Special Education Teaching: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Special Education Teaching prepares educators to support learners with diverse academic, emotional, and developmental needs through evidence-based instructional strategies and inclusive practices. This program equips professionals to design, deliver, and evaluate specialized educational experiences in collaborative, multidisciplinary settings.
- Diagnosing Learning Disabilities: Training in identifying cognitive, behavioral, and academic challenges through assessment tools and observational techniques to inform effective intervention planning.
- Individualized Education Planning (IEP): Mastery of developing, implementing, and reviewing customized learning plans that align with student goals, legal requirements, and educational standards.
- Instructional Strategies for Diverse Learners: Application of differentiated teaching methods tailored to various learning modalities, including visual, auditory, and kinesthetic approaches, to maximize engagement and achievement.
- Special Education Counseling: Development of skills in emotional and behavioral support, including communication techniques and crisis intervention strategies for students with complex needs.
- Legal and Policy Frameworks: In-depth study of federal and state regulations, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), to ensure compliance and protect student rights in educational settings.
Special Education Teaching Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Special Education Teaching Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Special Education Teaching degrees, including Special Education Teachers, Secondary School, Special Education Teachers, All Other and Special Education Teachers, Middle School. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 325,660 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School 25-2058 | $69,590 | $47,930 - $106,050 | 162,780 | N/A |
| Special Education Teachers, All Other 25-2059 | $67,430 | $43,220 - $109,360 | 39,350 | N/A |
| Special Education Teachers, Middle School 25-2057 | $64,880 | $48,070 - $102,730 | 95,330 | N/A |
| Special Education Teachers, Preschool 25-2051 | $62,190 | $38,740 - $132,530 | 28,200 | N/A |
Special Education Teaching Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $45,415 in West Virginia to $102,393 in New York—a 125% difference. The highest-paying states include New York, California, and Washington. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 325,660 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Special Education Teaching by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Special Education Teaching programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Special Education Teaching is found at Arizona State University, Digital Immersion (1,534 graduates), Grand Canyon University (GCU) (1,219 graduates), Western Governors University (WGU) (898 graduates), Lamar University (LU) (486 graduates), and Ball State University (BSU) (425 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 14,170 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona State University |
Master's
|
1,534 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Grand Canyon University (GCU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
1,219 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | gcu.edu |
| Western Governors University (WGU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
898 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Private | wgu.edu |
| Lamar University (LU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
486 | Beaumont, Texas | Public | lamar.edu |
| Ball State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
425 | Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
| American College of Education (ACE) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
389 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | ace.edu |
| National University (NU) |
Master's
|
352 | San Diego, California | Private | nu.edu |
| University of West Florida (UWF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
322 | Pensacola, Florida | Public | uwf.edu |
| University of the Cumberlands |
Master's
|
304 | Williamsburg, Kentucky | Private | ucumberlands.edu |
| Liberty University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
297 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| George Mason University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
285 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| St. Joseph's University (SJNY) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
263 | Brooklyn, New York | Private | sjny.edu |
| Illinois State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
225 | Normal, Illinois | Public | illinoisstate.edu |
| Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (SRU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
213 | Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania | Public | sru.edu |
| Arkansas Tech University (ATU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
197 | Russellville, Arkansas | Public | atu.edu |
| University of West Georgia (UWG) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
159 | Carrollton, Georgia | Public | westga.edu |
| University of Northern Colorado (UNCO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
158 | Greeley, Colorado | Public | unco.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNLV) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
148 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | unlv.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
143 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| University of West Alabama (UWA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
|
127 | Livingston, Alabama | Public | uwa.edu |
| The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
122 | Ewing, New Jersey | Public | tcnj.edu |
| Fort Hays State University (FHSU) |
Master's
|
116 | Hays, Kansas | Public | fhsu.edu |
| Northern Illinois University (NIU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
112 | Dekalb, Illinois | Public | niu.edu |
| Bridgewater State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
112 | Bridgewater, Massachusetts | Public | bridgew.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWEC) |
Bachelor's
Post-Master's
Other Award
|
111 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Public | uwec.edu |
| Alliant International University |
Master's
Other Award
|
108 | San Diego, California | Private | alliant.edu |
| Alder Graduate School of Education |
Master's
|
108 | Redwood City, California | Private | aldergse.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
107 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
105 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
104 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
| Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
|
101 | California, Pennsylvania | Public | pennwest.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
100 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| Western Washington University (WWU) |
Bachelor's
|
99 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | wwu.edu |
| Touro University |
Master's
|
98 | New York, New York | Private | touro.edu |
| National Louis University (NLU) |
Master's
|
97 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | nl.edu |
| Indiana Wesleyan University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
97 | Marion, Indiana | Private | indwes.edu |
| Southeastern Oklahoma State University |
Master's
|
95 | Durant, Oklahoma | Public | se.edu |
| Old Dominion University (ODU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
95 | Norfolk, Virginia | Public | odu.edu |
| University of North Dakota (UND) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
94 | Grand Forks, North Dakota | Public | und.edu |
| Pace University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
93 | New York, New York | Private | pace.edu |
| University of Phoenix (UOPX) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
92 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | phoenix.edu |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
91 | Edinburg, Texas | Public | utrgv.edu |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
90 | West Chester, Pennsylvania | Public | wcupa.edu |
| Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (CU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
89 | Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania | Public | commonwealthu.edu |
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
86 | Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| University of Hawaii (UHM) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
Master's
|
84 | Honolulu, Hawaii | Public | manoa.hawaii.edu |
| The University of Alabama (UA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
83 | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | Public | ua.edu |
| Fitchburg State University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
82 | Fitchburg, Massachusetts | Public | fitchburgstate.edu |
| Saint Joseph's University (SJU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
|
80 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | sju.edu |
| Minnesota State University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
79 | Mankato, Minnesota | Public | mnsu.edu |
| William Paterson University of New Jersey |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
79 | Wayne, New Jersey | Public | wpunj.edu |
| University of Hartford (UHart) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
78 | West Hartford, Connecticut | Private | hartford.edu |
| Utah State University (USU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
78 | Logan, Utah | Public | usu.edu |
| Missouri State University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
76 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
| Portland State University (PSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
76 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pdx.edu |
| University of Wisconsin |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
76 | Whitewater, Wisconsin | Public | uww.edu |
| Midwestern State University (MSU Texas) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
74 | Wichita Falls, Texas | Public | msutexas.edu |
| Wilmington University (WilmU) |
Master's
|
73 | New Castle, Delaware | Private | wilmu.edu |
| University of Massachusetts Global (UMass Global) |
Master's
|
73 | Irvine, California | Public | umassglobal.edu |
| Towson University (TU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
72 | Towson, Maryland | Public | towson.edu |
| Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
72 | Portales, New Mexico | Public | enmu.edu |
| Grand Valley State University (GVSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
71 | Allendale, Michigan | Public | gvsu.edu |
| Morningside University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
70 | Sioux City, Iowa | Private | morningside.edu |
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
70 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
| Bank Street College of Education |
Master's
|
68 | New York, New York | Private | bankstreet.edu |
| California State University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
66 | Los Angeles, California | Public | calstatela.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
66 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
65 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| Roberts Wesleyan University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
65 | Rochester, New York | Private | roberts.edu |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
64 | Millersville, Pennsylvania | Public | millersville.edu |
| Georgia College & State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
62 | Milledgeville, Georgia | Public | gcsu.edu |
| Radford University |
Master's
|
62 | Radford, Virginia | Public | radford.edu |
| Ashford University (UAGC) |
Master's
|
61 | San Diego, California | Private | uagc.edu |
| Texas State University (TXST) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
61 | San Marcos, Texas | Public | txst.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
60 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | worldcampus.psu.edu |
| Holy Family University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
59 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | holyfamily.edu |
| Clemson University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
59 | Clemson, South Carolina | Public | clemson.edu |
| Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
58 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | neiu.edu |
| Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (KU) |
Bachelor's
|
58 | Kutztown, Pennsylvania | Public | kutztown.edu |
| Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
|
57 | New Haven, Connecticut | Public | southernct.edu |
| Florida International University (FIU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
57 | Miami, Florida | Public | fiu.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
57 | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
57 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
57 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| Bethel University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
56 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | bethel.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
55 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
54 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Georgetown College |
Master's
|
54 | Georgetown, Kentucky | Private | georgetowncollege.edu |
| University of Central Missouri (UCM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
54 | Warrensburg, Missouri | Public | ucmo.edu |
| SUNY Brockport |
Bachelor's
|
54 | Brockport, New York | Public | brockport.edu |
| Kent State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
54 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| Daemen University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
52 | Amherst, New York | Private | daemen.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
52 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
| Western Oregon University (WOU) |
Master's
|
52 | Monmouth, Oregon | Public | wou.edu |
| Broward College (BC) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
51 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Public | broward.edu |
| Western Kentucky University (WKU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
51 | Bowling Green, Kentucky | Public | wku.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
50 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Emporia State University (ESU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
50 | Emporia, Kansas | Public | emporia.edu |
| Wayne State College (WSC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
50 | Wayne, Nebraska | Public | wsc.edu |
| Providence College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
50 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | providence.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Special Education Teaching programs
How much can I earn with a Special Education Teaching degree?
Salaries for Special Education Teaching graduates vary by role and location. Special Education Teachers, Secondary School earn a median of $69,590 annually, while Special Education Teachers, All Other earn around $67,430. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in New York average $102,393 compared to $45,415 in West Virginia. Approximately 325,660 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Special Education Teaching programs?
Currently 682 accredited institutions offer Special Education Teaching degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Arizona State University, Digital Immersion (1,534 graduates), Grand Canyon University (GCU) (1,219 graduates), and Western Governors University (WGU) (898 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Special Education Teaching growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 24,394 in 2010 to a peak of 22,252 in 2020, before declining slightly to 22,116 in 2023-24. This represents a 9% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Special Education Teaching degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Special Education Teachers, Secondary School, Special Education Teachers, All Other, and Special Education Teachers, Middle School. Related occupations employ approximately 325,660 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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