Top Special Education and Teaching Programs in the Midwest

Updated September 30, 2026

Part of Best Education Colleges in the Midwest

Regional list from Special Education and Teaching Programs Ranked by Earnings

This page ranks the 82 Special Education and Teaching programs in the Midwest by the median earnings of Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing, highest first. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign leads the list with median earnings of $60,685 four years after completing, followed by University of Minnesota-Twin Cities at $58,675 and Michigan State University at $58,522.

The gap between the top two is $2,010. Across the list, figures range from $60,685 to $32,035, with a median of $46,850.

For 22 of the 82 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

Public institutions account for 66% of the list, with 54 public and 28 private nonprofit schools represented. Saginaw Valley State University posts the lowest average net price at $10,775, while University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks 35th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.

The ranked list

82 schools in list order
Rank	School	Program Earnings	Average net price	Net price, families under $30K	Admission rate
1	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL	$60,685	$14,355	$2,038	42.4%
	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranks 1st on this list, reporting median earnings of $60,685 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing.
2	University of Minnesota-Twin Cities · Minneapolis, MN	$58,675	$16,778	$6,642	79.8%
	An admission rate of 80% and median earnings of $58,675 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing are posted by University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.
3	Michigan State University · East Lansing, MI	$58,522	$19,680	$7,068	84.8%
	Michigan State University shows median federal debt of $26,375 among Special Education and Teaching completers who borrowed, alongside earnings of $58,522 four years after completing.
4	Wayne State University · Detroit, MI	$58,182	$12,766	$11,090	81.2%
	Wayne State University reports an average net price of $12,766 and an earnings cohort of 16 graduates.
5	Trinity Christian College · Palos Heights, IL	$55,713	$19,125	$12,891	84.9%
	Trinity Christian College, a private nonprofit institution in Palos Heights, reports median earnings of $55,713 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing.
6	University of Nebraska at Omaha · Omaha, NE	$55,665	$13,441	$10,534	87.0%
	University of Nebraska at Omaha ranks 186th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports earnings of $55,665 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates.
7	Purdue University-Main Campus · West Lafayette, IN	$55,308	$14,600	$5,098	49.9%
	Purdue University-Main Campus admits 50% of applicants and shows median federal debt of $26,000 among Special Education and Teaching completers who borrowed.
8	Doane University · Crete, NE	$54,733	$26,364	$21,129	98.0%
	Doane University reports an average net price of $26,364 and median earnings of $54,733 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing.
9	Eastern Michigan University · Ypsilanti, MI	$54,303	$15,407	$13,250	79.6%
	Eastern Michigan University lists an earnings cohort of 40 graduates and median earnings of $54,303 four years after completing.
10	University of Toledo · Toledo, OH	$53,958	$17,249	$13,524	92.0%
	University of Toledo reports median federal debt of $20,500 among Special Education and Teaching completers who borrowed, with an admission rate of 92%.
11	Northern Illinois University · Dekalb, IL	$53,148	$13,391	$10,126	69.8%
	Northern Illinois University ranks 116th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $13,391.
12	Illinois State University · Normal, IL	$52,864	$19,398	$11,568	88.2%
	Illinois State University reports an earnings cohort of 147 graduates alongside median earnings of $52,864 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing.
13	University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee · Milwaukee, WI	$52,142	$15,014	$10,329	90.7%
	University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee reports median earnings of $52,142 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing, with 15 graduates in the earnings cohort.
14	Northeastern Illinois University · Chicago, IL	$52,107	$14,109	$13,709	74.6%
	Northeastern Illinois University admits 75% of applicants and shows an average net price of $14,109.
15	Indiana University-Bloomington · Bloomington, IN	$52,008	$16,264	$6,324	78.2%
	Indiana University-Bloomington carries a median federal debt of $19,500 among Special Education and Teaching completers who borrowed, alongside median earnings of $52,008 four years after completing.
16	University of Wisconsin-Whitewater · Whitewater, WI	$51,908	$14,158	$8,440	85.7%
	University of Wisconsin-Whitewater ranks 385th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $51,908 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing.
17	University of Missouri-Columbia · Columbia, MO	$51,901	$20,268	$13,841	78.5%
	An average net price of $20,268 and a median federal debt of $19,455 among Special Education and Teaching completers who borrowed are reported by University of Missouri-Columbia.
