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 | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta University (AU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
77 | Augusta, Georgia | Public | augusta.edu |
| Arkansas State University (A-State) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
45 | Jonesboro, Arkansas | Public | astate.edu |
| Nova Southeastern University (NSU) |
Master's
|
40 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | nova.edu |
| Montclair State University |
Postbac Cert.
|
22 | Montclair, New Jersey | Public | montclair.edu |
| Liberty University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
20 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| Averett University (AU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
18 | Danville, Virginia | Private | averett.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Postbac Cert.
|
16 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
| Ball State University (BSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
15 | Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Post-Master's
|
14 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Western Kentucky University (WKU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
11 | Bowling Green, Kentucky | Public | wku.edu |
| Truman State University |
Master's
|
11 | Kirksville, Missouri | Public | truman.edu |
| University of Arkansas (UA Little Rock) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
10 | Little Rock, Arkansas | Public | ualr.edu |
| Buena Vista University (BVU) |
Master's
|
10 | Storm Lake, Iowa | Private | bvu.edu |
| Elon University |
Master's
|
10 | Elon, North Carolina | Private | elon.edu |
| Johns Hopkins University (JHU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
9 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | jhu.edu |
| Towson University (TU) |
Master's
|
9 | Towson, Maryland | Public | towson.edu |
| Concordia University (CUC) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
8 | River Forest, Illinois | Private | cuchicago.edu |
| Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) |
Master's
|
8 | Richmond, Kentucky | Public | eku.edu |
| William Carey University (WCU) |
Master's
|
8 | Hattiesburg, Mississippi | Private | wmcarey.edu |
| Lindenwood University |
Master's
|
8 | Saint Charles, Missouri | Private | lindenwood.edu |
| Queens University of Charlotte |
Postbac Cert.
|
8 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Private | queens.edu |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
8 | Millersville, Pennsylvania | Public | millersville.edu |
| Baldwin Wallace University (BW) |
Postbac Cert.
|
7 | Berea, Ohio | Private | bw.edu |
| Ashland University |
Master's
|
6 | Ashland, Ohio | Private | ashland.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Postbac Cert.
|
6 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Public | uccs.edu |
| Northwestern State University of Louisiana (NSULA) |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Natchitoches, Louisiana | Public | nsula.edu |
| McDaniel College |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Westminster, Maryland | Private | mcdaniel.edu |
| Midland University |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Fremont, Nebraska | Private | midlandu.edu |
| Cleveland State University (CSU) |
Master's
|
5 | Cleveland, Ohio | Public | csuohio.edu |
| University of Denver (DU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | Denver, Colorado | Private | du.edu |
| Muskingum University |
Master's
|
4 | New Concord, Ohio | Private | muskingum.edu |
| Converse University |
Master's
|
4 | Spartanburg, South Carolina | Private | converse.edu |
| Lipscomb University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
4 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | lipscomb.edu |
| William & Mary (W&M) |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | Williamsburg, Virginia | Public | wm.edu |
| Shenandoah University (SU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | Winchester, Virginia | Private | su.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| Morningside University |
Master's
|
3 | Sioux City, Iowa | Private | morningside.edu |
| Upper Iowa University (UIU) |
Master's
|
3 | Fayette, Iowa | Private | uiu.edu |
| University of Louisiana (UL Lafayette) |
Master's
|
2 | Lafayette, Louisiana | Public | louisiana.edu |
| Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) |
Master's
|
2 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | ndm.edu |
| Teachers College at Columbia University (TC) |
Master's
|
2 | New York, New York | Private | tc.columbia.edu |
| Whitworth University |
Master's
|
2 | Spokane, Washington | Private | whitworth.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Master's
|
1 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| Piedmont University |
Master's
|
1 | Demorest, Georgia | Private | piedmont.edu |
| Thomas University (TU) |
Post-Master's
|
1 | Thomasville, Georgia | Private | thomasu.edu |
| McNeese State University |
Post-Master's
|
1 | Lake Charles, Louisiana | Public | mcneese.edu |
| University of Southern Maine (USM) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Portland, Maine | Public | usm.maine.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Mississippi College (MC) |
Post-Master's
|
1 | Clinton, Mississippi | Private | mc.edu |
| Western New Mexico University (WNMU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Silver City, New Mexico | Public | wnmu.edu |
| CUNY Hunter College |
Post-Master's
|
1 | New York, New York | Public | hunter.cuny.edu |
| Regent University |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Virginia Beach, Virginia | Private | regent.edu |
| George Mason University |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC) |
Other Award
|
1 | 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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