by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 74 U.S. colleges awarded 1,089 degrees and certificates in Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 96% of graduates. College Factual ranks 25 schools in its 2027 Best Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism 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/Teaching of Individuals with Autism covers Education/teaching Of Individuals With Autism. A Program That Focuses On The Design Of Educational Services For Children Or Adults With Autism, And That Prepares Individuals To Teach Such Students. Includes Instruction In Identifying Students With Autism, Developing Individual Education Plans, Teaching And Supervising Autistic 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/teaching of individuals with autism draws strong interest, with 1,089 degrees awarded annually. 74 colleges award education/teaching of individuals with autism degrees, an average of 15 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 345.
By level, the 1,089 awards include 46 bachelor’s degrees and 1,041 master’s degrees.
Women earned 91% of education/teaching of individuals with autism degrees and certificates in the latest year (987 of 1,089). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (703) and Hispanic or Latino (175), and international students earned 10.
College Factual ranks 25 schools in its 2027 Best Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism Schools ranking, including 15 for bachelor’s degrees and 18 for master’s degrees. It also ranks education/teaching of individuals with autism schools within 6 states. In all, 74 colleges offer education/teaching of individuals with autism programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common education/teaching of individuals with autism credential is the master’s degree: 1,041 of the 1,089 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to education/teaching of individuals with autism call most for Speaking, Instructing and Active Listening, 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:
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How long an education/teaching of individuals with autism degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 46 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,041 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to education/teaching of individuals with autism, at 35.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 35.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 27.7% |
| Master’s degree | 21.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 13.0% |
| First professional degree | 1.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.4% |
| Some college courses | 0.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
8 occupations are related to Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism, with an average median salary of $72,713; the strongest outlook belongs to Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten, at 14.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Braille Teacher, Physically Impaired Teacher, Lip Reading Teacher and Learning Support Teacher.
The occupation related to education/teaching of individuals with autism 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% |
| Special Education Teachers, Preschool | 636,033 | 6.1% |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | 570,170 | 8.8% |
| Special Education Teachers, Elementary School | 199,198 | -0.2% |
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism 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 education/teaching of individuals with autism is Education Teachers, Postsecondary, with a median salary of $98,329.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| 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 |
| Special Education Teachers, Elementary School | $50,045 |
| Special Education Teachers, Preschool | $35,173 |
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism has 17 similar majors in the Education field, which together award 34,339 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.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
