Calculated by dividing the debt-to-earnings by earningsplus percentage. The lower the economic score, the better.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
Earnings plus shows how much more or less the median student earns than the median earnings of undergraduate graduates in the same program type. (Based on ipeds CIP Code taxonomy)
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Calculated by dividing the debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
Special education professionals work with children and adults who are atypically developing. A graduate degree in special education enhances their ability to work with special needs students by advancing their knowledge about the field. Check out the best special education graduate programs below. Read more about our ranking methodology here.
Our master’s in special education rankings cover 210 of the 424 universities available, accounting for 71% of total student conferrals. Three years after completing their degree, graduates earn a weighted average salary of $53,501.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $13,258
Earnings plus shows how much more or less the median student earns than the median earnings of undergraduate graduates in the same program type. (Based on ipeds CIP Code taxonomy)
Debt:$13,905
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.24
Calculated by dividing the debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#2 in Illinois|#17 in Special Education nationally
Concordia University-Chicago
River Forest, Illinois
Economic score:0.22
Calculated by dividing the debt-to-earnings by earningsplus percentage. The lower the economic score, the better.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $16,384
Earnings plus shows how much more or less the median student earns than the median earnings of undergraduate graduates in the same program type. (Based on ipeds CIP Code taxonomy)
Debt:$18,000
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.30
Calculated by dividing the debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#3 in Illinois|#36 in Special Education nationally
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Economic score:0.29
Calculated by dividing the debt-to-earnings by earningsplus percentage. The lower the economic score, the better.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $15,055
Earnings plus shows how much more or less the median student earns than the median earnings of undergraduate graduates in the same program type. (Based on ipeds CIP Code taxonomy)
Debt:$23,044
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.39
Calculated by dividing the debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#4 in Illinois|#76 in Special Education nationally
DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois
Economic score:0.38
Calculated by dividing the debt-to-earnings by earningsplus percentage. The lower the economic score, the better.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $12,235
Earnings plus shows how much more or less the median student earns than the median earnings of undergraduate graduates in the same program type. (Based on ipeds CIP Code taxonomy)
Debt:$27,333
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.49
Calculated by dividing the debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#5 in Illinois|#126 in Special Education nationally
Saint Xavier University
Chicago, Illinois
Economic score:0.47
Calculated by dividing the debt-to-earnings by earningsplus percentage. The lower the economic score, the better.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $5,610
Earnings plus shows how much more or less the median student earns than the median earnings of undergraduate graduates in the same program type. (Based on ipeds CIP Code taxonomy)
Debt:$26,207
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.53
Calculated by dividing the debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#6 in Illinois|#127 in Special Education nationally
Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, Illinois
Economic score:0.47
Calculated by dividing the debt-to-earnings by earningsplus percentage. The lower the economic score, the better.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $6,631
Earnings plus shows how much more or less the median student earns than the median earnings of undergraduate graduates in the same program type. (Based on ipeds CIP Code taxonomy)
Debt:$27,466
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.54
Calculated by dividing the debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#7 in Illinois|#129 in Special Education nationally
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, Illinois
Economic score:0.47
Calculated by dividing the debt-to-earnings by earningsplus percentage. The lower the economic score, the better.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: - $720
Earnings plus shows how much more or less the median student earns than the median earnings of undergraduate graduates in the same program type. (Based on ipeds CIP Code taxonomy)
Debt:$20,169
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.47
Calculated by dividing the debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#8 in Illinois|#152 in Special Education nationally
Dominican University
River Forest, Illinois
Economic score:0.52
Calculated by dividing the debt-to-earnings by earningsplus percentage. The lower the economic score, the better.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: - $1,240
Earnings plus shows how much more or less the median student earns than the median earnings of undergraduate graduates in the same program type. (Based on ipeds CIP Code taxonomy)
Debt:$21,500
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.50
Calculated by dividing the debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#9 in Illinois|#162 in Special Education nationally
National Louis University
Chicago, Illinois
Economic score:0.54
Calculated by dividing the debt-to-earnings by earningsplus percentage. The lower the economic score, the better.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $13,666
Earnings plus shows how much more or less the median student earns than the median earnings of undergraduate graduates in the same program type. (Based on ipeds CIP Code taxonomy)
Debt:$41,000
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.71
Calculated by dividing the debt by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.