Gifted and Talented Education: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Designed for educators and specialists committed to advancing high-achieving learners, this program centers on the development and delivery of tailored educational experiences for individuals with exceptional intellectual, creative, physical, or leadership capabilities. It equips professionals with the expertise to recognize, support, and nurture gifted and talented individuals across diverse learning environments.
- Identification of Giftedness: Strategies and assessments used to detect advanced abilities in intellectual, artistic, psychomotor, and leadership domains across age groups.
- Individualized Education Planning: Techniques for creating customized learning pathways that align with the unique strengths, interests, and developmental needs of gifted learners.
- Instructional Methods for Advanced Learners: Research-based pedagogies focused on depth, complexity, acceleration, and enrichment in curriculum delivery.
- Supervision and Mentorship: Approaches to guide and support gifted students through academic challenges, personal growth, and long-term goal setting.
- Counseling and Social-Emotional Development: Frameworks for addressing the psychological and emotional needs of high-ability learners, including issues related to perfectionism, underachievement, and peer relationships.
- Educational Policy and Legal Frameworks: Analysis of federal, state, and institutional regulations governing gifted education, including equity, access, and accountability standards.
Gifted and Talented Education Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Gifted and Talented Education Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Gifted and Talented Education degrees, including . 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.
Career salary data is not available for this program.
Top Universities for Gifted and Talented Education by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 55 institutions offering Gifted and Talented Education 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 Gifted and Talented Education is found at Augusta University (AU) (77 graduates), Arkansas State University (A-State) (45 graduates), Nova Southeastern University (NSU) (40 graduates), Montclair State University (22 graduates), and Liberty University (20 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 483 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 | Admissions | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta University (AU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
77 |
SAT: 1020-1230 ACT: 19-26 |
Augusta, Georgia | Public | augusta.edu |
| Arkansas State University (A-State) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
45 |
SAT: 1030-1180 ACT: 19-25 |
Jonesboro, Arkansas | Public | astate.edu |
| Nova Southeastern University (NSU) |
Master's
|
40 |
SAT: 1050-1310 ACT: 21-28 |
Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | nova.edu |
| Montclair State University |
Postbac Cert.
|
22 | SAT: 940-1225 | Montclair, New Jersey | Public | montclair.edu |
| Liberty University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
20 | N/A | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| Averett University (AU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
18 |
SAT: 960-1191 ACT: 16-23 |
Danville, Virginia | Private | averett.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Postbac Cert.
|
16 |
SAT: 1110-1320 ACT: 21-27 |
Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
| Ball State University (BSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
15 |
SAT: 1080-1250 ACT: 25-30 |
Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Post-Master's
|
14 |
SAT: 1440-1550 ACT: 32-35 |
Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Western Kentucky University (WKU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
11 |
SAT: 820-1010 ACT: 16-20 |
Bowling Green, Kentucky | Public | wku.edu |
| Truman State University |
Master's
|
11 |
SAT: 1126-1318 ACT: 23-29 |
Kirksville, Missouri | Public | truman.edu |
| University of Arkansas (UA Little Rock) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
10 |
SAT: 890-1170 ACT: 18-23 |
Little Rock, Arkansas | Public | ualr.edu |
| Buena Vista University (BVU) |
Master's
|
10 | ACT: 18-25 | Storm Lake, Iowa | Private | bvu.edu |
| Elon University |
Master's
|
10 |
SAT: 1143-1305 ACT: 23-28 |
Elon, North Carolina | Private | elon.edu |
| Johns Hopkins University (JHU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
9 |
SAT: 1530-1580 ACT: 34-35 |
Baltimore, Maryland | Private | jhu.edu |
| Towson University (TU) |
Master's
|
9 |
SAT: 1050-1270 ACT: 19-28 |
Towson, Maryland | Public | towson.edu |
| Concordia University (CUC) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
8 | N/A | River Forest, Illinois | Private | cuchicago.edu |
| Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) |
Master's
|
8 |
SAT: 930-1190 ACT: 17-24 |
Richmond, Kentucky | Public | eku.edu |
| William Carey University (WCU) |
Master's
|
8 |
SAT: 880-1200 ACT: 20-27 |
Hattiesburg, Mississippi | Private | wmcarey.edu |
| Lindenwood University |
Master's
|
8 | ACT: 19-24 | Saint Charles, Missouri | Private | lindenwood.edu |
| Queens University of Charlotte |
Postbac Cert.
|
8 |
SAT: 1110-1300 ACT: 24-29 |
Charlotte, North Carolina | Private | queens.edu |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
8 | SAT: 1030-1210 | Millersville, Pennsylvania | Public | millersville.edu |
| Baldwin Wallace University (BW) |
Postbac Cert.
