Hakia Education

Best Bachelor's in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education Programs in 2026

Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology

Published ·Last updated

All 10 programs reviewed from the IPEDS database, ranked on graduation rate, affordability, and more. CIP 13.1003.

This specialty prepares teachers of deaf and hard-of-hearing students, working with children from early childhood through high school. Coursework combines special education foundations with subjects specific to hearing loss, such as American Sign Language, language and literacy development, audiology basics, and instructional strategies for deaf and hard-of-hearing learners. Graduates teach in schools for the deaf, in resource rooms, and in general classrooms where they support students individually or in small groups. The ranking below compares bachelor's programs on cost, graduation rate, and related outcomes.

10Programs analyzed
$9,484Median in-state tuition
56%Median graduation rate
$76,580Median wage, special education teachers
  • In-state tuition typically runs from $3,996 to $29,276 a year, with a median near $9,484.
  • 7 of 10 ranked programs sit at public universities, and 2 offer an online or hybrid option.
  • Most lead to an initial state teaching license, which means supervised student teaching plus a licensure exam (37 of 52 US jurisdictions use the Praxis series).
  • We rank on graduation rate first, then selectivity and affordability, all from federal IPEDS data.
  1. 1

    University of North Florida

    Jacksonville, FLPublicOnline available

    94score
    • 69%Grad rate
    • $3,996/yrIn-state tuition
    • $16,799/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 53%Admit rate
    • 13,735Undergrads
    • 7Grads/yr
    • 1170SAT mid
    • Bachelor of Arts in Education (B.A.E.) in Deaf Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    UNF's Bachelor of Arts in Education in Deaf Education is a 120-credit program preparing teachers of Deaf and hard-of-hearing students across K-12 settings. Coursework spans Multilingual, Total Communication, and Listening and Spoken Language approaches, and the program integrates three practicum courses plus a full-time teaching internship in the final semester, placed in Northeast Florida schools including the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind. Graduates earn Florida Teacher Certification in Deaf and Hard of Hearing K-12 with added endorsements in Reading and TESOL. Delivery is primarily on campus, with distance internship options for students holding a 3.25 or higher GPA. As a bachelor's degree in deaf and hard of hearing education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as special education teachers in Florida.

    Why it ranks here

    Three things decide where a program lands on this list: how many students finish, how selective it is, and what it costs. Start with the outcome that matters most, 69% of students graduate, top 11% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. A 53% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Cost only helps its case: at $3,996 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. Strong on the measures that matter most, it earns a place near the top.

    Program page
  2. 2

    The College of New Jersey

    Ewing, NJPublic

    82score
    • 86%Grad rate
    • $15,294/yrIn-state tuition
    • $21,414/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 62%Admit rate
    • 7,435Undergrads
    • 8Grads/yr
    • 1240SAT mid
    • Elementary Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, BS/MAT
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The College of New Jersey's five-year BS/MAT in Deaf Education is a specialized, deeply integrated program for candidates who want to teach students who are deaf or hard of hearing while also holding a strong grounding in elementary content. It combines the Deaf Education major with one of ten subject-matter areas and layers roughly twelve undergraduate education units with ten graduate ones. Field experiences build part-time through the sophomore, junior, and senior years and open into full-time student teaching in the fifth year, so classroom practice grows alongside coursework. Students earn the bachelor's at year four, then the master's year leads to three New Jersey certifications: Teacher of the Deaf or Hard of Hearing in both oral/aural and sign communication, plus Elementary Education K-6. The program aligns with CAEP, New Jersey, and Council on Education of the Deaf requirements and is delivered on campus. As a bachelor's degree in deaf and hard of hearing education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as special education teachers in New Jersey.

    Why it ranks here

    The ranking rewards programs that graduate their students, stay at least somewhat selective, and keep tuition reasonable, so here is how this one measures up. Its strongest card is completion: a 86% graduation rate lands it in the top 1% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. A 62% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $15,294 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. Together, that is one of the strongest profiles on the page.

