2026 Best Special Education Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Special Education undergraduate certificate degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 1022 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor reviewed schools to produce 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 Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found University Of Hawaii At Manoa to be the best Special Education school in the United States. Based in Honolulu, HI, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a public institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,186, compared with $34,218 for out-of-state students. Typical Special Education student debt is $22,250. See the full University Of Hawaii At Manoa profile
A rank of #2 makes Pima Community College one of the top choices in the United States. Based in Tucson, AZ, Pima Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,442, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $15,200 in student loans. Read more about Pima Community College
The strong Special Education programs at University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earned it the #3 place in the United States. Set in Cincinnati, OH, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. The median Special Education program debt is $24,742. See the full University Of Cincinnati Main Campus profile
Miami University Oxford came in at #4 on this year's Special Education ranking in the United States. Located in Oxford, OH, Miami University Oxford is a public institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,519, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. The median Special Education program debt is $27,000. See the full Miami University Oxford profile
Waukesha County Technical College came in at #5 on this year's Special Education ranking in the United States. Waukesha County Technical College is a public school based in Pewaukee, WI. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,803, with out-of-state students paying around $7,046. Graduates carry a median of $16,595 in student loans. Read the full report on Waukesha County Technical College
Saint Mary Of The Woods College came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Based in Saint Mary of the Woods, IN, Saint Mary Of The Woods College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,240. Typical Special Education student debt is $27,773. Read more about Saint Mary Of The Woods College
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Special Education schools. This public school is set in Green Bay, WI. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,960, while out-of-state students pay about $7,203. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Special Education students take on a median of $14,997 in debt. Get the full Northeast Wisconsin Technical College report
Keystone College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best Special Education schools. Based in La Plume, PA, Keystone College is a private not-for-profit institution. Keystone College posts a six-year graduation rate of 35%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,300. Keystone College Special Education students take on a median of $28,226 in debt. Get the full Keystone College report
Foothill College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Special Education schools. Get the full Foothill College report
University Of Toledo did well this year, earning the #10 position. Get the full University Of Toledo report
Florida State College At Jacksonville landed the #11 spot in the United States this year. More on Florida State College At Jacksonville
Henry Ford Community College placed #12 among Special Education schools in the United States. Read the full report on Henry Ford Community College
Mount Saint Mary College came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Get the full Mount Saint Mary College report
University Of North Dakota did well this year, earning the #14 position. Read more about University Of North Dakota
College Of The Canyons landed the #15 spot in the United States this year. Read more about College Of The Canyons
Edgewood College
Edgewood College landed the #16 spot in the United States this year. More on Edgewood College
Quinnipiac University placed #17 among Special Education schools in the United States. More on Quinnipiac University
Black Hills State University came in at #18 in this year's ranking. More on Black Hills State University
Cuny Queens College did well this year, earning the #19 position. More on Cuny Queens College
El Camino College Compton Center did well this year, earning the #20 position. More on El Camino College Compton Center
North Hennepin Community College placed #21 among Special Education schools in the United States. Read more about North Hennepin Community College
Fontbonne University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Special Education schools. Read the full report on Fontbonne University
Stark State College placed #23 among Special Education schools in the United States. More on Stark State College
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. More on Texas A And M University College Station
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Rest of the Top 50 Best Special Education Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College placed #26 among Special Education schools in the United States. Read the full report on Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College
Queens University Of Charlotte placed #27 among Special Education schools in the United States. Read the full report on Queens University Of Charlotte
University Of Iowa placed #28 among Special Education schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Iowa
Texas A And M International University ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best Special Education schools. Get the full Texas A And M International University report
College Of William And Mary came in at #30 in this year's ranking. Get the full College Of William And Mary report
Los Angeles Trade Technical College placed #31 among Special Education schools in the United States. More on Los Angeles Trade Technical College
Norco College
Norco College ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Special Education schools. More on Norco College
University Of Evansville landed the #33 spot in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Evansville
University Of South Alabama came in at #34 in this year's ranking. More on University Of South Alabama
American University landed the #35 spot in the United States this year. Get the full American University report
Indiana State University did well this year, earning the #36 position. Get the full Indiana State University report
University Of Connecticut came in at #37 in this year's ranking. Read more about University Of Connecticut
University Of San Francisco landed the #38 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of San Francisco
Caldwell College
Caldwell College placed #39 among Special Education schools in the United States. Read more about Caldwell College
Arizona State University did well this year, earning the #40 position. Get the full Arizona State University report
Belmont University landed the #41 spot in the United States this year. See the full Belmont University profile
Capital University placed #42 among Special Education schools in the United States. Read the full report on Capital University
Seattle University did well this year, earning the #43 position. See the full Seattle University profile
University Of The District Of Columbia placed #44 among Special Education schools in the United States. Read more about University Of The District Of Columbia
Barton College
Barton College ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best Special Education schools. Read the full report on Barton College
Boise State University ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best Special Education schools. See the full Boise State University profile
California State University Los Angeles placed #47 among Special Education schools in the United States. Get the full California State University Los Angeles report
St Petersburg College came in at #48 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on St Petersburg College
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #49 in this year's ranking. More on University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Campbell University placed #50 among Special Education schools in the United States. Get the full Campbell University report
Related Special Education Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Special Education Schools (All Levels)
- Best Special Education Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Special Education Associate’s 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. The methodology weighs 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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