Elementary Special Education Teaching: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Prepared to support diverse learners in early educational settings, this program equips future educators with the expertise to design and deliver specialized instruction for elementary-aged students with learning differences and disabilities. Emphasis is placed on evidence-based practices that foster academic growth, social development, and inclusive classroom environments.
- Diagnosing Learning Disabilities: Learn to identify and assess cognitive, behavioral, and academic challenges through standardized tools and observational techniques to inform effective intervention strategies.
- Individualized Education Plans (IEPs): Master the process of developing, implementing, and evaluating customized learning plans that align with student needs, legal requirements, and educational goals.
- Curriculum Development for Special Needs: Design adaptable, standards-aligned lesson plans that accommodate varied learning styles and ensure access to core subject content.
- Instructional Strategies: Apply research-backed teaching methods tailored to students with diverse abilities, including multisensory approaches, universal design for learning, and assistive technology integration.
- Classroom Management: Develop systems for creating structured, supportive, and inclusive learning environments that promote positive behavior and minimize disruptions.
- Elementary Subject Matter Instruction: Gain proficiency in teaching foundational disciplines—such as literacy, mathematics, science, and social studies—within the context of special education frameworks.
Elementary Special Education Teaching Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Elementary Special Education Teaching Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Elementary Special Education Teaching degrees, including Education Teachers, Postsecondary. 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 59,090 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1081 | $72,090 | $38,650 - $126,450 | 59,090 | N/A |
Elementary Special Education Teaching Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $49,910 in Hawaii to $85,560 in California—a 71% difference. The highest-paying states include California, New York, and Louisiana. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 59,090 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 Elementary Special Education Teaching by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 77 institutions offering Elementary 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 Elementary Special Education Teaching is found at Touro University (338 graduates), Niagara University (197 graduates), CUNY Hunter College (161 graduates), State University of New York, Cortland (98 graduates), and CUNY City College (CCNY) (74 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,055 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Touro University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
338 | New York, New York | Private | touro.edu |
| Niagara University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
|
197 | Niagara University, New York | Private | niagara.edu |
| CUNY Hunter College |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
161 | New York, New York | Public | hunter.cuny.edu |
| State University of New York |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
98 | Cortland, New York | Public | www2.cortland.edu |
| CUNY City College (CCNY) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
74 | New York, New York | Public | ccny.cuny.edu |
| Towson University (TU) |
Bachelor's
|
69 | Towson, Maryland | Public | towson.edu |
| Grand Canyon University (GCU) |
Master's
|
68 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | gcu.edu |
| SUNY College |
Bachelor's
|
63 | Geneseo, New York | Public | geneseo.edu |
| University of Northern Iowa (UNI) |
Bachelor's
|
61 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | Public | uni.edu |
| SUNY College |
Master's
|
57 | Plattsburgh, New York | Public | plattsburgh.edu |
| Merrimack College |
Master's
|
55 | North Andover, Massachusetts | Private | merrimack.edu |
| CUNY Brooklyn College |
Master's
|
55 | Brooklyn, New York | Public | brooklyn.cuny.edu |
| SUNY Old Westbury |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
52 | Old Westbury, New York | Public | oldwestbury.edu |
| St. John's University (SJU) |
Master's
|
47 | Queens, New York | Private | stjohns.edu |
| Adelphi University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
40 | Garden City, New York | Private | adelphi.edu |
| Manhattanville College |
Master's
|
40 | Purchase, New York | Private | mville.edu |
| College of Staten Island CUNY (CSI) |
Master's
|
32 | Staten Island, New York | Public | csi.cuny.edu |
| Ball State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
| Marist College |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Poughkeepsie, New York | Private | marist.edu |
| Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) |
Master's
|
30 | New York, New York | Private | mcny.edu |
| CUNY Queens College |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
29 | Queens, New York | Public | qc.cuny.edu |
| CUNY Lehman College |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
24 | Bronx, New York | Public | lehman.edu |
| Syracuse University |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Syracuse, New York | Private | syracuse.edu |
| Neumann University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
23 | Aston, Pennsylvania | Private | neumann.edu |
| Buena Vista University (BVU) |
Master's
|
21 | Storm Lake, Iowa | Private | bvu.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Master's
|
20 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| Rhode Island College (RIC) |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Providence, Rhode Island | Public | ric.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| La Salle University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
15 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | lasalle.edu |
| City University of Seattle (CityU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
15 | Seattle, Washington | Private | cityu.edu |
| Molloy College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
14 | Rockville Centre, New York | Private | molloy.edu |
| SUNY Buffalo State University |
Master's
|
14 | Buffalo, New York | Public | suny.buffalostate.edu |
| Keuka College |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Keuka Park, New York | Private | keuka.edu |
| Fordham University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
12 | Bronx, New York | Private | fordham.edu |
| Hofstra University |
Master's
|
12 | Hempstead, New York | Private | hofstra.edu |