    Program page
  3. 3

    Converse University

    Spartanburg, SCPrivate nonprofit

    55score
    • 62%Grad rate
    • $24,790/yrTuition (in or out of state)
    • 68%Admit rate
    • 1,173Undergrads
    • 3Grads/yr
    • 1130SAT mid
    • Special Education: Deaf and Hard of Hearing
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Converse University's Special Education: Deaf and Hard of Hearing major leads to a Bachelor of Arts and PK-12 teaching licensure, and it is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. The program is described as the only Deaf and Hard of Hearing teacher credentialing program in South Carolina. American Sign Language is part of the required curriculum, and student teaching is arranged through a partnership with the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind. Add-on certification in elementary education, grades 2 through 6, is included. Classes meet on campus. As a bachelor's degree in deaf and hard of hearing education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as special education teachers in South Carolina.

    Why it ranks here

    Where it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. Start with the outcome that matters most, 62% of students graduate, top 33% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. A 68% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $24,790 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. Together, that is one of the strongest profiles on the page.

    Program page
  4. 4

    Ball State University

    Muncie, INPublic

    49score
    • 62%Grad rate
    • $8,948/yrIn-state tuition
    • $27,496/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 85%Admit rate
    • 15,189Undergrads
    • 3Grads/yr
    • 1170SAT mid
    • Teaching Major in Exceptional Needs: Deaf Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Ball State University's Teaching Major in Exceptional Needs: Deaf Education is built for students drawn to work with children who are deaf and hard of hearing, and the university describes it as the only bachelor's program of its kind in Indiana. Available as either a B.A. or a B.S. and totaling 100 credits through the Department of Special Education, it grounds candidates in American Sign Language, Deaf culture, and the development of hearing and speech before moving into instructional strategies for PreK-12 learners. What makes the preparation feel real is its range of placements, which carry students through self-contained, inclusion, resource, itinerant, and residential settings, including the Indiana School for the Deaf. The experience culminates in a 16-week student teaching term divided evenly between deaf education and mild intervention. Graduates finish eligible for an Indiana Mild Interventions K-6 license. A bachelor's-level path in deaf and hard of hearing education, it builds toward a career among special education teachers in Indiana.

    Why it ranks here

    The ranking rewards programs that graduate their students, stay at least somewhat selective, and keep tuition reasonable, so here is how this one measures up. Its strongest card is completion: a 62% graduation rate lands it in the top 33% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. Admission is close to open access at 85%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. Cost only helps its case: at $8,948 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. Together, that is one of the strongest profiles on the page.

    Program page
  5. 5

    Utah Valley University

    Orem, UTPublic

    42score
    • 45%Grad rate
    • $5,818/yrIn-state tuition
    • $17,800/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 45,810Undergrads
    • 4Grads/yr
    • American Sign Language Secondary Education, B.A.
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Utah Valley University's American Sign Language Secondary Education, B.A. prepares students to teach ASL and Deaf Studies in grades 7-12. Major coursework comes from the Department of Languages and Cultures, while licensure coursework is drawn from the School of Education. Students complete a secondary student teaching placement in their final year and earn secondary teaching licensure in ASL and Deaf Studies. The four-year program is taught on campus. Graduates of this deaf and hard of hearing education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as special education teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    Three things decide where a program lands on this list: how many students finish, how selective it is, and what it costs. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 45% the graduation rate trails the national median, which caps how high it can climb. Cost only helps its case: at $5,818 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. That combination is what puts it in the top handful here.

    Program page
  6. 6

    University of North Carolina at Greensboro

    Greensboro, NCPublic

    40score
    • 56%Grad rate
    • $4,422/yrIn-state tuition
    • $20,773/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 89%Admit rate
    • 14,416Undergrads
    • 10Grads/yr
    • 1253SAT mid
    • Interpreting, Deaf Education, and Advocacy Services, B.S. (K-12 Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teacher Licensure concentration)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of North Carolina at Greensboro's Interpreting, Deaf Education, and Advocacy Services B.S. includes a K-12 Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teacher Licensure concentration, which the university describes as the only such licensure program in North Carolina. Offered through the Department of Specialized Education Services, the 120-credit degree treats fluency and classroom readiness as inseparable: students complete three field experiences before student teaching and must pass the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview before they can be placed. That sequencing ensures candidates are genuinely prepared to communicate and teach in deaf and hard-of-hearing classrooms. On finishing, graduates are recommended for initial K-12 licensure by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. The program is affiliated with NCATE and reports job placement above 90 percent, a sign of steady demand for its specialized graduates. A bachelor's-level path in deaf and hard of hearing education, it builds toward a career among special education teachers in North Carolina.

