2023 Best Special Education Schools in Illinois
Finding the Best Special Education School for You
Out of the majors we analyze each year, special education was ranked 4th in Illinois. In fact, 1,153 were awarded in the state in 2020-2021.
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which teaching program is right for you. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.
The Best Special Education Schools in Illinois ranking is one of many tools that Teaching Degree Search has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 30 schools in Illinois to see which ones offered the best programs for teaching students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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2023 Best Special Education Schools in Illinois
The colleges and universities below are the best for special ed majors pursuing a .
Top 10 Best Special Education Schools
Our 2023 rankings named Illinois State University the best school in Illinois for special education students. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Normal, Illinois State is a public college with a fairly large student population.
While working on their degree, special ed majors at Illinois State accumulate an average of around $20,500 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $201.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a great place for special education students. UIUC is a fairly large public school located in the city of Champaign.
While working on their degree, special ed majors at UIUC accumulate an average of around $13,750 in student debt.
Full Special Education at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Report
The excellent programs at Olivet Nazarene University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best special education schools in Illinois. Olivet Nazarene is a small private not-for-profit school located in the small suburb of Bourbonnais.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a great place for special education students. Located in the small city of Carbondale, SIUC is a public school with a large student population.
Out of the 30 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Lewis University landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.
On average, special ed graduates from Lewis take out $24,779 in student loans while working on their degree.
Trinity Christian College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Special Education Schools in Illinois ranking. Trinity Christian is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Palos Heights.
On average, special ed graduates from Trinity Christian take out $34,270 in student loans while working on their degree.
Read full report on Special Education at Trinity Christian College
Elmhurst University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Special Education Schools in Illinois ranking. Elmhurst is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Elmhurst.
Bradley University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Special Education Schools in Illinois ranking. Bradley is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Peoria.
Loyola University Chicago landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best special education programs. Loyola Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago.
Read full report on Special Education at Loyola University Chicago
Eastern Illinois University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Special Education Schools in Illinois ranking. EIU is a medium-sized public school located in the town of Charleston.
The average amount in student loans that special ed majors at EIU take out is $21,377.
Best Special Education Colleges in the Great Lakes Region
Explore all the Best Special Education Colleges in the Great Lakes Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Ohio | 1,329 |
| Indiana | 2,282 |
| Michigan | 607 |
| Wisconsin | 598 |
More Special Education Rankings in Illinois
Special Education Related Rankings by Major
One of 14 majors within the teaching area of study, special education has other similar majors worth exploring.
Special Ed Focus Areas
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Special Education | 24,497 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs | 3,111 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities | 1,789 |
| Elementary Special Education | 1,625 |
| Other Special Education & Teaching | 1,227 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism | 1,133 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals in Secondary Special Education Programs | 655 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities | 540 |
| Education/Teaching of the Gifted & Talented | 504 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments | 415 |
| Education of the Deaf | 363 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Emotional Disturbances | 226 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals Who are Developmentally Delayed | 222 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals in Junior High/Middle School Special Education Programs | 181 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Vision Impairments Including Blindness | 134 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities | 122 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Orthopedic & Other Physical Health Impairments | 47 |
| Education/Teaching of Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injuries | 1 |
Most Popular Majors Related to Special Ed
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Teacher Education Grade Specific | 110,226 |
| Educational Administration | 46,469 |
| Teacher Education Subject Specific | 43,297 |
| General Education | 29,810 |
| Curriculum & Instruction | 19,832 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 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 the rest 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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to woodleywonderworks.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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