| University of Wyoming (UW) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Laramie, Wyoming | Public | uwyo.edu |
| Shorter University |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Rome, Georgia | Private | shorter.edu |
| Marietta College |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Marietta, Ohio | Private | marietta.edu |
| Alma College |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Alma, Michigan | Private | alma.edu |
| State University of New York |
Master's
|
9 | Oswego, New York | Public | oswego.edu |
| Heidelberg University |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Tiffin, Ohio | Private | heidelberg.edu |
| Simmons University |
Master's
|
7 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | simmons.edu |
| University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Manchester, New Hampshire | Public | cps.unh.edu |
| Messiah University |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania | Private | messiah.edu |
| CUNY Medgar Evers College (MEC) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Brooklyn, New York | Public | mec.cuny.edu |
| Elmira College (EC) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Elmira, New York | Private | elmira.edu |
| Hobart William Smith Colleges (HWS) |
Master's
|
6 | Geneva, New York | Private | hws.edu |
| State University of New York |
Master's
|
6 | New Paltz, New York | Public | newpaltz.edu |
| Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Shawnee, Oklahoma | Private | okbu.edu |
| SUNY Oneonta |
Master's
|
5 | Oneonta, New York | Public | suny.oneonta.edu |
| Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Delaware, Ohio | Private | owu.edu |
| Drexel University |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| The University of Tennessee Southern (UT Southern) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Pulaski, Tennessee | Public | utsouthern.edu |
| Upper Iowa University (UIU) |
Master's
|
4 | Fayette, Iowa | Private | uiu.edu |
| New England College (NEC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
4 | Henniker, New Hampshire | Private | nec.edu |
| Iona University |
Master's
|
4 | New Rochelle, New York | Private | iona.edu |
| Monroe College |
Master's
|
4 | Bronx, New York | Private | monroecollege.edu |
| University of Rochester |
Master's
Other Award
|
4 | Rochester, New York | Private | rochester.edu |
| St. Francis College (SFC) |
Master's
|
4 | Brooklyn, New York | Private | sfc.edu |
| Abilene Christian University (ACU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Abilene, Texas | Private | acu.edu |
| Saint Joseph's College of Maine (SJC) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Standish, Maine | Private | sjcme.edu |
| Concordia University-Nebraska |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Seward, Nebraska | Private | cune.edu |
| Mercy University |
Postbac Cert.
|
3 | Dobbs Ferry, New York | Private | mercy.edu |
| Chestnut Hill College (CHC) |
Master's
|
3 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | chc.edu |
| Portland State University (PSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pdx.edu |
| Welch College |
Master's
|
2 | Gallatin, Tennessee | Private | welch.edu |
| Trinity Baptist College (TBC) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Jacksonville, Florida | Private | tbc.edu |
| Thomas University (TU) |
Post-Master's
|
1 | Thomasville, Georgia | Private | thomasu.edu |
| Southern University (SUNO) |
Master's
|
1 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Public | suno.edu |
| Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) |
Master's
|
1 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | xula.edu |
| Spring Arbor University (SAU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Spring Arbor, Michigan | Private | arbor.edu |
| Empire State University |
Master's
|
1 | Saratoga Springs, New York | Public | sunyempire.edu |
| Yeshiva University (YU) |
Master's
|
1 | New York, New York | Private | yu.edu |
| Oral Roberts University (ORU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Tulsa, Oklahoma | Private | oru.edu |
| Belmont University |
Master's
|
1 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | belmont.edu |
| Lee University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Cleveland, Tennessee | Private | leeuniversity.edu |
| Shenandoah University (SU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Winchester, Virginia | Private | su.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Elementary Special Education Teaching programs
How much can I earn with a Elementary Special Education Teaching degree?
Salaries for Elementary Special Education Teaching graduates vary by role and location. Education Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $72,090 annually. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $85,560 compared to $49,910 in Hawaii. Approximately 59,090 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 Elementary Special Education Teaching programs?
Currently 77 accredited institutions offer Elementary Special Education Teaching degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Touro University (338 graduates), Niagara University (197 graduates), and CUNY Hunter College (161 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 Elementary Special Education Teaching growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 534 in 2010 to 2,055 in 2023-24. This represents a 285% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, 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 Elementary Special Education Teaching degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Education Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 59,090 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.
Related Education Programs
Explore similar degree programs within the Education field. These programs share the same academic discipline and may offer complementary skills and career pathways.
Mathematics Teacher Education
A program that prepares individuals to teach mathematics programs at various educational levels.
Music Teacher Education
A program that prepares individuals to teach music and music appreciation programs at various educational levels.
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
A program that prepares individuals to teach physical education programs and/or to coach sports at various educational levels.
Reading Teacher Education
A program that prepares individuals to diagnose reading difficulties and to teach reading programs at various educational levels.
Science Teacher Education
A program that prepares individuals to teach general science programs, or a combination of the biological and physical science subject matter areas, at...
Social Science Teacher Education
A program that prepares individuals to teach specific social science subjects and programs at various educational levels.