    Why it ranks here

    The ranking rewards programs that graduate their students, stay at least somewhat selective, and keep tuition reasonable, so here is how this one measures up. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among programs nationwide at 56%, solid without being a standout. Admission is close to open access at 89%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. Cost only helps its case: at $4,422 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. On balance it is a well-rounded pick, which is what earns it a spot this high.

    Program page
  7. 7

    University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma

    Chickasha, OKPublic

    40score
    • 44%Grad rate
    • $6,630/yrIn-state tuition
    • $17,820/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 66%Admit rate
    • 1,027Undergrads
    • 4Grads/yr
    • 1185SAT mid
    • Bachelor of Science in Deaf Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma's Bachelor of Science in Deaf Education is a focused 92-hour program housed in the Division of Education and Speech-Language Pathology. Its structure reflects its specialized purpose, combining professional education coursework with a substantial deaf education core and a block of specialization hours. That specialization is where students shape their path, choosing one of eight content areas that range from early childhood and elementary teaching to secondary subjects such as art, mathematics, and science. Student teaching draws on longstanding partnerships with the Jane Brooks School and the Oklahoma School for the Deaf, giving candidates real experience with the students they will serve. Established in 1945 and accredited through the Council for the Education of the Deaf, the program prepares graduates for PK-12 certification to teach deaf students in Oklahoma. This bachelor's-level deaf and hard of hearing education program prepares graduates for work as special education teachers in Oklahoma.

    Why it ranks here

    Where it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 44% the graduation rate trails the national median, which caps how high it can climb. A 66% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Cost only helps its case: at $6,630 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. No single weakness drags it down, and that consistency lands it in the upper tier.

    Program page
  8. 8

    Eastern Kentucky University

    Richmond, KYPublic

    38score
    • 50%Grad rate
    • $10,020/yrIn-state tuition
    • $20,930/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 78%Admit rate
    • 13,448Undergrads
    • 3Grads/yr
    • 980SAT mid
    • Bachelor of Science in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Eastern Kentucky University's Bachelor of Science in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education is an unusually ambitious program that lets candidates earn two P-12 teaching certificates at once, pairing Deaf and Hard of Hearing with a second certificate in elementary or middle grades. Five dual-certification options make that pairing concrete, matching the Deaf and Hard of Hearing focus with Elementary or with Middle Grades fields such as English and Communication, Math, Science, or Social Science. The dual scope explains the larger footprint, since the degree runs 134 to 144 credits, including 42 upper-division hours, though up to 90 transfer credits can be applied. Clinical and field experiences keep the learning hands-on, and candidates pursuing Hearing Impaired certification with Sign Proficiency must pass the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview. The School of Education, within the College of Education and Applied Human Sciences, delivers the program, whose teacher preparation is accredited by CAEP and the Kentucky EPSB. For students committed to serving deaf and hard of hearing learners, it offers a broad and rigorous foundation. As a bachelor's degree in deaf and hard of hearing education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as special education teachers in Kentucky.

    Why it ranks here

    We rank on the things that actually shape a teaching degree: whether students finish, how hard it is to get in, and the price of admission. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among programs nationwide at 50%, solid without being a standout. A 78% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $10,020 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. On balance it is a well-rounded pick, which is what earns it a spot this high.

