Education University of New Mexico-Main Campus · Albuquerque, NM	57 54–57	$41,947/yr	High	13.9x
52	Special Education University of South Dakota · Vermillion, SD	58 56–57	$46,439/yr	High	11.5x
53	Special Education University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee · Milwaukee, WI	59 56–59	$48,378/yr	High	11.1x
54	Special Education University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point · Stevens Point, WI	57 55–56	$43,844/yr	High	12.2x
55	Special Education Arizona State University Campus Immersion · Tempe, AZ	57 55–56	$49,882/yr	High	10.0x
56	Special Education Southern Connecticut State University · New Haven, CT	56 54–57	$50,641/yr	High	9.9x
57	Special Education University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL	55 52–57	$51,922/yr	High	9.6x
58	Special Education Ball State University · Muncie, IN	57 55–56	$47,499/yr	High	10.7x
59	Special Education Saint Cloud State University · Saint Cloud, MN	57 55–56	$46,662/yr	High	10.7x
60	Special Education University of Nebraska at Omaha · Omaha, NE	54 50–56	$37,998/yr	High	14.9x
61	Special Education Kean University · Union, NJ	55 52–56	$48,628/yr	High	9.9x
62	Special Education Millersville University of Pennsylvania · Millersville, PA	58 56–58	$51,664/yr	High	9.0x
63	Special Education Northern Illinois University · Dekalb, IL	54 51–56	$46,578/yr	High	10.2x
64	Special Education Vincennes University · Vincennes, IN	57 54–57	$39,867/yr	High	12.6x
65	Special Education Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus · Indiana, PA	54 51–55	$44,121/yr	High	10.6x
66	Special Education Middle Tennessee State University · Murfreesboro, TN	56 54–55	$44,052/yr	High	11.0x
67	Special Education University of Wisconsin-Stout · Menomonie, WI	56 54–56	$45,196/yr	High	10.1x
68	Special Education The University of Alabama · Tuscaloosa, AL	54 52–54	$45,631/yr	High	9.5x
69	Special Education Northern Arizona University · Flagstaff, AZ	54 52–54	$47,610/yr	High	8.9x
70	Special Education University of Arkansas · Fayetteville, AR	56 53–56	$43,718/yr	High	10.2x
71	Special Education University of Central Arkansas · Conway, AR	55 53–56	$44,318/yr	High	10.0x
72	Special Education University of Georgia · Athens, GA	53 50–55	$43,137/yr	High	11.0x
73	Special Education Boise State University · Boise, ID	56 53–56	$42,303/yr	High	11.0x
74	Special Education University of Southern Indiana · Evansville, IN	55 53–54	$44,104/yr	High	10.4x
75	Special Education Southwest Minnesota State University · Marshall, MN	55 53–56	$44,510/yr	High	9.8x
76	Special Education New Mexico State University-Main Campus · Las Cruces, NM	50 43–56	$31,963/yr	High	19.2x
77	Special Education Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania · Shippensburg, PA	55 53–56	$49,835/yr	High	8.2x
78	Special Education Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania · Slippery Rock, PA	54 52–54	$43,480/yr	High	10.7x
79	Special Education University of Memphis · Memphis, TN	55 53–56	$44,664/yr	High	9.8x
80	Special Education Metropolitan State University of Denver · Denver, CO	51 48–53	$39,638/yr	High	11.3x
81	Special Education University of Northern Colorado · Greeley, CO	52 50–53	$44,009/yr	High	9.3x
82	Special Education Illinois State University · Normal, IL	52 49–53	$48,358/yr	High	7.8x
83	Special Education Westfield State University · Westfield, MA	51 47–54	$40,429/yr	High	11.2x
84	Special Education Grand Valley State University · Allendale, MI	54 52–55	$49,494/yr	High	7.5x
85	Special Education Dakota State University · Madison, SD	54 52–53	$42,318/yr	High	10.2x
86	Special Education Auburn University · Auburn, AL	51 48–52	$42,774/yr	High	9.1x
87	Special Education Eastern Illinois University · Charleston, IL	51 49–52	$43,955/yr	High	8.7x
88	Special Education Central Michigan University · Mount Pleasant, MI	52 50–53	$46,522/yr	High	7.9x
89	Special Education Saginaw Valley State University · University Center, MI	52 49–53	$43,191/yr	High	9.3x
90	Special Education Western Michigan University · Kalamazoo, MI	52 50–53	$47,868/yr	High	7.2x
91	Special Education University of Minnesota-Twin Cities · Minneapolis, MN	52 50–54	$49,771/yr	High	6.5x
92	Special Education Missouri State University-Springfield · Springfield, MO	51 49–52	$38,250/yr	High	11.2x
