by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 12 U.S. colleges awarded 83 degrees and certificates in Education/Teaching of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 61% of graduates. College Factual ranks 2 schools in its 2027 Best Education/Teaching of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities 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 Education/Teaching of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities covers Education/teaching Of Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities. A Program That Focuses On The Design Of Educational Services For Children Or Adults With Intellectual Disabilities Which Adversely Affect Their Educational Performance And That May Prepare Individuals To Teach Such Students. Includes Instruction In Identifying Students With Intellectual Disabilities, Developing Individual Education Plans, Teaching And Supervising Mentally Handicapped 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.
Across the country, education/teaching of individuals with intellectual disabilities is a popular field of study, with 83 degrees awarded annually. 12 colleges award education/teaching of individuals with intellectual disabilities degrees, an average of 7 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 32.
By level, the 83 awards include 51 bachelor’s degrees, 31 master’s degrees and 1 doctorates.
Women earned 83% of education/teaching of individuals with intellectual disabilities degrees and certificates in the latest year (69 of 83). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (70) and Hispanic or Latino (5), and international students earned 2.
College Factual ranks 2 schools in its 2027 Best Education/Teaching of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities Schools ranking, including 2 for bachelor’s degrees and 2 for master’s degrees. It also ranks education/teaching of individuals with intellectual disabilities schools within 1 state. In all, 12 colleges offer education/teaching of individuals with intellectual disabilities programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Education/Teaching of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common education/teaching of individuals with intellectual disabilities credential is the bachelor’s degree: 51 of the 83 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to education/teaching of individuals with intellectual disabilities 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.
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How long an education/teaching of individuals with intellectual disabilities degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 51 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 31 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to education/teaching of individuals with intellectual disabilities, 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 Intellectual Disabilities, 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 Physically Impaired Teacher, Learning Support Teacher, Blind Teacher and Lip Reading Teacher.
The occupation related to education/teaching of individuals with intellectual disabilities 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 Intellectual Disabilities 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 intellectual disabilities 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 Intellectual Disabilities has 17 similar majors in the Education field, which together award 35,345 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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