by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 72 U.S. colleges awarded 1,739 degrees and certificates in Elementary Special Education. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 71% of graduates. College Factual ranks 36 schools in its 2027 Best Elementary Special Education Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $55,013 one year after completing, rising to $62,416 after four years.
A degree in Elementary Special Education covers Education/teaching Of Individuals In Elementary Special Education Programs. A Program That Focuses On The Design And Provision Of Teaching And Other Educational Services To Children With Special Learning Needs Or Disabilities Who Are In The Elementary Grades. Includes Instruction In Diagnosing Learning Disabilities; Developing Individual Education Plans; Curriculum Development, Instructional Strategies, And Classroom Management For Elementary Special Education; And Teaching Elementary Education Subject Matter.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., elementary special education draws strong interest, with 1,739 degrees awarded annually. 72 colleges award elementary special education degrees, an average of 24 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 329.
By level, the 1,739 awards include 22 associate degrees, 488 bachelor’s degrees and 1,229 master’s degrees.
Women earned 86% of elementary special education degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,500 of 1,739). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,135) and Hispanic or Latino (267), and international students earned 8.
College Factual ranks 36 schools in its 2027 Best Elementary Special Education Schools ranking, including 17 for bachelor’s degrees and 22 for master’s degrees. It also ranks elementary special education schools within 8 states. In all, 72 colleges offer elementary special education programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Elementary Special Education Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common elementary special education credential is the master’s degree: 1,229 of the 1,739 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to elementary special education call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Instructing, and for knowledge of Education and Training, English Language and Psychology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Speech Clarity and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an elementary special education degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 22 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 488 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,229 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to elementary special education, at 78.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 78.6% |
| Master’s degree | 12.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 6.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Elementary Special Education, with an average median salary of $73,990; the strongest outlook belongs to Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten, at 14.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Educator, Literacy Education Professor, Assistant Professor and Professor.
The occupation related to elementary special education with the most projected jobs is Education Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,441,246.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten | 1,257,499 | 14.0% |
| Special Education Teachers, Elementary School | 199,198 | -0.2% |
Elementary Special Education graduates earn a median $55,013 one year after completing their program, $62,416 after four years and $59,953 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $55,013 |
| 4 years | $62,416 |
| 5 years | $59,953 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to elementary special education, with a median salary of $98,329.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten | $73,597 |
| Special Education Teachers, Elementary School | $50,045 |
Elementary Special Education has 17 similar majors in the Education field, which together award 33,689 degrees a year; the largest are Special Education and Teaching, General (23,004), Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs (3,950) and Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities (1,485). Browse all Education majors or the full list of college majors.
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