93	Special Education Ohio State University-Main Campus · Columbus, OH	52 50–53	$45,213/yr	High	8.6x
94	Special Education Southern Illinois University-Carbondale · Carbondale, IL	51 49–51	$44,429/yr	High	7.8x
95	Special Education Trinity Christian College · Palos Heights, IL	50 47–52	$48,840/yr	High	6.2x
96	Special Education Western Illinois University · Macomb, IL	51 49–52	$46,729/yr	High	7.1x
97	Special Education Wayne State University · Detroit, MI	50 48–52	$44,157/yr	High	8.0x
98	Special Education York College of Pennsylvania · York, PA	51 47–52	$52,199/yr	High	4.3x
99	Special Education Coastal Carolina University · Conway, SC	51 49–51	$42,147/yr	High	8.9x
100	Special Education California State University-Sacramento · Sacramento, CA	49 46–51	$33,783/yr	High	13.0x
101	Special Education Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville · Edwardsville, IL	52 49–52	$44,205/yr	High	7.5x
102	Special Education University of Maine at Farmington · Farmington, ME	49 47–50	$39,458/yr	High	9.3x
103	Special Education Eastern Michigan University · Ypsilanti, MI	49 46–51	$43,777/yr	High	7.3x
104	Special Education Mississippi State University · Mississippi State, MS	51 50–50	$40,185/yr	High	9.2x
105	Special Education University of Toledo · Toledo, OH	49 47–51	$40,952/yr	High	8.8x
106	Special Education Jacksonville State University · Jacksonville, AL	50 48–51	$42,107/yr	High	7.5x
107	Special Education Eastern Kentucky University · Richmond, KY	49 47–50	$38,485/yr	High	9.5x
108	Special Education University of Kentucky · Lexington, KY	48 46–49	$41,217/yr	High	7.6x
109	Special Education Northern Kentucky University · Highland Heights, KY	50 48–51	$40,333/yr	High	8.3x
110	Special Education Pace University · New York, NY	49 46–50	$62,346/yr	High	2.2x
111	Special Education University of Cincinnati-Main Campus · Cincinnati, OH	49 47–50	$42,347/yr	High	6.8x
112	Special Education Ohio University-Main Campus · Athens, OH	48 46–49	$41,362/yr	High	7.5x
113	Special Education Athens State University · Athens, AL	46 42–49	$43,668/yr	High	—
114	Special Education Grand Canyon University · Phoenix, AZ	47 44–49	$43,258/yr	High	5.7x
115	Special Education Upper Iowa University · Fayette, IA	48 45–50	$44,304/yr	High	4.8x
116	Special Education Morehead State University · Morehead, KY	48 46–48	$36,999/yr	High	9.2x
117	Special Education University of Central Missouri · Warrensburg, MO	47 45–48	$36,365/yr	High	9.3x
118	Special Education Northwest Missouri State University · Maryville, MO	48 47–48	$38,040/yr	High	8.6x
119	Special Education SUNY College at Geneseo · Geneseo, NY	50 48–50	$37,229/yr	High	9.4x
120	Special Education Kent State University at Kent · Kent, OH	47 44–48	$39,139/yr	High	7.8x
121	Special Education College of Charleston · Charleston, SC	47 45–48	$39,832/yr	High	7.5x
122	Special Education University of South Carolina-Upstate · Spartanburg, SC	49 47–50	$40,322/yr	High	7.7x
123	Special Education Murray State University · Murray, KY	47 45–47	$36,197/yr	High	9.1x
124	Special Education Western Kentucky University · Bowling Green, KY	48 46–49	$38,807/yr	High	7.5x
125	Special Education Southeast Missouri State University · Cape Girardeau, MO	49 47–50	$37,450/yr	High	8.5x
126	Special Education Miami University-Oxford · Oxford, OH	46 43–48	$41,871/yr	High	5.5x
127	Special Education Shawnee State University · Portsmouth, OH	49 46–49	$37,020/yr	High	8.6x
128	Special Education Concordia University Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, MI	46 42–47	$47,295/yr	High	2.5x
129	Special Education Hope College · Holland, MI	45 42–46	$48,630/yr	High	2.1x
130	Special Education Syracuse University · Syracuse, NY	46 42–47	$55,881/yr	High	1.2x
131	Special Education Bowling Green State University-Main Campus · Bowling Green, OH	45 43–47	$38,671/yr	High	6.7x
132	Special Education La Salle University · Philadelphia, PA	46 43–48	$48,302/yr	High	2.4x
133	Special Education Salve Regina University · Newport, RI	45 42–47	$51,308/yr	High	2.1x
134	Special Education Winthrop University · Rock Hill, SC	46 43–48	$40,435/yr	High	5.3x
135	Special Education Carthage College · Kenosha, WI	46 43–48	$48,593/yr	High	2.2x
136	Special Education Concordia University-Wisconsin · Mequon, WI	46 42–47	$47,295/yr	High	2.5x
137	Special Education University of Missouri-Columbia · Columbia, MO	44 41–46	$37,547/yr	High	6.5x