18	Minnesota State University-Mankato · Mankato, MN	$51,630	$19,139	$12,339	88.4%
	Minnesota State University-Mankato reports median earnings of $51,630 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing, from a cohort of 32 graduates.
19	Lewis University · Romeoville, IL	$51,522	$17,028	$10,382	71.3%
	Lewis University, a private nonprofit university in Romeoville, admits 71% of applicants and carries a median federal debt of $22,500 among Special Education and Teaching completers who borrowed.
20	University of Dayton · Dayton, OH	$51,389	$29,533	$21,736	65.5%
	University of Dayton reports median earnings of $51,389 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $21,736 for families earning under $30,000.
21	Ball State University · Muncie, IN	$51,267	$14,940	$7,834	85.5%
	Ball State University ranks 279th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 50 graduates in the earnings cohort.
22	Ohio University-Main Campus · Athens, OH	$51,258	$21,637	$15,673	85.0%
	Ohio University-Main Campus carries a median federal debt of $26,950 among Special Education and Teaching completers who borrowed and reports median earnings of $51,258 four years after completing.
23	Western Michigan University · Kalamazoo, MI	$50,665	$15,273	$5,263	84.6%
	Western Michigan University shows an average net price of $15,273 and admits 85% of applicants.
24	University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI	$50,302	$17,354	$4,200	45.2%
	University of Wisconsin-Madison admits 45% of applicants and reports median earnings of $50,302 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing.
25	Grace College and Theological Seminary · Winona Lake, IN	$50,212	$19,932	$10,998	82.2%
	Grace College and Theological Seminary reports median earnings of $50,212 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $10,998 for families earning under $30,000.
26	Ohio State University-Main Campus · Columbus, OH	$50,194	$17,339	$4,885	60.6%
	Ohio State University-Main Campus admits 61% of applicants and shows a median federal debt of $24,625 among Special Education and Teaching completers who borrowed.
27	Central Michigan University · Mount Pleasant, MI	$50,095	$17,597	$12,185	89.8%
	Central Michigan University ranks 27th on this list, with median earnings of $50,095 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing.
28	Saginaw Valley State University · University Center, MI	$50,078	$10,775	$9,844	72.1%
	Saginaw Valley State University posts the lowest average net price on the page at $10,775, and its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing earn a median of $50,078.
29	Winona State University · Winona, MN	$49,824	$17,503	$10,224	75.5%
	Winona State University sits 579th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing earn a median of $49,824.
30	Grand Valley State University · Allendale, MI	$49,814	$16,317	$12,272	83.0%
	Grand Valley State University reports an average net price of $12,272 for families earning under $30,000, and its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing earn a median of $49,814.
31	Concordia University-Wisconsin · Mequon, WI	$49,463	$36,201	$34,991	78.2%
	Concordia University-Wisconsin shows a median federal debt of $25,750 across all of its borrowers who completed, and its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing earn a median of $49,463.
32	Upper Iowa University · Fayette, IA	$49,098	$20,942	$17,715	96.5%
	Upper Iowa University admits 96% of applicants, and its Special Education and Teaching completers who borrowed left with a median of $27,812 in federal loans.
33	University of Wisconsin-Stout · Menomonie, WI	$48,444	$17,490	$10,966	87.7%
	University of Wisconsin-Stout ranks 33rd on this list, with median earnings of $48,444 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing.
34	Black Hills State University · Spearfish, SD	$48,332	$15,911	$11,863	96.3%
	Black Hills State University sits 1318th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing earn a median of $48,332.
35	Saint Cloud State University · Saint Cloud, MN	$48,296	$13,529	$8,909	94.8%
	Saint Cloud State University reports an average net price of $8,909 for families earning under $30,000, and its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing earn a median of $48,296.
36	University of Cincinnati-Main Campus · Cincinnati, OH	$48,124	$25,648	$17,974	85.3%
	University of Cincinnati-Main Campus shows a median federal debt of $24,094 among Special Education and Teaching completers who borrowed, and its graduates four years after completing earn a median of $48,124.
37	University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire · Eau Claire, WI	$47,877	$16,550	$10,270	82.3%
	With 77 graduates in the earnings cohort, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire reports median earnings of $47,877 four years after completing.
38	University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh · Oshkosh, WI	$47,828	$14,305	$9,236	86.5%
	University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh shows a median federal debt of $25,500 among Special Education and Teaching completers who borrowed alongside median earnings of $47,828 four years after completing.
39	University of Nebraska-Lincoln · Lincoln, NE	$47,592	$17,747	$12,751	87.5%
	Admitting 87% of applicants, University of Nebraska-Lincoln posts median earnings of $47,592 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing.
