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Best Schools for Special Education and Teaching in 2026

170 schools ranked by DegreeWorth Score · Updated 2026

These are the top schools offering Special Education and Teaching, ranked by DegreeWorth Score. The score combines graduate earnings, AI automation resilience, job market demand, and return on tuition investment. The average Special Education and Teaching graduate earns $44,105/yr across 170 schools.

Programs Ranked

170

Avg Earnings

$44,105/yr

Avg DW Score

44/100

AI Risk

High

45% task exposure

All Special Education and Teaching Programs Ranked

Click any row for full AI scenario analysis, earnings projections, and career path breakdown.

#	School	DW Score	Earnings	ROI
1	Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL · Public	64 64–65	$56,009/yr	28.2x
2	Western Washington University Bellingham, WA · Public	63 64–64	$52,912/yr	17.0x
3	Broward College Fort Lauderdale, FL · Public	61 63–62	$49,262/yr	45.9x
4	University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HI · Public	60 60–61	$60,396/yr	11.7x
5	Miami Dade College Miami, FL · Public	59 60–60	$53,935/yr	46.5x
6	University of South Florida Tampa, FL · Public	59 60–60	$50,975/yr	19.6x
7	Texas A & M International University Laredo, TX · Public	59 61–60	$47,820/yr	17.9x
8	Utah State University Logan, UT · Public	59 59–61	$61,474/yr	13.7x
9	Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers, FL · Public	58 61–60	$46,866/yr	21.5x
10	University of North Florida Jacksonville, FL · Public	57 59–58	$47,734/yr	19.5x
11	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL · Public	57 58–58	$51,922/yr	9.6x
12	Indiana University-Bloomington Bloomington, IN · Public	57 58–58	$51,306/yr	11.7x
13	Towson University Towson, MD · Public	57 57–58	$53,331/yr	11.8x
14	University of Nevada-Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV · Public	57 59–58	$49,827/yr	14.4x
15	Nevada State University Henderson, NV · Public	57 58–58	$53,159/yr	19.9x
16	East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania East Stroudsburg, PA · Public	56 57–57	$50,327/yr	12.2x
17	Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown, PA · Public	56 57–57	$50,645/yr	11.8x
18	Utah Valley University Orem, UT · Public	56 57–57	$50,647/yr	19.2x
19	Bridgewater State University Bridgewater, MA · Public	55 56–56	$50,061/yr	11.5x
20	Rhode Island College Providence, RI · Public	55 57–57	$50,060/yr	12.0x
21	University of Central Florida Orlando, FL · Public	54 56–55	$48,147/yr	17.9x
22	University of West Florida Pensacola, FL · Public	54 56–55	$46,643/yr	17.6x
23	CUNY Medgar Evers College Brooklyn, NY · Public	54 55–55	$49,413/yr	15.8x
24	University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Whitewater, WI · Public	54 56–55	$47,592/yr	14.5x
25	University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI · Public	54 55–55	$50,174/yr	11.3x
26	Western Governors University Salt Lake City, UT · Private nonprofit	54 57–55	$46,271/yr	14.9x
27	Southern Connecticut State University New Haven, CT · Public	53 54–54	$50,641/yr	9.9x
28	Kean University Union, NJ · Public	53 55–54	$48,628/yr	9.9x
29	Northeastern State University Tahlequah, OK · Public	53 56–54	$46,045/yr	15.6x
30	Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ · Public	52 53–53	$49,882/yr	10.0x
31	Georgia College & State University Milledgeville, GA · Public	52 55–53	$45,167/yr	13.7x
32	Northern Illinois University Dekalb, IL · Public	52 54–53	$46,578/yr	10.2x
33	Minnesota State University-Mankato Mankato, MN · Public	52 54–53	$47,132/yr	12.5x
34	Winona State University Winona, MN · Public	52 54–53	$46,697/yr	11.6x
35	SUNY Old Westbury Old Westbury, NY · Public	52 61–53	$38,978/yr	19.4x
36	Black Hills State University Spearfish, SD · Public	52 54–54	$49,134/yr	12.6x
37	Eastern Washington University Cheney, WA · Public	52 58–54	$41,883/yr	16.4x
38	Brigham Young University-Idaho Rexburg, ID · Private nonprofit	51 56–52	$43,252/yr	22.2x
39	University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NE · Public	51 54–53	$47,017/yr	11.7x
40	University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington, NC · Public	51 56–52	$42,584/yr	16.6x
