by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2025, College Factual analyzed 4 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Special Education Master's Degree Schools in Iowa ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 187 master's degrees in special education to qualified students.
What's on this page: * Our Methodology
The special ed master's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality special ed program can vary widely even among the top schools. When choosing a school we recommend considering some of the following factors:
The overall quality of a master's degree school is important to ensure a good education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To take this into account we consider a college's overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking which itself looks at a collection of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving their master's degree from the school. This is because one of the main reasons people pursue their master's degree is to enable themselves to find better-paying positions.
The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.
Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for special education students working on their master'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 Master's Degree Schools in Iowa ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
The following list ranks the best colleges and universities for pursuing a master's degree in special education.
It is hard to beat Morningside College if you want to pursue a master's degree in special education. Morningside is a small private not-for-profit college located in the small city of Sioux City.
Master's students who receive their degree from the special ed program earn an average of $55,760 in the first couple years of their career.
More information about a master’s in special education from Morningside College
It is difficult to beat Northwestern College if you want to pursue a master's degree in special education. NWC is a small private not-for-profit college located in the distant town of Orange City.More information about a master’s in special education from Northwestern College
It's difficult to beat Buena Vista University if you wish to pursue a master's degree in special education. BVU is a small private not-for-profit university located in the town of Storm Lake.More information about a master’s in special education from Buena Vista University
Every student pursuing a degree in a master's degree in special education has to take a look at Upper Iowa University. UIU is a small private not-for-profit university located in the remote area of Fayette.
Students who graduate with their master's from the special ed program state that they receive average early career earnings of $55,800.
More information about a master’s in special education from Upper Iowa UniversityExplore all the Best Special Education Colleges in the Plains States Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Colleges | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri | 193 | 302 |
| Minnesota | 174 | 464 |
| Kansas | 149 | 383 |
| Nebraska | 123 | 131 |
| North Dakota | 115 | 156 |
| South Dakota | 89 | 11 |
One of 14 majors within the Education area of study, Special Education has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Educational Administration | 280 |
| Teacher Education Grade Specific | 173 |
| Curriculum & Instruction | 136 |
| Student Counseling | 121 |
| Teacher Education Subject Specific | 111 |
| General Education | 94 |
| Teaching English or French | 42 |
| Instructional Media Design | 21 |
| Educational Assessment | 14 |
| Other Education | 14 |
