2026 Best Special Education Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Special Education associate’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 1022 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Teaching Degree Search reviewed schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Special Education Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Our analysis found University Of Cincinnati Clermont College to be the best Special Education school in the United States. Set in Batavia, OH, University Of Cincinnati Clermont College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,639, with out-of-state students paying around $13,871. The median Special Education program debt is $19,525. See the full University Of Cincinnati Clermont College profile
You'll be in good company at Lehigh Carbon Community College, which ranked #2 this year. This public school is set in Schnecksville, PA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,280, while out-of-state students pay about $13,270. Typical Special Education student debt is $14,450. Get the full Lehigh Carbon Community College report
Miami Dade College came in at #3 on this year's Special Education ranking in the United States. Set in Miami, FL, Miami Dade College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,838, compared with $9,661 for out-of-state students. Typical Special Education student debt is $9,671. Get the full Miami Dade College report
Out of the 1022 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Itawamba Community College landed the #4 spot. Set in Fulton, MS, Itawamba Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,420, with out-of-state students paying around $5,820. Itawamba Community College Special Education students take on a median of $10,942 in debt. See the full Itawamba Community College profile
A rank of #5 makes College Of Southern Nevada one of the top choices in the United States. This public school is set in Las Vegas, NV. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,358, compared with $13,024 for out-of-state students. Typical Special Education student debt is $9,250. Read the full report on College Of Southern Nevada
Florida State College At Jacksonville came in at #6 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Jacksonville, FL. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,657, while out-of-state students pay about $9,631. The median Special Education program debt is $19,139. Read the full report on Florida State College At Jacksonville
Stark State College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Special Education schools. Based in North Canton, OH, Stark State College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,790, compared with $7,886 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,349 to complete their Special Education program here. Read more about Stark State College
Gloucester County College placed #10 among Special Education schools in the United States. Set in Sewell, NJ, Gloucester County College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,160 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,000. The median Special Education program debt is $13,236. Read the full report on Gloucester County College
Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences did well this year, earning the #9 position. Read the full report on Central Methodist University College Of Liberal Arts And Sciences
Geneva College
Geneva College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Special Education schools. More on Geneva College
Mercy College
Mercy College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Special Education schools. More on Mercy College
Ohio University Zanesville Campus did well this year, earning the #12 position. Get the full Ohio University Zanesville Campus report
University Of Arizona placed #13 among Special Education schools in the United States. See the full University Of Arizona profile
Bemidji State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Special Education schools. Get the full Bemidji State University report
New Mexico State University Main Campus landed the #15 spot in the United States this year. See the full New Mexico State University Main Campus profile
University Of California Davis did well this year, earning the #16 position. More on University Of California Davis
Central Michigan University did well this year, earning the #17 position. Get the full Central Michigan University report
Emporia State University did well this year, earning the #18 position. Read more about Emporia State University
De Anza College
De Anza College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Special Education schools. Get the full De Anza College report
Lake Sumter Community College came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Read more about Lake Sumter Community College
University Of Wisconsin Superior placed #21 among Special Education schools in the United States. More on University Of Wisconsin Superior
Wayne State College placed #22 among Special Education schools in the United States. Get the full Wayne State College report
Black Hills State University came in at #23 in this year's ranking. More on Black Hills State University
Clemson University did well this year, earning the #24 position. See the full Clemson University profile
Drexel University did well this year, earning the #25 position. More on Drexel University
Rest of the Top 50 Best Special Education Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Saint Xavier University ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best Special Education schools. More on Saint Xavier University
Vanguard University Of Southern California ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Special Education schools. More on Vanguard University Of Southern California
Cheyney University Of Pennsylvania placed #28 among Special Education schools in the United States. Read more about Cheyney University Of Pennsylvania
Ivy Tech Community College landed the #29 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Ivy Tech Community College
Lander University placed #30 among Special Education schools in the United States. Read more about Lander University
Langston University landed the #31 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Langston University
Long Island University C W Post Campus ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Special Education schools. More on Long Island University C W Post Campus
Northwest Nazarene University placed #33 among Special Education schools in the United States. More on Northwest Nazarene University
University Of La Verne did well this year, earning the #34 position. Read more about University Of La Verne
University Of Mount Union came in at #35 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of Mount Union profile
Chaminade University Of Honolulu placed #36 among Special Education schools in the United States. See the full Chaminade University Of Honolulu profile
Chicago State University did well this year, earning the #37 position. Read the full report on Chicago State University
Furman University did well this year, earning the #38 position. More on Furman University
Wilmington University placed #39 among Special Education schools in the United States. See the full Wilmington University profile
Dordt College
Dordt College did well this year, earning the #40 position. Read more about Dordt College
Crowder College
Crowder College came in at #41 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Crowder College
Miracosta College placed #42 among Special Education schools in the United States. See the full Miracosta College profile
Rockford College
Rockford College came in at #43 in this year's ranking. More on Rockford College
Saint Marys College Of California did well this year, earning the #44 position. Read the full report on Saint Marys College Of California
University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #45 in this year's ranking. Read more about University Of Virginia Main Campus
Walsh University
Walsh University did well this year, earning the #46 position. Read more about Walsh University
University Of Rhode Island did well this year, earning the #47 position. Read the full report on University Of Rhode Island
Westfield State University came in at #48 in this year's ranking. Read more about Westfield State University
York College Nebraska landed the #49 spot in the United States this year. Get the full York College Nebraska report
Los Angeles City College did well this year, earning the #50 position. See the full Los Angeles City College profile
Related Special Education Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Special Education Schools (All Levels)
- Best Special Education Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Special Education Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Special Education Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Special Education Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Teaching Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 1022 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).