138	Special Education SUNY Buffalo State University · Buffalo, NY	38 28–50	$16,737/yr	High	14.9x
139	Special Education Youngstown State University · Youngstown, OH	45 42–46	$35,220/yr	High	8.4x
140	Special Education Lebanon Valley College · Annville, PA	45 42–47	$51,415/yr	High	1.4x
141	Special Education Saint Joseph's University · Philadelphia, PA	45 41–46	$50,698/yr	High	1.5x
142	Special Education Liberty University · Lynchburg, VA	44 40–46	$39,699/yr	High	4.3x
143	Special Education Carroll University · Waukesha, WI	45 42–46	$46,661/yr	High	2.1x
144	Special Education University of Arizona · Tucson, AZ	43 39–45	$35,023/yr	High	7.5x
145	Special Education University of Hartford · West Hartford, CT	44 40–45	$48,049/yr	High	1.5x
146	Special Education Lewis University · Romeoville, IL	44 41–46	$45,831/yr	High	2.0x
147	Special Education University of St Francis · Joliet, IL	44 41–45	$45,323/yr	High	2.1x
148	Special Education Alvernia University · Reading, PA	45 42–46	$48,649/yr	High	1.7x
149	Special Education Mercyhurst University · Erie, PA	43 40–45	$46,636/yr	High	1.8x
150	Special Education Neumann University · Aston, PA	42 39–44	$42,488/yr	High	2.6x
151	Special Education Providence College · Providence, RI	43 39–45	$49,664/yr	High	1.5x
152	Special Education Carson-Newman University · Jefferson City, TN	44 40–45	$44,404/yr	High	2.2x
153	Special Education University of Akron Main Campus · Akron, OH	42 39–44	$34,073/yr	High	7.2x
154	Special Education University of Dayton · Dayton, OH	42 39–44	$45,260/yr	High	1.7x
155	Special Education Thiel College · Greenville, PA	43 39–44	$43,626/yr	High	2.0x
156	Special Education Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College · Saint Mary of the Woods, IN	42 39–43	$41,943/yr	High	2.2x
157	Special Education Spring Arbor University · Spring Arbor, MI	42 39–43	$41,324/yr	High	2.2x
158	Special Education Capital University · Columbus, OH	41 38–43	$42,709/yr	High	2.0x
159	Special Education Cabrini University · Radnor, PA	41 37–43	$40,114/yr	High	2.7x
160	Special Education Anderson University · Anderson, SC	41 38–42	$40,264/yr	High	2.0x
161	Special Education Bellarmine University · Louisville, KY	39 35–41	$40,785/yr	High	1.4x
162	Special Education Fontbonne University · Saint Louis, MO	39 35–41	$36,791/yr	High	2.8x
163	Special Education St. Joseph's University-New York · Brooklyn, NY	38 32–42	$35,041/yr	High	3.4x
164	Special Education Colorado Christian University · Lakewood, CO	40 36–41	$40,033/yr	High	1.5x
165	Special Education Ashland University · Ashland, OH	38 34–40	$35,709/yr	High	2.8x
166	Special Education University of Mount Union · Alliance, OH	37 34–39	$36,444/yr	High	2.1x
167	Special Education Notre Dame College · Cleveland, OH	37 34–39	$35,789/yr	High	2.2x
168	Special Education Missouri Baptist University · Saint Louis, MO	36 33–38	$35,312/yr	High	1.7x
169	Special Education University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon · Bayamon, PR	33 27–41	$9,503/yr	High	8.2x
170	Special Education Defiance College · Defiance, OH	30 26–32	$29,443/yr	High	0.9x

Methodology

Programs are ranked by DegreeWorth Score, which combines four equally weighted factors: graduate earnings (Year 1 after graduation), AI automation resilience (based on OpenAI and academic research), job market size (BLS annual openings), and earnings-to-tuition multiple (10-year projected earnings vs. 4-year tuition).

Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which reports actual median earnings of graduates — not self-reported surveys.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Special Education?

Based on our DegreeWorth Score, Florida Atlantic University ranks #1 for Special Education with a score of 68/100 and graduate earnings of $56,009/yr.

How much do Special Education graduates earn?

Across 170 schools, Special Education graduates earn an average of $44,105/yr in their first year. The highest-earning program reports $62,346/yr.

Is Special Education a good major for AI resistance?

Special Education has an average AI task exposure of 45%, rated "High". This field has moderate AI exposure — some career paths are more resilient than others.

Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Last updated 2025.