by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 32 U.S. colleges awarded 251 degrees and certificates in Education of the Deaf. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 59% of graduates. College Factual ranks 9 schools in its 2027 Best Education of the Deaf 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.
Studying Education of the Deaf explores Education/teaching Of Individuals With Hearing Impairments Including Deafness. A Program That Focuses On The Design Of Educational Services For Children Or Adults With Hearing Impairments Including Deafness Which Adversely Affect Their Educational Performance, And That May Prepare Individuals To Teach Such Students. Includes Instruction In Identifying Students With Hearing Impairments, Including Deafness, Developing Individual Education Plans, Teaching And Supervising Hearing-Impaired Students, Counseling, And Applicable Laws And Policies.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., education of the deaf is a widely-pursued major, with 251 degrees awarded annually. 32 colleges award education of the deaf degrees, an average of 8 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 28.
By level, the 251 awards include 17 certificates, 31 associate degrees, 49 bachelor’s degrees, 149 master’s degrees and 5 doctorates.
Women earned 85% of education of the deaf degrees and certificates in the latest year (213 of 251). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (138) and Hispanic or Latino (51), and international students earned 9.
College Factual ranks 9 schools in its 2027 Best Education of the Deaf Schools ranking, including 3 for associate degrees, 3 for bachelor’s degrees and 4 for master’s degrees. It also ranks education of the deaf schools within 3 states. In all, 32 colleges offer education of the deaf programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Education of the Deaf Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common education of the deaf credential is the master’s degree: 149 of the 251 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to education of the deaf call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Education and Training, English Language and Psychology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an education of the deaf degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 17 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 31 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 49 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 149 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 5 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to education of the deaf, at 51.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 51.0% |
| Master’s degree | 27.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 16.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.4% |
| First professional degree | 1.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.4% |
| Some college courses | 0.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
8 occupations are related to Education of the Deaf, with an average median salary of $67,000; the strongest outlook belongs to Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten, at 14.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Blind Teacher, Lip Reading Teacher, Physically Impaired Teacher and Sign Language Teacher.
The occupation related to education of the deaf 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% |
| 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% |
| Special Education Teachers, Preschool | 636,033 | 6.1% |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | 570,170 | 8.8% |
| Interpreters and Translators | 424,722 | 12.2% |
| Special Education Teachers, Elementary School | 199,198 | -0.2% |
Education of the Deaf 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 education of the deaf, with a median salary of $86,208.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 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 Teachers, Elementary School | $50,045 |
| Special Education Teachers, Preschool | $35,173 |
Education of the Deaf has 17 similar majors in the Education field, which together award 35,177 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 in Elementary Special Education Programs (1,739). Browse all Education majors or the full list of college majors.
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