41	University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI · Public	51 53–52	$46,508/yr	12.3x
42	Ball State University Muncie, IN · Public	50 52–51	$47,499/yr	10.7x
43	Appalachian State University Boone, NC · Public	50 55–51	$43,283/yr	15.4x
44	East Carolina University Greenville, NC · Public	50 54–51	$44,185/yr	14.9x
45	Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville, PA · Public	50 51–51	$51,664/yr	9.0x
46	University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI · Public	50 52–51	$48,378/yr	11.1x
47	Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN · Public	50 52–51	$48,773/yr	11.2x
48	Illinois State University Normal, IL · Public	49 51–51	$48,358/yr	7.8x
49	Trinity Christian College Palos Heights, IL · Private nonprofit	49 51–50	$48,840/yr	6.2x
50	University of South Dakota Vermillion, SD · Public	49 51–50	$46,439/yr	11.5x
51	University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI · Public	49 52–50	$44,945/yr	13.2x
52	Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ · Public	48 50–49	$47,610/yr	8.9x
53	Florida International University Miami, FL · Public	48 60–49	$36,598/yr	22.8x
54	University of Georgia Athens, GA · Public	48 52–49	$43,137/yr	11.0x
55	Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud, MN · Public	48 51–49	$46,662/yr	10.7x
56	University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NC · Public	48 53–49	$42,692/yr	14.9x
57	Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC · Public	48 54–49	$41,376/yr	22.9x
58	Ohio University-Eastern Campus Saint Clairsville, OH · Public	48 54–49	$41,362/yr	17.8x
59	Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus Chillicothe, OH · Public	48 54–49	$41,362/yr	17.8x
60	Ohio University-Southern Campus Ironton, OH · Public	48 54–49	$41,362/yr	17.8x
61	Ohio University-Lancaster Campus Lancaster, OH · Public	48 54–49	$41,362/yr	17.8x
62	Ohio University-Zanesville Campus Zanesville, OH · Public	48 54–49	$41,362/yr	17.8x
63	Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus Indiana, PA · Public	48 52–49	$44,121/yr	10.6x
64	Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Shippensburg, PA · Public	48 49–49	$49,835/yr	8.2x
65	The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL · Public	47 50–48	$45,631/yr	9.5x
66	Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI · Public	47 49–48	$49,494/yr	7.5x
67	University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN · Public	47 48–48	$49,771/yr	6.5x
68	University of New Mexico-Main Campus Albuquerque, NM · Public	47 53–48	$41,947/yr	13.9x
69	Pace University New York, NY · Private nonprofit	47 46–48	$62,346/yr	2.2x
70	University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NC · Public	47 51–48	$42,967/yr	13.7x
71	Brigham Young University Provo, UT · Private nonprofit	47 48–48	$50,331/yr	11.5x
72	University of Wisconsin-Stout Menomonie, WI · Public	47 50–48	$45,196/yr	10.1x
73	University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Stevens Point, WI · Public	47 51–48	$43,844/yr	12.2x
74	University of Central Arkansas Conway, AR · Public	46 49–47	$44,318/yr	10.0x
75	Westfield State University Westfield, MA · Public	46 53–47	$40,429/yr	11.2x
76	Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI · Public	46 49–48	$46,522/yr	7.9x
77	Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI · Public	46 48–47	$47,868/yr	7.2x
78	Southwest Minnesota State University Marshall, MN · Public	46 49–47	$44,510/yr	9.8x
79	Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH · Public	46 49–47	$45,213/yr	8.6x
80	Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock, PA · Public	46 50–47	$43,480/yr	10.7x
81	York College of Pennsylvania York, PA · Private nonprofit	46 47–47	$52,199/yr	4.3x
82	University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR · Public	45 49–46	$43,718/yr	10.2x
83	University of Northern Colorado Greeley, CO · Public	45 49–46	$44,009/yr	9.3x
84	Eastern Illinois University Charleston, IL · Public	45 49–46	$43,955/yr	8.7x
85	Western Illinois University Macomb, IL · Public	45 47–46	$46,729/yr	7.1x
86	University of Southern Indiana Evansville, IN · Public	45 49–46	$44,104/yr	10.4x
87	Saginaw Valley State University University Center, MI · Public	45 49–46	$43,191/yr	9.3x
