by our College Data Analytics TeamFor its 2025 ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools in the Southwest Region to determine which ones were the best for special education students pursuing a bachelor's degree. Combined, these schools handed out 933 bachelor's degrees in special education to qualified students.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology
Your choice of special education for getting your bachelor's degree school matters. This section explores some of the factors we include in our ranking and how much they vary depending on the school you select. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.
A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of bachelor's graduates during the early years of their career. That is, everyone wants their bachelor's degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for special education students working on their bachelor's degree.
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Special Education Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Southwest Region ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Learn about the top ranked colleges and universities for special education students seeking a a bachelor's degree.
Northern Arizona University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a bachelor's degree in special education. Located in the city of Flagstaff, NAU is a public university with a very large student population.
Special Education bachelor's degree recipients from Northern Arizona University receive an earnings boost of about $4,667 over the typical income of special education graduates.
More information about a bachelor’s in special education from Northern Arizona University
It's hard to beat Grand Canyon University if you wish to pursue a bachelor's degree in special education. Located in the large city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit university with a fairly large student population.
Bachelor's students who receive their degree from the special ed program make an average of $43,258 for their early career.
More information about a bachelor’s in special education from Grand Canyon University
It is difficult to beat Arizona State University - Tempe if you wish to pursue a bachelor's degree in special education. ASU - Tempe is a very large public university located in the city of Tempe.
Those special education students who get their bachelor's degree from Arizona State University - Tempe earn $6,939 more than the typical special ed student.
More information about a bachelor’s in special education from Arizona State University - Tempe
University of Arizona is one of the best schools in the country for getting a bachelor's degree in special education. Located in the large city of Tucson, University of Arizona is a public university with a very large student population.
After graduating, special ed bachelor's recipients typically earn an average of $35,023 at the beginning of their careers.
More information about a bachelor’s in special education from University of Arizona
UNM is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Albuquerque.
Soon after graduating, special ed bachelor's recipients generally earn an average of $41,947 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a bachelor’s in special education from University of New Mexico - Main Campus
NMSU Main Campus is a large public university located in the medium-sized suburb of Las Cruces.
Students who graduate with their bachelor's from the special ed program state that they receive average early career income of $31,963.
More information about a bachelor’s in special education from New Mexico State University - Main Campus
New Mexico Highlands University is a small public university located in the remote town of Las Vegas.More information about a bachelor’s in special education from New Mexico Highlands University
Explore the best special education schools for a specific state in the Southwest Region .
| State | Colleges | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 245 | 57 |
| Arizona | 200 | 715 |
| Oklahoma | 190 | 49 |
| New Mexico | 133 | 33 |
One of 14 majors within the Education area of study, Special Education has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Teacher Education Grade Specific | 4,737 |
| General Education | 2,214 |
| Teacher Education Subject Specific | 1,106 |
| Other Education | 190 |
| Educational Assessment | 64 |
| Multilingual Education | 27 |
| Educational Administration | 24 |
| Teaching English or French | 9 |
| Instructional Media Design | 8 |
