2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Special Ed for a Master’s
20
Ranked Colleges
558
Degrees Awarded
$52,866
Avg Salary
When it comes to choosing a college, veterans have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Special Ed for a Master’s” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Special Education is the 29th most popular major in the country with 36,792 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, special education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $45,679 and had an average of $24,977 in loans still to pay off.
Across Illinois, there were 1,153 special education graduates with average earnings and debt of $47,433 and $23,191 respectively.
For this year’s “Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Special Ed for a Master’s” ranking, we looked at 20 colleges that offer a degree in special education. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent special education programs, but they also offer a lot of support to veterans and active service members.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the special education program at the school, veteran affordability, and veteran population. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Special Ed for a Master’s” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Special Ed for a Master’s
The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois master’s degree vets studying special ed.
Top 20 Best Special Education Master’s Degree Colleges for Veterans in Illinois
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #1 for the Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Special Ed for a Master’s. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 20 students in 2020-2021.
UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list.According to our most recent data, UIUC supports 52,679 students, and 10 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 0 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $0. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
[Read full report on veteran student life at UIUC]](/colleges/university-of-illinois-at-urbana-champaign/student-life/veterans/)
Out of the 20 schools in the Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Special Ed for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Lewis University landed the #2 spot on the list. Romeoville, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 18 students in 2020-2021.
Lewis also took the #5 spot in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking.According to our most recent data, Lewis University supports 6,437 students, and 23 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 16 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $8,559. During this same period, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
[Read full report on veteran student life at Lewis]](/colleges/lewis-university/student-life/veterans/)
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Chicago. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Special Ed for a Master’s list. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 67 masters’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list.Of the 33,518 students enrolled at UIC, 1 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 1 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $23,878. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Illinois State University. The school came in at #4 for the Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Special Ed for a Master’s. Illinois State University is a large public school situated in Normal, Illinois. It awarded 22 masters’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
Illinois State also took the #1 spot in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking.Our most recent data shows that 530 of the 20,720 students enrolled at Illinois State were GI Bill® students, of which 163 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $6,997. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Illinois State offers credit for military training for eligible students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read More…
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Special Ed for a Master’s list. Located in Edwardsville, Illinois, this fairly large public school awarded 8 degrees to qualified masters’s special ed students in 2020-2021.
SIUE also made our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #16.According to our most recent data, SIUE supports 12,860 students, and 3 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 2 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $23,082. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
Full SIUE Veteran Student Life Report
Aurora University did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Special Ed for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #6. Aurora University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Aurora, Illinois. It awarded 42 masters’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
Aurora also made our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #6.Our most recent data shows that 3 of the 6,265 students enrolled at Aurora University were GI Bill® students, of which 1 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $6,999. During this same period, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
[Read full report on veteran student life at Aurora University]](/colleges/aurora-university/student-life/veterans/)
DePaul University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Special Ed for a Master’s ranking. DePaul is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 45 masters’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
DePaul not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list.According to our most recent data, DePaul supports 21,922 students, and 528 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 367 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $14,957. To help with additional expenses, 101 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. DePaul offers credit for military training for eligible students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read More…
National Louis University ranked #8 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Special Ed for a Master’s list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 116 diplomas to qualified masters’s special ed students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at NLU, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking.Of the 7,402 students enrolled at National Louis University, 15 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 14 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $9,078. During this same period, 1 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
[Read full report on veteran student life at NLU]](/colleges/national-louis-university/student-life/veterans/)
Saint Xavier University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Special Ed for a Master’s ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 13 degrees to qualified masters’s special ed students in 2020-2021.
SXU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list.According to our most recent data, SXU supports 3,764 students, and 65 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 49 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $11,740. In addition to receiving other benefits, 3 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
Read More…
Northern Illinois University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Special Ed for a Master’s ranking. Located in Dekalb, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 60 diplomas to qualified masters’s special ed students in 2020-2021.
NIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list.According to our most recent data, NIU supports 16,769 students, and 480 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 207 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $7,822. To help with additional expenses, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program.
[Read full report on veteran student life at NIU]](/colleges/northern-illinois-university/student-life/veterans/)
Western Illinois University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Special Ed for a Master’s ranking. WIU is a medium-sized school located in Macomb, Illinois that handed out 9 masters’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
WIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list.Our most recent data shows that 330 of the 7,490 students enrolled at Western Illinois University were GI Bill® students, of which 62 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $4,652. To help with additional expenses, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Full WIU Veteran Student Life Report
Roosevelt University did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Special Ed for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #12. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 10 masters’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
Roosevelt also made our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #13.Among the 4,680 students enrolled at Roosevelt, 95 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 43 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $12,071. In addition to receiving other benefits, 20 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
[Read full report on veteran student life at Roosevelt]](/colleges/roosevelt-university/student-life/veterans/)
Northeastern Illinois University ranked #13 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Special Ed for a Master’s list. Northeastern Illinois University is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 masters’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
Northeastern Illinois University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list.According to our most recent data, Northeastern Illinois University supports 7,119 students, and 147 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 83 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $6,460. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Full Northeastern Illinois University Veteran Student Life Report
Eastern Illinois University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Special Ed for a Master’s ranking. EIU is located in Charleston, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 12 masters’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
EIU also made our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #15.Of the 8,626 students enrolled at EIU, 184 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 46 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $4,730. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Read More…
Dominican University did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Special Ed for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #15. Dominican U is a private not-for-profit institution located in River Forest, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 26 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Dominican U, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking.Of the 3,189 students enrolled at Dominican U, 37 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 17 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $12,038. During this same period, 2 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
[Read full report on veteran student life at Dominican U]](/colleges/dominican-university/student-life/veterans/)
Elmhurst University ranked #16 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Special Ed for a Master’s list. Elmhurst is located in Elmhurst, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 masters’s special ed degrees to qualified students.
Elmhurst also took the #12 spot in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking.Of the 3,421 students enrolled at Elmhurst University, 77 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 57 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $12,985. During this same period, 7 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Elmhurst University Veteran Student Life Report
Chicago State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Special Ed for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small public school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified masters’s special ed students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our illinois master’s degree vets studying special ed list, CSU has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking.Of the 2,644 students enrolled at Chicago State University, 94 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 48 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $8,489. During this same period, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
[Read full report on veteran student life at CSU]](/colleges/chicago-state-university/student-life/veterans/)
With a ranking of #18, Trinity Christian College did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Special Ed for a Master’s list. Palos Heights, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s special ed degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.
Trinity Christian also took the #8 spot in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking.Of the 1,086 students enrolled at Trinity Christian, 14 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 5 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $10,438. On top of their other funding sources, 1 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Full Trinity Christian Veteran Student Life Report
With a ranking of #19, Rockford University did quite well on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Special Ed for a Master’s list. Located in Rockford, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified masters’s special ed students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our illinois master’s degree vets studying special ed list, Rockford has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking.Among the 1,272 students enrolled at Rockford, 27 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 19 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $12,705. In addition to receiving other benefits, 8 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full Rockford Veteran Student Life Report
Concordia University, Chicago came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in Illinois for Special Ed for a Master’s ranking. Concordia University, Chicago is a medium-sized school located in River Forest, Illinois that handed out 32 masters’s special ed degrees in 2020-2021.
Concordia University, Chicago also made our “Best Special Education Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #9.Our most recent data shows that 134 of the 6,491 students enrolled at Concordia University, Chicago were GI Bill® students, of which 96 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $7,085. In addition to receiving other benefits, 4 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
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