88	Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN · Public	45 49–47	$44,052/yr	11.0x
89	Auburn University Auburn, AL · Public	44 49–45	$42,774/yr	9.1x
90	Boise State University Boise, ID · Public	44 50–45	$42,303/yr	11.0x
91	Wayne State University Detroit, MI · Public	44 48–46	$44,157/yr	8.0x
92	University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha, NE · Public	44 54–45	$37,998/yr	14.9x
93	University of Memphis Memphis, TN · Public	44 48–46	$44,664/yr	9.8x
94	Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, CO · Public	43 51–44	$39,638/yr	11.3x
95	Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Carbondale, IL · Public	43 46–44	$44,429/yr	7.8x
96	Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MI · Public	43 47–44	$43,777/yr	7.3x
97	Syracuse University Syracuse, NY · Private nonprofit	43 43–44	$55,881/yr	1.2x
98	Upper Iowa University Fayette, IA · Private nonprofit	42 45–43	$44,304/yr	4.8x
99	New Mexico State University-Main Campus Las Cruces, NM · Public	42 57–44	$31,963/yr	19.2x
100	La Salle University Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit	42 44–43	$48,302/yr	2.4x
101	Saint Joseph's University Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit	42 43–43	$50,698/yr	1.5x
102	Dakota State University Madison, SD · Public	42 47–43	$42,318/yr	10.2x
103	Athens State University Athens, AL · Public	41 45–42	$43,668/yr	—
104	Jacksonville State University Jacksonville, AL · Public	41 46–42	$42,107/yr	7.5x
105	Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Edwardsville, IL · Public	41 45–42	$44,205/yr	7.5x
106	Concordia University Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI · Private nonprofit	41 44–43	$47,295/yr	2.5x
107	University of Cincinnati-Main Campus Cincinnati, OH · Public	41 46–42	$42,347/yr	6.8x
108	Salve Regina University Newport, RI · Private nonprofit	41 42–42	$51,308/yr	2.1x
109	Coastal Carolina University Conway, SC · Public	41 47–42	$42,147/yr	8.9x
110	Concordia University-Wisconsin Mequon, WI · Private nonprofit	41 44–43	$47,295/yr	2.5x
111	University of Hartford West Hartford, CT · Private nonprofit	40 42–41	$48,049/yr	1.5x
112	Lewis University Romeoville, IL · Private nonprofit	40 42–41	$45,831/yr	2.0x
113	University of Toledo Toledo, OH · Public	40 47–41	$40,952/yr	8.8x
114	Carroll University Waukesha, WI · Private nonprofit	40 43–42	$46,661/yr	2.1x
115	Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZ · Private for-profit	39 44–40	$43,258/yr	5.7x
116	University of St Francis Joliet, IL · Private nonprofit	39 42–40	$45,323/yr	2.1x
117	Vincennes University Vincennes, IN · Public	39 47–40	$39,867/yr	12.6x
118	Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights, KY · Public	39 46–40	$40,333/yr	8.3x
119	Ohio University-Main Campus Athens, OH · Public	39 45–40	$41,362/yr	7.5x
120	Carson-Newman University Jefferson City, TN · Private nonprofit	39 42–40	$44,404/yr	2.2x
121	University of Kentucky Lexington, KY · Public	38 44–39	$41,217/yr	7.6x
122	Hope College Holland, MI · Private nonprofit	38 40–40	$48,630/yr	2.1x
123	Providence College Providence, RI · Private nonprofit	38 40–39	$49,664/yr	1.5x
124	University of South Carolina-Upstate Spartanburg, SC · Public	38 46–39	$40,322/yr	7.7x
125	Carthage College Kenosha, WI · Private nonprofit	38 40–39	$48,593/yr	2.2x
126	University of Maine at Farmington Farmington, ME · Public	37 46–38	$39,458/yr	9.3x
127	Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MS · Public	37 44–38	$40,185/yr	9.2x
128	Missouri State University-Springfield Springfield, MO · Public	37 47–38	$38,250/yr	11.2x
129	Miami University-Oxford Oxford, OH · Public	37 43–38	$41,871/yr	5.5x
130	Lebanon Valley College Annville, PA · Private nonprofit	37 39–39	$51,415/yr	1.4x
131	Thiel College Greenville, PA · Private nonprofit	37 42–38	$43,626/yr	2.0x
132	Winthrop University Rock Hill, SC · Public	37 44–38	$40,435/yr	5.3x
133	Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, KY · Public	36 45–37	$38,807/yr	7.5x
134	Alvernia University Reading, PA · Private nonprofit	36 38–38	$48,649/yr	1.7x
135	Mercyhurst University Erie, PA · Private nonprofit	36 38–37	$46,636/yr	1.8x
136	Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY · Public	35 44–36	$38,485/yr	9.5x
