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Most Popular Special Education Schools in Illinois

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2023 Most Popular Special Education Schools in Illinois

40 Colleges
$47,433 Avg Salary
$23,191 Avg Student Debt

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.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Teaching Degree Search has developed this Most Popular Special Education Schools in Illinois ranking. This report analyzed 40 schools in Illinois to see which ones were the most popular programs 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.

Check out the special ed programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in Illinois.

Our 2023 rankings named Illinois State University the most popular 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.

After completing their degree, special ed graduates from Illinois State carry an average student debt load of $20,500. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $201.

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A rank of #2 on this year’s list means National Louis University is a great place for special education students. Located in the city of Chicago, NLU is a private not-for-profit school with a moderately-sized student population.

Full Special Education at National Louis University Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northern Illinois University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Special Education Schools in Illinois list. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, NIU is a public college with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, special ed graduates from NIU carry an average student debt load of $21,750.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Illinois at Chicago. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Special Education Schools in Illinois list. Located in the large city of Chicago, UIC is a public college with a very large student population.

Read full report on Special Education at University of Illinois at Chicago

#5

DePaul University

Chicago, IL

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means DePaul University is a great place for special education students. DePaul is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago.

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#6

Aurora University

Aurora, IL

With a ranking of #6, Aurora University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for special education students. Located in the large suburb of Aurora, Aurora is a private not-for-profit college with a medium-sized student population.

Read full report on Special Education at Aurora University

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular Special Education Schools in Illinois list. UIUC is a fairly large public school located in the small 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

#8

Lewis University

Romeoville, IL

Lewis University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Special Education Schools in Illinois ranking. Located in the large suburb of Romeoville, Lewis is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.

The average amount in student loans that special ed majors at Lewis take out is $24,779.

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#9

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, IL

Eastern Illinois University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular special education programs. EIU is a moderately-sized public school located in the distant town of Charleston.

Special Ed majors at EIU take out an average of $21,377 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read More…

#10

Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights, IL

Trinity Christian College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for special education students. It came in at #10 on the list. Trinity Christian is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Palos Heights.

After completing their degree, special ed graduates from Trinity Christian carry an average student debt load of $34,270.

Full Special Education at Trinity Christian College Report

Best Special Education Colleges in the Great Lakes Region

Explore all the Most Popular Special Education Schools 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

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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