40	Eastern Illinois University · Charleston, IL	$47,566	$12,786	$9,828	65.4%
	Eastern Illinois University ranks 585th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $47,566 four years after completing.
41	Miami University-Oxford · Oxford, OH	$47,226	$28,384	$16,015	75.4%
	Miami University-Oxford shows an average net price of $16,015 for families earning under $30,000 and reports median earnings of $47,226 four years after completing.
42	Northwest Missouri State University · Maryville, MO	$46,475	$16,244	$13,176	86.1%
	Northwest Missouri State University reports median earnings of $46,475 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing, below the $46,850 list median.
43	University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point · Stevens Point, WI	$46,315	$14,559	$8,833	91.8%
	A median federal debt of $20,500 among Special Education and Teaching completers who borrowed and median earnings of $46,315 four years after completing are reported by University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
44	Dakota State University · Madison, SD	$46,095	$21,057	$17,317	88.1%
	Dakota State University admits 88% of applicants and its Special Education and Teaching graduates report median earnings of $46,095 four years after completing.
45	Capital University · Columbus, OH	$45,924	$22,576	$19,062	70.2%
	Capital University posts median earnings of $45,924 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing, with 14 graduates in the earnings cohort.
46	Loyola University Chicago · Chicago, IL	$45,500	$36,079	$28,992	81.6%
	Loyola University Chicago ranks 527th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and shows an average net price of $36,079.
47	University of South Dakota · Vermillion, SD	$45,415	$19,858	$14,921	98.8%
	University of South Dakota shows a median federal debt of $25,000 among Special Education and Teaching completers who borrowed alongside median earnings of $45,415 four years after completing.
48	Western Illinois University · Macomb, IL	$45,395	$12,937	$6,941	71.2%
	Western Illinois University posts an average net price of $6,941 for families earning under $30,000 and its Special Education and Teaching graduates report median earnings of $45,395 four years after completing.
49	Bowling Green State University-Main Campus · Bowling Green, OH	$45,224	$24,022	$18,396	81.0%
	Bowling Green State University-Main Campus reports median earnings of $45,224 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing, with 204 graduates in the earnings cohort.
50	Augsburg University · Minneapolis, MN	$44,170	$23,873	$21,318	82.0%
	Augsburg University, a private nonprofit university in Minneapolis, admits 82% of applicants and posts an average net price of $23,873.
51	Shawnee State University · Portsmouth, OH	$44,143	$14,381	$12,310	Not reported
	Shawnee State University ranks 51st on this list and carries a median federal debt of $25,058 among Special Education and Teaching completers who borrowed.
52	Southern Illinois University Edwardsville · Edwardsville, IL	$43,928	$14,889	$8,483	97.5%
	Southern Illinois University Edwardsville shows an average net price of $8,483 for families earning under $30,000, alongside an admission rate of 98%.
53	Kent State University at Kent · Kent, OH	$43,835	$20,787	$15,280	86.3%
	Kent State University at Kent reports median earnings of $43,835 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing, with 47 graduates in the earnings cohort.
54	University of St Francis · Joliet, IL	$43,798	$13,006	$8,547	65.3%
	University of St Francis ranks 331st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and posts an average net price of $13,006.
55	Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College · Saint Mary Of The Woods, IN	$43,577	$31,872	$33,513	72.4%
	Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College carries a median federal debt of $23,013 among Special Education and Teaching completers who borrowed, and its admission rate is 72%.
56	Ashland University · Ashland, OH	$43,052	$21,988	$16,489	76.4%
	Ashland University reports median earnings of $43,052 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing, with 27 graduates in the earnings cohort.
57	Spring Arbor University · Spring Arbor, MI	$42,461	$19,353	$14,530	51.5%
	Spring Arbor University shows an average net price of $14,530 for families earning under $30,000, and its admission rate is 52%.
58	Southwest Minnesota State University · Marshall, MN	$41,937	$15,291	$10,559	62.2%
	Southwest Minnesota State University ranks 1045th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $41,937 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing.
59	University of Akron Main Campus · Akron, OH	$41,782	$13,946	$10,413	59.7%
	University of Akron Main Campus carries a median federal debt of $23,063 among Special Education and Teaching completers who borrowed, alongside an average net price of $13,946.
60	Bluffton University · Bluffton, OH	$41,602	$19,943	$16,363	67.2%
	Bluffton University reports median earnings of $41,602 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing, and its school-wide median federal debt for borrowers who completed is $27,000.
61	Southern Illinois University-Carbondale · Carbondale, IL	$41,441	$13,297	$9,415	86.9%