    Program page
  9. 9

    Flagler College

    Saint Augustine, FLPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    33score
    • 56%Grad rate
    • $28,800/yrTuition (in or out of state)
    • 81%Admit rate
    • 2,409Undergrads
    • 6Grads/yr
    • 1075SAT mid
    • Bachelor's in Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (K-12), dual certified with Elementary Education (K-6)
    • Council on Education for the Deaf (CED)-accredited
    About the program

    Flagler College's Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing program, established in 1974, awards a bachelor's degree with dual certification in deaf education (K-12) and elementary education (K-6). The program is certified by the Council on Education for the Deaf. It requires a minimum of 122 credit hours, including at least 15 hours in American Sign Language, with courses EDD 470 and EDD 473 taught in ASL. Field experience takes place in St. Johns County public elementary schools and the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind. Graduates also earn Reading and ESOL endorsements, and can add an ASL minor with one additional course. Graduates of this deaf and hard of hearing education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as special education teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    Three things decide where a program lands on this list: how many students finish, how selective it is, and what it costs. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among programs nationwide at 56%, solid without being a standout. A 81% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $28,800 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. No single weakness drags it down, and that consistency lands it in the upper tier.

    Program page
  10. 10

    Fontbonne University

    Saint Louis, MOPrivate nonprofit

    15score
    • 40%Grad rate
    • $29,276/yrTuition (in or out of state)
    • 209Undergrads
    • 3Grads/yr
    • Bachelor of Arts in Deaf Education
    • Council on Education of the Deaf (CED)-accredited
    About the program

    Fontbonne University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Deaf Education through its Communication Disorders and Deaf Education Department, one of the few four-year undergraduate deaf education programs in the country. It is accredited by the Council on Education of the Deaf. Students complete senior-year teaching and field experiences at sites such as the St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf, Central Institute for the Deaf, and the Special School District of St. Louis County. Graduates are eligible for Missouri certification in birth-12th grade deaf and hard of hearing education, and for CED individual certification. As of review, the program is paused and not accepting new students. A bachelor's-level path in deaf and hard of hearing education, it builds toward a career among special education teachers in Missouri.

    Why it ranks here

    Where it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 40% the graduation rate trails the national median, which caps how high it can climb. The one drag is price, $29,276 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. No single weakness drags it down, and that consistency lands it in the upper tier.

    Program page
How we rank

Each program is scored 0 to 100 against the other programs in its specialty: graduation rate (50%), selectivity by admission rate (30%), and affordability by in-state tuition (20%). Scores are percentile-based within the specialty, so they compare like with like. A program missing a field gets the neutral median for it, so it is neither rewarded nor punished. Earnings are intentionally excluded: federal per-school earnings are not yet published for education programs, and the field-level salary figure is identical for every school, so ranking on it would be meaningless. To keep the overall list from being dominated by a single state's public-university system, it shows at most 2 programs per state; the value, affordability, graduation-rate, and selectivity pages rank every program without that limit.

  • Graduation rate: 50%
  • Selectivity (admission rate): 30%
  • Affordability (in-state tuition): 20%

What careers can you get with a bachelor's in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education?

Graduates most often go on to work as special education teachers. Nationally, the median wage for that occupation is $76,580, with most earning between $48,440 and $120,080, and roughly 33,930 people employed across the United States, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

$76,580Median annual wage
$48,440 to $120,08010th to 90th percentile
33,930Employed nationally

Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 25-2059), and BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Wages are national and not school-specific.

Special Education Teachers Salary by State in 2026

Median annual wage for special education teachers, by state. Highest is California at $103,050, lowest is West Virginia at $39,920.

StateMedian wage
California$103,050
New Mexico$86,520
Delaware$85,040
Oregon$82,240
Rhode Island$80,080
Colorado$79,290
Michigan$78,540
Massachusetts$78,440
Virginia$77,280
Washington$76,790
Pennsylvania$76,530
Georgia$76,130
Maryland$76,100
District of Columbia$71,130
New Jersey$71,110
Iowa$71,050
Minnesota$69,470
Florida$68,690
Utah$67,860
Wisconsin$66,910
New Hampshire$66,670
New York$65,970
Texas$65,710
North Carolina$65,170
Illinois$64,850
Nevada$64,410
Tennessee$63,300
Kentucky$63,140
Arkansas$61,690
North Dakota$61,500
Connecticut$61,480
Louisiana$61,170
Indiana$60,920
Nebraska$59,760
Arizona$59,500
Maine$56,780
Puerto Rico$51,920
Ohio$51,230
Missouri$49,610
Alabama$49,520
Vermont$46,980
Mississippi$46,700
West Virginia$39,920

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

How much a bachelor's in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education program costs

Published in-state tuition across the 10 ranked bachelor's programs typically runs from $3,996 to $29,276 a year, with a median near $9,484. Most of that spread is public versus private: public universities charge state residents the least, while private colleges set a single sticker price that applies to everyone. 7 of the 10 programs here are public, which is usually where the lowest in-state numbers come from.