|
7 |
SAT: 1050-1285 ACT: 20-27 |
Berea, Ohio | Private | bw.edu |
| Ashland University |
Master's
|
6 |
SAT: 1020-1255 ACT: 20-25 |
Ashland, Ohio | Private | ashland.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Postbac Cert.
|
6 |
SAT: 1150-1360 ACT: 24-29 |
Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 |
SAT: 1020-1240 ACT: 21-28 |
Colorado Springs, Colorado | Public | uccs.edu |
| Northwestern State University of Louisiana (NSULA) |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 |
SAT: 925-1243 ACT: 18-24 |
Natchitoches, Louisiana | Public | nsula.edu |
| McDaniel College |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | N/A | Westminster, Maryland | Private | mcdaniel.edu |
| Midland University |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 |
SAT: 893-1110 ACT: 18-24 |
Fremont, Nebraska | Private | midlandu.edu |
| Cleveland State University (CSU) |
Master's
|
5 | ACT: 17-25 | Cleveland, Ohio | Public | csuohio.edu |
| University of Denver (DU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 |
SAT: 1240-1410 ACT: 29-32 |
Denver, Colorado | Private | du.edu |
| Muskingum University |
Master's
|
4 |
SAT: 900-1120 ACT: 17-22 |
New Concord, Ohio | Private | muskingum.edu |
| Converse University |
Master's
|
4 |
SAT: 1030-1238 ACT: 21-26 |
Spartanburg, South Carolina | Private | converse.edu |
| Lipscomb University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
4 |
SAT: 1145-1350 ACT: 22-29 |
Nashville, Tennessee | Private | lipscomb.edu |
| William & Mary (W&M) |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 |
SAT: 1365-1510 ACT: 32-34 |
Williamsburg, Virginia | Public | wm.edu |
| Shenandoah University (SU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | N/A | Winchester, Virginia | Private | su.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 |
SAT: 1190-1460 ACT: 27-34 |
West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| Morningside University |
Master's
|
3 | ACT: 12-22 | Sioux City, Iowa | Private | morningside.edu |
| Upper Iowa University (UIU) |
Master's
|
3 |
SAT: 970-1160 ACT: 14-21 |
Fayette, Iowa | Private | uiu.edu |
| University of Louisiana (UL Lafayette) |
Master's
|
2 |
SAT: 1120-1255 ACT: 23-27 |
Lafayette, Louisiana | Public | louisiana.edu |
| Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) |
Master's
|
2 | N/A | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | ndm.edu |
| Teachers College at Columbia University (TC) |
Master's
|
2 | N/A | New York, New York | Private | tc.columbia.edu |
| Whitworth University |
Master's
|
2 |
SAT: 1100-1320 ACT: 21-29 |
Spokane, Washington | Private | whitworth.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Master's
|
1 |
SAT: 1140-1330 ACT: 24-29 |
Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| Piedmont University |
Master's
|
1 |
SAT: 990-1170 ACT: 18-24 |
Demorest, Georgia | Private | piedmont.edu |
| Thomas University (TU) |
Post-Master's
|
1 |
SAT: 970-1110 ACT: 18-23 |
Thomasville, Georgia | Private | thomasu.edu |
| McNeese State University |
Post-Master's
|
1 |
SAT: 810-1120 ACT: 18-24 |
Lake Charles, Louisiana | Public | mcneese.edu |
| University of Southern Maine (USM) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 |
SAT: 995-1280 ACT: 23-26 |
Portland, Maine | Public | usm.maine.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 |
SAT: 1310-1480 ACT: 27-31 |
Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Mississippi College (MC) |
Post-Master's
|
1 | ACT: 19-26 | Clinton, Mississippi | Private | mc.edu |
| Western New Mexico University (WNMU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | N/A | Silver City, New Mexico | Public | wnmu.edu |
| CUNY Hunter College |
Post-Master's
|
1 | SAT: 1210-1470 | New York, New York | Public | hunter.cuny.edu |
| Regent University |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 |
SAT: 1050-1250 ACT: 21-26 |
Virginia Beach, Virginia | Private | regent.edu |
| George Mason University |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 |
SAT: 1140-1340 ACT: 25-30 |
Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC) |
Other Award
|
1 | N/A | Avondale, Arizona | Public | estrellamountain.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Gifted and Talented Education programs
Which universities have the largest Gifted and Talented Education programs?
Currently 55 accredited institutions offer Gifted and Talented Education degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Augusta University (AU) (77 graduates), Arkansas State University (A-State) (45 graduates), and Nova Southeastern University (NSU) (40 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 Gifted and Talented Education growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 753 in 2010 to a peak of 530 in 2020, before declining slightly to 483 in 2023-24. This represents a 36% 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.
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