2026 Best Special Education Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Special Education associate’s degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 1022 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor reviewed schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Special Education Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
University Of Cincinnati Clermont College tops our 2026 ranking of the best Special Education associate's degree schools in the United States. This public school is set in Batavia, OH. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,639, with out-of-state students paying around $13,871. Graduates carry a median of $19,525 in student loans. Read the full report on University Of Cincinnati Clermont College
Out of the 1022 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Lehigh Carbon Community College landed the #2 spot. Located in Schnecksville, PA, Lehigh Carbon Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,280, while out-of-state students pay about $13,270. Typical Special Education student debt is $14,450. More on Lehigh Carbon Community College
Out of the 1022 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Miami Dade College landed the #3 spot. Set in Miami, FL, Miami Dade College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,838, compared with $9,661 for out-of-state students. Typical Special Education student debt is $9,671. Get the full Miami Dade College report
Itawamba Community College came in at #4 on this year's Special Education ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Fulton, MS. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,420, with out-of-state students paying around $5,820. Students borrow a median of $10,942 to complete their Special Education program here. Get the full Itawamba Community College report
You'll be in good company at College Of Southern Nevada, which ranked #5 this year. Based in Las Vegas, NV, College Of Southern Nevada is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,358, compared with $13,024 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,250 to complete their Special Education program here. Read more about College Of Southern Nevada
Florida State College At Jacksonville ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Special Education schools. Located in Jacksonville, FL, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,657 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,631. The median Special Education program debt is $19,139. More on Florida State College At Jacksonville
Stark State College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Special Education schools. Set in North Canton, OH, Stark State College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,790, compared with $7,886 for out-of-state students. Typical Special Education student debt is $17,349. Get the full Stark State College report
Gloucester County College came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Gloucester County College is a public school based in Sewell, NJ. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,160, with out-of-state students paying around $6,000. Students borrow a median of $13,236 to complete their Special Education program here. Read the full report on Gloucester County College
Carlos Albizu University Miami landed the #9 spot in the United States this year. See the full Carlos Albizu University Miami profile
Ramapo College Of New Jersey placed #11 among Special Education schools in the United States. See the full Ramapo College Of New Jersey profile
Saddleback College placed #12 among Special Education schools in the United States. Read more about Saddleback College
State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota placed #13 among Special Education schools in the United States. Read the full report on State College Of Florida Manatee Sarasota
Teachers College At Columbia University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Get the full Teachers College At Columbia University report
University Of Akron Wayne College came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on University Of Akron Wayne College
Western Oregon University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Special Education schools. Read the full report on Western Oregon University
Allan Hancock College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best Special Education schools. Read the full report on Allan Hancock College
Champlain College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. More on Champlain College
Free Will Baptist Bible College placed #19 among Special Education schools in the United States. More on Free Will Baptist Bible College
Fresno City College landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Fresno City College
Grambling State University placed #21 among Special Education schools in the United States. More on Grambling State University
Long Beach City College came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Long Beach City College
The University Of Montana placed #23 among Special Education schools in the United States. Read more about The University Of Montana
Caldwell College
Caldwell College landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Caldwell College report
Gallaudet University came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Read more about Gallaudet University
Rest of the Top 50 Best Special Education Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke placed #26 among Special Education schools in the United States. Read more about University Of North Carolina At Pembroke
Eastern Kentucky University came in at #27 in this year's ranking. More on Eastern Kentucky University
Florida State University did well this year, earning the #28 position. See the full Florida State University profile
University Of Dayton ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best Special Education schools. See the full University Of Dayton profile
Wilmington University placed #30 among Special Education schools in the United States. Get the full Wilmington University report
Gogebic Community College came in at #31 in this year's ranking. Read more about Gogebic Community College
Golden West College came in at #32 in this year's ranking. Read more about Golden West College
Concord University landed the #33 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Concord University
Ohio Dominican University ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Special Education schools. Read the full report on Ohio Dominican University
Oral Roberts University came in at #35 in this year's ranking. See the full Oral Roberts University profile
University Of Missouri Kansas City landed the #36 spot in the United States this year. More on University Of Missouri Kansas City
Indiana University Southeast landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Indiana University Southeast
Elmhurst College
Elmhurst College did well this year, earning the #38 position. See the full Elmhurst College profile
Indiana Wesleyan University ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best Special Education schools. Read more about Indiana Wesleyan University
Le Moyne College
Le Moyne College came in at #40 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Le Moyne College
Saint Thomas Aquinas College placed #41 among Special Education schools in the United States. More on Saint Thomas Aquinas College
Mount St Marys University came in at #42 in this year's ranking. Get the full Mount St Marys University report
Point Loma Nazarene University ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best Special Education schools. More on Point Loma Nazarene University
Queens University Of Charlotte placed #44 among Special Education schools in the United States. More on Queens University Of Charlotte
University Of Nevada Las Vegas came in at #45 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on University Of Nevada Las Vegas
Caribbean University Carolina came in at #46 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Caribbean University Carolina
North Carolina State University At Raleigh did well this year, earning the #47 position. Read the full report on North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Point Park University ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best Special Education schools. Get the full Point Park University report
St Petersburg College ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best Special Education schools. Read more about St Petersburg College
Suny College At Brockport came in at #50 in this year's ranking. See the full Suny College At Brockport profile
Related Special Education Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Special Education Schools (All Levels)
- Best Special Education Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Special Education Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Special Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Special Education Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Special Education Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 1022 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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