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Most Popular Special Education Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

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2023 Most Popular Special Education Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region

124 Colleges
$38,520 Avg Salary
$25,108 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Special Education Bachelor's Degree School for You

With 36,792 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, special education is the #4 most popular major in the United States.

There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which teaching program is right for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools with offerings that you might find attractive.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Teaching Degree Search has created its Most Popular Special Education Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 124 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which bachelor's degree programs were the most popular for teaching students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Special Education program at each school on the list.

The colleges and universities below are the most popular for special ed majors pursuing a bachelor's degree.

Our 2023 rankings named Bowling Green State University - Main Campus the most popular school in the Great Lakes Region for special education students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the town of Bowling Green, BGSU is a public school with a fairly large student population.

About 93% of the students majoring in special ed at the school are women while 7% are male.

After completing their Bachelor's Degree, special ed graduates from BGSU carry an average student debt load of $25,441. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $297.

Read More…

The in-demand bachelor’s degree programs at Illinois State University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular special education schools in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the midsize suburb of Normal, Illinois State is a public school with a very large student population.

Women make up 89% of the special ed majors at the school.

The average amount in student loans that special ed majors at Illinois State take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $19,363. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $201.

Read full report on Special Education at Illinois State University

The in-demand bachelor’s degree programs at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular special education schools in the Great Lakes Region . UW - Eau Claire is a large public school located in the small city of Eau Claire.

Of the 85 students majoring in special ed at UW - Eau Claire, 7% are male and 93% are female.

While working on their Bachelor's Degree, special ed majors at UW - Eau Claire accumulate an average of around $25,063 in student debt.

Read full report on Special Education at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

#4

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, OH

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Youngstown State University is a great place for special education students working on their bachelor’s degree. Youngstown State University is a large public school located in the city of Youngstown.

Of the 77 students majoring in special ed at Youngstown State University, 10% are male and 90% are female.

Special Ed majors at Youngstown State University take out an average of $30,948 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.

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A rank of #5 on this year’s list means University of Akron Main Campus is a great place for special education students working on their bachelor’s degree. University of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the medium-sized city of Akron.

Of the 75 students majoring in special ed at University of Akron Main Campus, 13% are male and 87% are female.

While working on their Bachelor's Degree, special ed majors at University of Akron Main Campus accumulate an average of around $24,942 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $218, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

#6

Ball State University

Muncie, IN

Ball State University landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree special education programs. Ball State is a fairly large public school located in the city of Muncie.

Of the 59 students majoring in special ed at Ball State, 7% are male and 93% are female.

For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $278.

Read full report on Special Education at Ball State University

Grand Valley State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. GVSU is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Allendale.

About 91% of the students majoring in special ed at the school are women while 9% are male.

Read More…

Northern Illinois University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for special education students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, NIU is a public school with a large student population.

About 93% of the students majoring in special ed at the school are women while 7% are male.

After completing their Bachelor's Degree, special ed graduates from NIU carry an average student debt load of $22,819.

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University of Wisconsin - Madison ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - Madison is a fairly large public school located in the city of Madison.

About 98% of the students majoring in special ed at the school are women while 2% are male.

Full Special Education at University of Wisconsin - Madison Report

University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree special education programs. Located in the small city of Oshkosh, UW Oshkosh is a public school with a large student population.

Women make up 94% of the special ed majors at the school.

Read full report on Special Education at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh

#11

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, MI

Central Michigan University ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan is a public college with a large student population.

Of the 45 students majoring in special ed at Central Michigan, 7% are male and 93% are female.

This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $385, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Special Education at Central Michigan University Report

#12

Ashland University

Ashland, OH

Ashland University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for special education students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #12 on the list. Ashland is a small private not-for-profit school located in the fringe town of Ashland.

About 82% of the students majoring in special ed at the school are women while 18% are male.

Read full report on Special Education at Ashland University

#13

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, MI

Eastern Michigan University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for special education students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #13 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Of the 43 students majoring in special ed at Eastern Michigan, 9% are male and 91% are female.

Read More…

#14

University of Toledo

Toledo, OH

University of Toledo landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree special education programs. University of Toledo is a fairly large public school located in the city of Toledo.

Women make up 93% of the special ed majors at the school.

The average amount in student loans that special ed majors at University of Toledo take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $18,576.

Full Special Education at University of Toledo Report

#14

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI

With a ranking of #14, Michigan State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for special education students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the small city of East Lansing, Michigan State is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Of the 40 students majoring in special ed at Michigan State, 10% are male and 90% are female.

On average, special ed graduates from Michigan State take out $23,315 in student loans while working on their Bachelor's Degree.

Full Special Education at Michigan State University Report

With a ranking of #16, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for special education students working on their bachelor’s degree. Ohio State is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Columbus.

About 89% of the students majoring in special ed at the school are women while 11% are male.

After completing their Bachelor's Degree, special ed graduates from Ohio State carry an average student debt load of $23,195.

Read full report on Special Education at Ohio State University - Main Campus

Kent State University at Kent landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree special education programs. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State is a public college with a fairly large student population.

About 94% of the students majoring in special ed at the school are women while 6% are male.

The average amount in student loans that special ed majors at Kent State take out while working on their Bachelor's Degree is $25,489. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $458, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Special Education at Kent State University at Kent

With a ranking of #17, Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for special education students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the city of Bloomington, IU Bloomington is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Of the 35 students majoring in special ed at IU Bloomington, 3% are male and 97% are female.

Full Special Education at Indiana University - Bloomington Report

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Special Education Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.

Rank College Location
19 Lewis University Romeoville, IL
20 University of Dayton Dayton, OH
21 University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Whitewater, WI
22 University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OH
22 Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Saint Mary of the Woods, IN
22 Wayne State University Detroit, MI

Best Special Education Colleges by State

Explore the best special education colleges for a specific state in the Great Lakes region.

State Degrees Awarded
Ohio 1,329
Illinois 1,153
Indiana 2,282
Michigan 607
Wisconsin 598

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

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 27 schools only.

  • 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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