Sticker price is rarely what a student pays. Grants and scholarships lower the net cost, and future teachers have aid written specifically for them: the federal TEACH Grant provides up to $4,000 a year to students who agree to teach a high-need subject in a low-income school, and many states add service scholarships and loan-forgiveness programs for people who commit to the classroom. Two costs to watch are out-of-state tuition, which at public schools often runs two to three times the resident rate, and mandatory fees and living expenses, which the tuition figure leaves out entirely.

What none of this changes is the paycheck at the end. The median wage for special education teachers is $76,580 regardless of where the degree was earned, so two graduates can reach the same salary having paid very different tuition to get there. That is exactly why affordability, essentially graduation rate per tuition dollar, is one of the factors we weight rather than an afterthought.

Sources: tuition and program data from IPEDS; the TEACH Grant from Federal Student Aid; wages from BLS OEWS.

How to get licensed to teach with a bachelor's in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education

A bachelor's in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education program prepares you academically, but teaching in a public school also requires a license issued by the state where you work. Every state runs its own credential, yet the path rhymes almost everywhere. You complete a state-approved preparation program, log supervised field experience that builds to a full term of student teaching, and pass one or more licensure exams, then apply to the state with a background check and, in most places, complete a mentored first year before the license becomes fully clear and renewable.

The exams are where states differ most. 37 of the 52 US jurisdictions use ETS's Praxis series to test basic skills and subject knowledge; the rest run their own, such as California's CBEST and CSET or New York's NYSTCE. A growing number also require a performance assessment like edTPA, in which candidates submit video and written evidence from their own student teaching. The grade-band and subject endorsements on your license, elementary versus a specific secondary subject, are set by the tests you pass and the program you complete.

Because the specifics are decided state by state, where you plan to teach matters as much as where you study. Licenses do not transfer automatically, though most states honor an out-of-state credential through interstate reciprocity, usually with some added coursework or testing. Check your target state's department of education for its exact requirements before you enroll.

Sources: licensure requirements from each state's department of education; the Praxis series from ETS; edTPA; programmatic standards from CAEP.

How does accreditation work in 2026 for a bachelor's in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education?

Two different things get called accreditation, and only one of them gets you licensed. Institutional accreditation comes first: a regional accreditor such as SACSCOC, the Higher Learning Commission, or the Middle States Commission reviews the whole university, and it is what lets credits transfer and federal financial aid flow. Any college worth considering has it, but on its own it says nothing specific about the quality of the education program.

Program, or programmatic, accreditation is the education-specific layer. The national accreditor is CAEP, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, formed in 2013 when the two older bodies, NCATE and TEAC, merged; AAQEP is a newer alternative that a growing number of programs have adopted. A CAEP or AAQEP seal signals that the preparation program has been reviewed against national standards for clinical practice, content knowledge, and candidate outcomes.

The credential that actually licenses you, though, is state program approval. A state only allows its approved programs to recommend graduates for certification, so approval, not a national seal, is what turns your degree into a license, and it is also what makes interstate reciprocity possible. Plenty of strong programs carry state approval without a separate national accreditor, which is common and not a red flag. When you compare options, confirm two things: that the school is regionally accredited, and that the specific program is approved by the state where you intend to teach.

Programmatic accreditor: CAEP. State approval is granted by each state's department of education.

Ways to earn your bachelor's in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education

A traditional four-year, on-campus bachelor's is the most common route into teaching, and for good reason: the degree leans on in-person field placements that build to a full term of student teaching. That said, 2 of the 10 ranked programs advertise an online or hybrid option, which can suit paraprofessionals and career-changers already working in schools; the clinical hours still take place in a real classroom near you.

