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# Best Special Education and Teaching Programs in the West

Updated September 30, 2026

Regional list from [Special Education and Teaching Programs Ranked by Earnings](/rankings/best-special-education-and-teaching-programs/)

This page ranks the 17 Special Education and Teaching programs in the West by median earnings of Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing, highest first. [Western Washington University](/school/western-washington-university/majors/) leads the list at $64,780, with Nevada State University close behind at $64,201.

Across the listed programs, the median is $53,619, and the figures span from $64,780 to $25,774, a spread of $39,006. For 3 of the 17 programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

The list is overwhelmingly public: 15 of the 17 schools are public, a share of 88%. New Mexico State University-Main Campus posts the lowest average net price on the page, at $8,889.

Arizona State University Campus Immersion ranks 21st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, the strongest showing on this list.

## The ranked list

17 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Western Washington University · Bellingham, WA | $64,780 | $21,193 | $12,915 | 93.3% |
|  | [Western Washington University](/school/western-washington-university/majors/) ranks 1st on this list, with [median earnings of $64,780](/school/western-washington-university/outcomes/) for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing. |
| 2 | Nevada State University · Henderson, NV | $64,201 | $14,068 | $11,438 | 86.8% |
|  | A public university in Henderson, Nevada State University reports an average net price of $14,068 and median earnings of $64,201 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing. |
| 3 | University of Hawaii at Manoa · Honolulu, HI | $62,087 | $15,664 | $10,675 | 86.6% |
|  | [University of Hawaii at Manoa](/school/university-of-hawaii-at-manoa/majors/) posts [median earnings of $62,087](/school/university-of-hawaii-at-manoa/outcomes/) for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $10,675 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 4 | University of Nevada-Las Vegas · Las Vegas, NV | $60,958 | $10,359 | $8,526 | 96.2% |
|  | With an [admission rate of 96%](/school/university-of-nevada-las-vegas/admissions/), [University of Nevada-Las Vegas](/school/university-of-nevada-las-vegas/majors/) reports median earnings of $60,958 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing. |
| 5 | New Mexico State University-Main Campus · Las Cruces, NM | $58,953 | $8,889 | $6,648 | 89.0% |
|  | [New Mexico State University-Main Campus](/school/new-mexico-state-university-main-campus/majors/) reports [median earnings of $58,953](/school/new-mexico-state-university-main-campus/outcomes/) for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing and median federal debt of $17,095 across all of the school's borrowers who completed. |
| 6 | Gonzaga University · Spokane, WA | $58,772 | $35,119 | $20,833 | 81.7% |
|  | Gonzaga University, a private nonprofit university in Spokane, reports median earnings of $58,772 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $35,119. |
| 7 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion · Tempe, AZ | $56,311 | $14,967 | $9,070 | 89.9% |
|  | [Arizona State University Campus Immersion](/school/arizona-state-university-campus-immersion/majors/) [ranks 21st on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/arizona-state-university-campus-immersion/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $56,311 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing. |
| 8 | Eastern Washington University · Cheney, WA | $55,244 | $13,886 | $9,547 | 90.8% |
|  | [Eastern Washington University](/school/eastern-washington-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $55,244](/school/eastern-washington-university/outcomes/) for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing, with an average net price of $9,547 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 9 | Northern Arizona University · Flagstaff, AZ | $53,619 | $14,158 | $9,709 | 89.6% |
|  | With 115 graduates in the earnings cohort, [Northern Arizona University](/school/northern-arizona-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $53,619](/school/northern-arizona-university/outcomes/) for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing. |
| 10 | University of New Mexico-Main Campus · Albuquerque, NM | $53,429 | $15,489 | $11,938 | 95.2% |
|  | [University of New Mexico-Main Campus](/school/university-of-new-mexico-main-campus/majors/) reports [median earnings of $53,429](/school/university-of-new-mexico-main-campus/outcomes/) for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing and median federal debt of $18,450 across all of the school's borrowers who completed. |
| 11 | University of Arizona · Tucson, AZ | $52,173 | $16,674 | $13,353 | 86.1% |
|  | Ranking 75th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, [University of Arizona](/school/university-of-arizona/majors/) reports [median earnings of $52,173](/school/university-of-arizona/outcomes/) for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing. |
| 12 | Metropolitan State University of Denver · Denver, CO | $51,786 | $15,327 | $12,481 | 98.8% |
|  | [Metropolitan State University of Denver](/school/metropolitan-state-university-of-denver/majors/) [admits 99% of applicants](/school/metropolitan-state-university-of-denver/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $51,786 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing. |
| 13 | University of Northern Colorado · Greeley, CO | $51,008 | $17,760 | $12,695 | 85.9% |
|  | University of Northern Colorado reports median earnings of $51,008 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $17,760. |
| 14 | Brigham Young University · Provo, UT | $39,325 | $15,564 | $10,444 | 67.8% |
|  | A private nonprofit university in Provo, [Brigham Young University](/school/brigham-young-university/majors/) [admits 68% of applicants](/school/brigham-young-university/admissions/) and ranks 27th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 15 | Boise State University · Boise, ID | $35,772 | $21,610 | $18,165 | 87.2% |
|  | [Boise State University](/school/boise-state-university/majors/) ranks 15th on this list, with an [average net price of $18,165](/school/boise-state-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 and an 87% admission rate. |
| 16 | New Mexico Highlands University · Las Vegas, NM | $32,711 | $14,838 | $13,511 | Not reported |
|  | With 18 graduates in the earnings cohort, New Mexico Highlands University posts median earnings of $32,711 for its Special Education and Teaching graduates four years after completing. |
| 17 | Montana State University Billings · Billings, MT | $25,774 | $16,524 | $13,927 | Not reported |
|  | Montana State University Billings ranks 17th on this list and 770th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |

## 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 West appear. The figures are medians for federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 3 of the 17 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 gap between Western Washington University and Nevada State University is $579, and the spread from the top of the list to the bottom is $39,006.

## Related rankings

-   [Special Education and Teaching Programs Ranked by Earnings](/rankings/best-special-education-and-teaching-programs/)
-   [Best Colleges in the West](/rankings/best-colleges-in-the-west/)
-   [Top Special Education and Teaching Programs in the Midwest](/rankings/best-special-education-and-teaching-programs-in-the-midwest/)
-   [Special Education and Teaching Programs in the Northeast](/rankings/best-special-education-and-teaching-programs-in-the-northeast/)
-   [Best Special Education and Teaching Programs in the South](/rankings/best-special-education-and-teaching-programs-in-the-south/)
-   Education Colleges in the West for Social Mobility
-   Education Colleges in the West
-   Teacher Education Colleges in the West for Social Mobility