137	Spring Arbor University Spring Arbor, MI · Private nonprofit	35 41–36	$41,324/yr	2.2x
138	SUNY Buffalo State University Buffalo, NY · Public	35 38–36	$16,737/yr	14.9x
139	SUNY College at Geneseo Geneseo, NY · Public	35 46–36	$37,229/yr	9.4x
140	University of Dayton Dayton, OH · Private nonprofit	35 38–36	$45,260/yr	1.7x
141	Kent State University at Kent Kent, OH · Public	35 44–36	$39,139/yr	7.8x
142	Neumann University Aston, PA · Private nonprofit	35 40–36	$42,488/yr	2.6x
143	College of Charleston Charleston, SC · Public	35 43–37	$39,832/yr	7.5x
144	Shawnee State University Portsmouth, OH · Public	34 45–35	$37,020/yr	8.6x
145	Northwest Missouri State University Maryville, MO · Public	33 42–34	$38,040/yr	8.6x
146	Bowling Green State University-Main Campus Bowling Green, OH · Public	33 42–34	$38,671/yr	6.7x
147	Capital University Columbus, OH · Private nonprofit	33 38–34	$42,709/yr	2.0x
148	Anderson University Anderson, SC · Private nonprofit	33 40–34	$40,264/yr	2.0x
149	California State University-Sacramento Sacramento, CA · Public	32 46–33	$33,783/yr	13.0x
150	Colorado Christian University Lakewood, CO · Private nonprofit	32 40–33	$40,033/yr	1.5x
151	Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Saint Mary of the Woods, IN · Private nonprofit	32 37–33	$41,943/yr	2.2x
152	Morehead State University Morehead, KY · Public	32 43–33	$36,999/yr	9.2x
153	Cabrini University Radnor, PA · Private nonprofit	32 39–33	$40,114/yr	2.7x
154	Liberty University Lynchburg, VA · Private nonprofit	32 40–33	$39,699/yr	4.3x
155	University of Central Missouri Warrensburg, MO · Public	31 43–32	$36,365/yr	9.3x
156	University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, MO · Public	31 41–32	$37,547/yr	6.5x
157	Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau, MO · Public	31 41–32	$37,450/yr	8.5x
158	Murray State University Murray, KY · Public	30 42–31	$36,197/yr	9.1x
159	University of Arizona Tucson, AZ · Public	29 42–30	$35,023/yr	7.5x
160	St. Joseph's University-New York Brooklyn, NY · Private nonprofit	29 42–30	$35,041/yr	3.4x
161	Bellarmine University Louisville, KY · Private nonprofit	28 35–29	$40,785/yr	1.4x
162	Youngstown State University Youngstown, OH · Public	28 41–29	$35,220/yr	8.4x
163	University of Akron Main Campus Akron, OH · Public	26 40–27	$34,073/yr	7.2x
164	Fontbonne University Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit	25 36–26	$36,791/yr	2.8x
165	Missouri Baptist University Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit	25 38–26	$35,312/yr	1.7x
166	Ashland University Ashland, OH · Private nonprofit	24 36–25	$35,709/yr	2.8x
167	University of Mount Union Alliance, OH · Private nonprofit	23 35–24	$36,444/yr	2.1x
168	Notre Dame College Cleveland, OH · Private nonprofit	22 35–23	$35,789/yr	2.2x
169	University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon Bayamon, PR · Public	21 19–22	$9,503/yr	8.2x
170	Defiance College Defiance, OH · Private nonprofit	20 34–21	$29,443/yr	0.9x

Methodology

Programs are ranked by DegreeWorth Score, which combines four equally weighted factors: graduate earnings (Year 1 after graduation), AI automation resilience (based on OpenAI and academic research), job market size (BLS annual openings), and earnings-to-tuition multiple (10-year projected earnings vs. 4-year tuition).

Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which reports actual median earnings of graduates — not self-reported surveys.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Special Education and Teaching?

Based on our DegreeWorth Score, Florida Atlantic University ranks #1 for Special Education and Teaching with a score of 64/100 and graduate earnings of $56,009/yr.

How much do Special Education and Teaching graduates earn?

Across 170 schools, Special Education and Teaching graduates earn an average of $44,105/yr in their first year. The highest-earning program reports $62,346/yr.

Is Special Education and Teaching a good major for AI resistance?

Special Education and Teaching has an average AI task exposure of 45%, rated "High". This field has moderate AI exposure — some career paths are more resilient than others.

Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Last updated 2025.