You do not have to start at a four-year school. Many students spend their first two years at a community college, earn an associate's, and transfer in, which trims the cost of the early coursework, and statewide articulation agreements often guarantee the credits apply. If you already hold a bachelor's in another field, you can usually skip a second degree entirely and enter through an alternative-certification program or a master's-with-licensure route built for career-changers.

Whatever the format, the non-negotiable is supervised clinical practice. Every licensure-track program includes a student-teaching placement, and some now pair it with a paid, year-long residency alongside a mentor teacher, an increasingly common model that eases the unpaid-semester crunch traditional student teaching can create.

Sources: online and program counts from IPEDS; alternative-certification pathways per the US Department of Education.

How to become a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing

These are the typical steps, though the exact requirements vary by state.

  1. 1

    Earn the bachelor's degree

    Complete a four-year program in deaf education or special education with a hearing-impairment focus. Expect coursework in sign language, language development, audiology, and specialized teaching methods.

  2. 2

    Complete a state-approved preparation program

    Finish an approved teacher preparation program that includes supervised student teaching with deaf and hard-of-hearing students. Many programs hold CAEP accreditation, though state program approval is what authorizes licensure.

  3. 3

    Pass the required licensure exams

    Take the tests your state requires, which often include a Praxis series exam or a state-specific test in special education or deaf education. Some states also require a demonstrated level of sign language proficiency.

  4. 4

    Apply for your state license

    Submit your application to the state education agency along with a background check. This usually leads to an initial or provisional license in special education with a deaf and hard-of-hearing endorsement.

  5. 5

    Complete a mentored first year

    Many states pair new teachers with a mentor and additional support during the first year. Meeting these induction requirements helps you move from an initial license to a full professional one.

Requirements summarized from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook and each state's department of education. Exact requirements vary by state.

Frequently asked questions about a Bachelor's in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education

Do you need a bachelor's in deaf and hard of hearing education to teach deaf and hard-of-hearing students?

To teach deaf and hard-of-hearing students, you generally need at least a bachelor's degree in deaf education program or a special education program with a hearing-impairment focus, completed through a state-approved teacher preparation route. A bachelor's in deaf and hard of hearing education combines general teaching preparation with specialized training in language, sign language, and hearing loss. Some people enter through a related bachelor's plus a graduate certification program instead.

How long does a bachelor's in deaf and hard of hearing education take to become licensed?

Becoming licensed takes about four years for the bachelor's degree itself, including student teaching. After that, passing your exams and completing the state application can take a few additional months. Requirements and timelines vary by state, so check with the state where you plan to teach.

How much do you earn with a bachelor's in deaf and hard of hearing education in 2026?

These teachers earn pay that depends on your state, district, degree level, and experience. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $76,580 for Special Education Teachers, All Other, the category that often includes teachers of the deaf and hard of hearing. Salaries in your area may be higher or lower than the national median.

Do you need to know sign language for a bachelor's in deaf and hard of hearing education?

You do need strong sign language skills for most teaching settings, and most programs require American Sign Language coursework. Some states also require you to demonstrate a specific level of sign language proficiency before or during licensure. That said, approaches vary, since some classrooms emphasize spoken language and listening alongside or instead of signing.

Can I earn a bachelor's in deaf and hard of hearing education online?

You can complete some of a bachelor's in deaf and hard of hearing education's coursework online, but the field relies heavily on hands-on skills like sign language and in-person student teaching. As a result, most programs are on-campus or hybrid, with supervised classroom placements arranged near you. Check each program's format on its page below.

Is a bachelor's in deaf and hard of hearing education worth it?

A bachelor's in deaf and hard of hearing education is worth it for those drawn to a specialized field with steady demand and the reward of deep, individualized work with learners. Because trained specialists are relatively few, graduates often find they have meaningful choices about where they work. Weigh the tuition and graduation-rate figures on this page against your goals and the districts you hope to serve.

Answers draw on IPEDS, the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, and each state's department of education.

Data sources for our Bachelor's in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education ranking

Keep exploring

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education at other levels

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