	Southern Illinois University-Carbondale reports median earnings of $41,441 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $13,297.
62	Southeast Missouri State University · Cape Girardeau, MO	$41,163	$15,882	$12,704	73.5%
	Southeast Missouri State University admits 74% of applicants and its Special Education and Teaching completers who borrowed left with median federal debt of $23,876.
63	Missouri State University-Springfield · Springfield, MO	$40,846	$17,613	$13,718	90.5%
	Missouri State University-Springfield ranks 63rd on this list and posts an average net price of $13,718 for families earning under $30,000.
64	Hope College · Holland, MI	$40,768	$27,182	$17,606	79.2%
	A private nonprofit institution in Holland, Hope College shows median earnings of $40,768 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing.
65	Bradley University · Peoria, IL	$40,402	$22,719	$17,269	76.8%
	Bradley University reports an average net price of $22,719 and sits at 587th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
66	University of Nebraska at Kearney · Kearney, NE	$39,729	$16,242	$13,066	89.5%
	University of Nebraska at Kearney posts median earnings of $39,729 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing, with an admission rate of 89%.
67	University of Central Missouri · Warrensburg, MO	$39,569	$14,462	$10,965	63.8%
	An average net price of $10,965 for families earning under $30,000 coincides with median federal debt of $24,500 among Special Education and Teaching completers who borrowed at University of Central Missouri.
68	Youngstown State University · Youngstown, OH	$39,497	$12,767	$9,328	84.5%
	Youngstown State University sits at 515th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $9,328 for families earning under $30,000.
69	Minot State University · Minot, ND	$39,369	$12,703	$9,492	64.6%
	Minot State University shows median earnings of $39,369 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $12,703.
70	Augustana University · Sioux Falls, SD	$39,009	$23,894	$18,746	67.8%
	A private nonprofit institution in Sioux Falls, Augustana University admits 68% of applicants and reports median earnings of $39,009 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing.
71	Calvin University · Grand Rapids, MI	$39,009	$22,992	$19,281	70.9%
	Calvin University ranks 71st on this list and posts an average net price of $19,281 for families earning under $30,000.
72	Carthage College · Kenosha, WI	$38,153	$26,565	$23,293	87.1%
	Carthage College reports an average net price of $26,565 and sits at 1158th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
73	Northern Michigan University · Marquette, MI	$37,856	$14,085	$7,697	84.0%
	Northern Michigan University reports median earnings of $37,856 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing, with 9 graduates in the earnings cohort.
74	Indiana State University · Terre Haute, IN	$37,568	$10,873	$6,455	80.8%
	Indiana State University admits 81% of applicants and posts an average net price of $10,873.
75	Huntington University · Huntington, IN	$37,363	$19,310	$10,796	75.6%
	Huntington University, a private nonprofit university in Huntington, ranks 1053rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
76	Missouri Baptist University · Saint Louis, MO	$36,929	$27,006	$21,808	68.6%
	Missouri Baptist University shows median federal debt of $23,750 among Special Education and Teaching completers who borrowed, alongside median earnings of $36,929 four years after completing.
77	Ohio Dominican University · Columbus, OH	$36,131	$20,079	$16,997	94.2%
	Ohio Dominican University has an average net price of $16,997 for families earning under $30,000 and an admission rate of 94%.
78	Walsh University · North Canton, OH	$34,633	$20,493	$20,458	70.7%
	Walsh University ranks 78th on this list, with median earnings of $34,633 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing.
79	Mount Vernon Nazarene University · Mount Vernon, OH	$33,993	$22,421	$22,358	84.2%
	Mount Vernon Nazarene University reports an average net price of $22,421 and an admission rate of 84%.
80	University of Mount Union · Alliance, OH	$33,281	$23,280	$16,786	78.2%
	University of Mount Union ranks 1155th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and shows median earnings of $33,281 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing.
81	Muskingum University · New Concord, OH	$33,281	$19,532	$14,684	81.8%
	Muskingum University admits 82% of applicants and reports an average net price of $14,684 for families earning under $30,000.
82	Malone University · Canton, OH	$32,035	$20,948	$13,290	75.9%
	Malone University ranks 82nd on this list, with median earnings of $32,035 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing and 6 graduates in the earnings cohort.

How this list is ordered

Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in the Midwest appear. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 22 of the 82 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range and median below cover the 82 schools with a published figure. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign leads University of Minnesota-Twin Cities by $2,010, and the spread from the top of the list to the bottom is $28,650.

Top Special Education and Teaching Programs in the Midwest

The ranked list

How this list is ordered

Related rankings