by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 874 U.S. colleges awarded 35,428 degrees and certificates in Special Education. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 72% of graduates. College Factual ranks 501 schools in its 2027 Best 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.
Brittany has Down syndrome and is in a special contained classroom. With the help of her teacher, Brittany learns many life skills that will help her live a happy and less dependent life.
Eric is autistic and has a hard time socializing. After several weeks, Eric is able to work better with his classmates because of the teaching aid and the teacher working together to modify instruction.
These are just a few examples of what Special Education teachers do every day. A major in Special Education focuses on designing educational services and teaching children with learning needs or disabilities. You will create individualized learning plans (IEP) and monitor your student's progress while also supporting each student emotionally and making sure that their needs are met. Your students will have a wide range of learning, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities.
Some classes you could be required to take are behavior management, assistive technology, human development and learning, cultural and linguistic diversity, issues in special populations, issues in contemporary education, mild to moderate disabilities, moderate to severe disabilities, and assessment in special education.
There are many different concentrations within special education. In your major you can focus on hearing or vision impairment, gifted and talented education, emotional disturbances, multiple disabilities, orthopedic and other physical impairments, speech impairment, autism, developmental delays, brain trauma, and more.
Studying Special Education explores Special Education And Teaching.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., special education draws strong interest, with 35,428 degrees awarded annually. 874 colleges award special education degrees, an average of 41 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 1,990.
By level, the 35,428 awards include 121 certificates, 1,752 associate degrees, 7,944 bachelor’s degrees, 25,372 master’s degrees and 227 doctorates.
Women earned 87% of special education degrees and certificates in the latest year (30,717 of 35,428). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (22,047) and Hispanic or Latino (6,205), and international students earned 414.
College Factual ranks 501 schools in its 2027 Best Special Education Schools ranking, including 45 for associate degrees, 182 for bachelor’s degrees, 343 for master’s degrees and 3 for doctorates. It also ranks special education schools within 51 states. In all, 874 colleges offer special education programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Special Education Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common special education credential is the master’s degree: 25,372 of the 35,428 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to special education call most for Speaking, Active Listening 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.
As a special education teacher there are certain skills needed in order to have a successful career. You need to be patient and willing to put in extra work and effort. Students with special needs usually require more patience and attention in certain areas depending on their individual needs. Although Special Education teachers are patient and understanding, they must also be assertive in advocating for students to receive the services and support they need. A good sense of humor will be very helpful in this field as well as being able to enjoy small successes. It will help you to be inclusive and celebratory of differences.
This field required you to have excellent interpersonal skills as you will be working with students, as well as other teachers, parents, administrators, and teacher aids. Teachers become heavily invested in the success of their students; you need to be able to persevere through difficult moments in order to achieve the happiness and growth of your student.
In order to become certified, you will need to complete a teacher certification program at your college. This program will prepare you for teaching as well put you in a classroom with a certified teacher to student teach. Along with student teaching, it is a good idea to work as a camp counselor, a coach, or even a tutor with special-needs students to help gain experience.
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How long a special education degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 121 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,752 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 7,944 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 25,372 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 227 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to special education, at 33.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 30.0% |
| Master’s degree | 21.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 12.2% |
| First professional degree | 1.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.6% |
| Some college courses | 0.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
10 occupations are related to Special Education, with an average median salary of $73,113; the strongest outlook belongs to Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten, at 14.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Physically Impaired Teacher, Blind Teacher, Lip Reading Teacher and Learning Support Teacher.
Special Education teachers can work with a variety of students with different needs. There is a high demand for special education teachers in public and private schools. The growth seems to be mainly for students in kindergarten, elementary, and middle schools because students are getting diagnosed at earlier ages.
The occupation related to special education with the most projected jobs is Special Education Teachers, All Other, at 1,501,521.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education Teachers, All Other | 1,501,521 | 9.2% |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten | 1,257,499 | 14.0% |
| Adapted Physical Education Specialists | 1,064,121 | 10.9% |
| Special Education Teachers, Middle School | 913,965 | 4.8% |
| Teaching Assistants, Special Education | 656,798 | 9.5% |
| Special Education Teachers, Preschool | 636,033 | 6.1% |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | 570,170 | 8.8% |
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 highest-paying occupation related to special education is Education Teachers, Postsecondary, with a median salary of $98,329.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Teaching Assistants, Special Education | $96,801 |
| Special Education Teachers, All Other | $86,208 |
| Special Education Teachers, Middle School | $80,694 |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | $79,680 |
| Adapted Physical Education Specialists | $77,976 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten | $73,597 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $52,627 |
Special Education includes 18 concentrations that together award 35,428 degrees a year; by graduates, 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 in Elementary Special Education Programs (1,739). It has 14 similar majors in the Education field, which together award 290,406 degrees a year; the largest are Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (108,824), Educational Administration and Supervision (44,746) and Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (40,395). Browse all Education majors or the full list of college majors.
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