Best Online Special Education Programs in Galesburg, IL (2026)

Galesburg, Illinois has 5 accredited schools offering special education programs, with tuition ranging from $16,144 to $34,309 per year for indexed programs. Galesburg has a population of about 29,653. Median household income is $45,213 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 19.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Illinois, the top-earning special education-related role is Special Education Teacher, Secondary School at a median $79,890 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Special Education Schools to Galesburg

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer special education programs near Galesburg, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Galesburg city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Galesburg. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Knox College

Galesburg, IL 0.5 miles from Galesburg BOC Score 54.5
  • 4 year
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 71%
Graduation rate 68%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $54,820
Avg net price $24,595/yr
Tuition
In‑state$57,903
Out‑of‑state$57,903
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 82%
  • Programs offered: 8

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Carl Sandburg College

Galesburg, IL 2.6 miles from Galesburg BOC Score 64.8
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 52%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $35,274
Avg net price $3,662/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 34

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois special education page.


Special Education Wages Near Galesburg

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Illinois, statewide)
Special Education Teacher, Kindergarten and Elementary School$77,960
Special Education Teacher, Middle School$74,730
Special Education Teacher, Secondary School$79,890
Special Education Teacher, Preschool$62,580

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.


Galesburg at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population29,653Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$45,213Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+19.3%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Galesburg-Area Cities With Special Education Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited special education schools are near Galesburg, IL?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering special education programs near Galesburg. The closest is Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL (36.5 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Illinois State University (77.6 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying special education roles in Illinois?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying special education-related roles in Illinois are: Special Education Teacher, Secondary School ($79,890), Special Education Teacher, Kindergarten and Elementary School ($77,960), Special Education Teacher, Middle School ($74,730). Wages for Galesburg workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Moline instead of Galesburg?

Moline, IL is 37.2 miles from Galesburg and has its own set of local special education programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Galesburg an affordable place to study special education?

Galesburg’s median household income of $45,213 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Galesburg while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Illinois public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.


Learn More About Special Education Programs

Other Programs Available in Galesburg

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Galesburg:

Data verified: July 30, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.