Best Master's in Early Childhood Special Education Programs by Local Teacher Pay

Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology

Published July 16, 2026·Last updated July 22, 2026

Ranked by the median wage for elementary teachers in each program metro area, from BLS. The top 25 out of 43 programs reviewed from the IPEDS database.

1
University of Massachusetts Global
Aliso Viejo, CAPublicOnline available
- 6Master's/yr
- $101,860Metro teacher pay
- MA in Special Education, Teaching and Learning, Early Childhood Special Education concentration
- On-campus
About the program
University of Massachusetts Global offers a Master of Arts in Special Education, Teaching and Learning with an Early Childhood Special Education concentration, delivered online. The concentration centers on children from birth through age 5 and moves through assessment, behavior management, special education law, and IEP development, giving candidates a focused grounding in the practices that shape early services. Coursework is built on the Council for Exceptional Children's Advanced Content Standards, signaling a program aimed at deepening the expertise of educators who are advancing in the field rather than entering it. The institution is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, and its credential programs are approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, situating the degree within California's educator-preparation framework. With specified prerequisite courses framing the concentration, the design reads as a structured, standards-driven path for those specializing in the earliest years. As a master's degree in early childhood special education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as special education teachers in California.
Why it ranks here
Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 6 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
2
State University of New York at New Paltz
New Paltz, NYPublic
- 1Master's/yr
- $97,920Metro teacher pay
- MSEd in Special Education - Early Childhood/Childhood (Birth-Grade 2)
- On-campus
About the program
SUNY New Paltz offers an MSEd in Special Education for Early Childhood and Childhood that carries dual initial certification across the Birth-Grade 2 and Grade 1-6 bands. The 38-credit, field-based program assumes candidates already hold New York State initial certification in early childhood or childhood education, positioning it as a specialization for teachers layering special education onto an existing credential rather than an entry into the profession. That field-based structure keeps candidates working in real classrooms as they build disability-specific expertise. Academic expectations are explicit, with students required to maintain a 3.0 average and no more than two grades below B-minus. Completion leads to New York State initial certification in Early Childhood/Childhood Special Education, contingent on passing the Students with Disabilities Content Specialty Test. Graduates of this early childhood special education program at the master's level often go on to work as special education teachers.
Why it ranks here
For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Kingston, NY, where elementary teachers earn a median $97,920, roughly $97,231 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
3
Fordham University
Bronx, NYPrivate nonprofit
- 11Master's/yr
- $96,900Metro teacher pay
- Master of Science in Education (M.S.E.) in Early Childhood Special Education
- On-campus
About the program
Fordham University offers a Master of Science in Education in Early Childhood Special Education, a 30-credit program based at its Lincoln Center campus for teachers who already hold early childhood or elementary certification. Because admission assumes an existing credential, the degree reads as a specialization step rather than an entry point, sharpening current teachers into specialists for children with disabilities in the Birth-Grade 2 range. The program is distinct from Fordham's dual-certification M.S.T. track, keeping its focus squarely on candidates adding special education expertise. A single semester of student-teaching fieldwork, an Autism Training Module workshop, and a portfolio assessment anchor the coursework in demonstrated practice. Recognized nationally by the Council for Exceptional Children, it leads to New York State certification as a teacher of Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood Education. A master's-level path in early childhood special education, it builds toward a career among special education teachers in New York.
Why it ranks here
A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 11 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
4
CUNY Hunter College
New York, NYPublic
- 38Master's/yr
- $96,900Metro teacher pay
- Professional Certification (Advanced Preparation) in Special Education - Early Childhood Special Education, M.S.Ed.
- On-campus
About the program
Hunter College offers a Master of Science in Education for advanced preparation in Early Childhood Special Education, leading to New York State professional certification in Students with Disabilities, Birth to Grade 2. Positioned at the professional rather than entry level, the program generally serves candidates who already hold initial certification and are ready to advance their credentials. Its clinical experiences are sequenced across three developmental bands, birth through age 4, kindergarten, and first or second grade, so candidates practice across the full early childhood range rather than a single setting. A related dual-certification track pairs Early Childhood Education with Students with Disabilities Birth-Grade 2 for those seeking broader certification. Delivered on campus in New York City, the program reads as a targeted advancement route for practicing early childhood special educators. This master's-level early childhood special education program prepares graduates for work as special education teachers in New York.
Why it ranks here
For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 38 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
5
Hofstra University
Hempstead, NYPrivate nonprofit
- 6Master's/yr
- $96,900Metro teacher pay
- Special Education, MSEd in Early Childhood
About the program
Hofstra University offers a Master of Science in Education in Early Childhood Special Education for candidates who already hold a teaching certificate and want to add a specialization serving young children with disabilities. Spanning 33 to 36 credits, the field-integrated program weaves practice throughout the coursework, requiring at least 100 clock hours of fieldwork before candidates reach student teaching. Admission through a faculty interview and a 3.0 GPA signals a program that vets readiness closely and treats the special education faculty as gatekeepers of quality. Candidates who prefer a broader scope can look to related tracks, including a 48-credit dual-certification route for career changers and a 45-credit early intervention program with applied behavior analysis training. Completion leads to New York State additional certification in Students with Disabilities, Birth-Grade 2. As a master's degree in early childhood special education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as special education teachers in New York.
Why it ranks here
For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 6 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
6
Adelphi University
Garden City, NYPrivate nonprofit
- 6Master's/yr
- $96,900Metro teacher pay
- Master of Science in Early Childhood Special Education (Birth-Grade 2)
- On-campus
About the program
Adelphi University offers a Master of Science in Early Childhood Special Education covering the Birth-to-Grade 2 span and leading to New York State initial or professional certification. The program serves two audiences through parallel tracks, a preservice route for candidates without a prior teaching certificate and an in-service route for those already certified, so newcomers and practicing teachers can each find an appropriate entry point. Field-based methods courses place candidates in real settings, including the on-campus Alice Brown Early Learning Center and partner districts across Nassau, Suffolk, and New York City, grounding the coursework in supervised practice. Candidates can further tailor the degree with an optional Bilingual extension, Autism or Severe and Multiple Disabilities annotations, or a paired dual certificate in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education. Offered in person in Garden City or fully online, the program combines flexibility of format with a strongly clinical design. The layered options make it well suited to educators shaping a specialized early childhood career. Graduates of this early childhood special education program at the master's level often go on to work as special education teachers.
Why it ranks here
A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 6 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
7
CUNY Queens College
Queens, NYPublicOnline available
- 25Master's/yr
- $96,900Metro teacher pay
- Master of Science in Education (MSEd) – Teacher of Students with Disabilities (Birth–Grade 2)
- On-campus
About the program
Queens College, CUNY offers a Master of Science in Education preparing candidates as Teachers of Students with Disabilities in the Birth-Grade 2 range, structured as a 30-credit, part-time degree completed over roughly two years. Late afternoon and evening classes and the deliberately paced schedule signal a program shaped around working candidates who need to study alongside other commitments. The curriculum concentrates on assessment, applied behavior analysis, and curriculum for young children with disabilities, and it culminates in a faculty-supervised research project that pushes candidates beyond coursework into inquiry. Fieldwork placements ground that study in real early childhood settings. For bilingual candidates serving English-language learners, a related 43-credit Integrated Bilingual Early Childhood Special Education track extends the same focus. Graduates earn New York State initial and professional certification once they pass the required CST exams. As a master's degree in early childhood special education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as special education teachers in New York.
Why it ranks here
Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 25 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
8
CUNY Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, NYPublic
- 11Master's/yr
- $96,900Metro teacher pay
- Special Education-Teacher of Students With Disabilities in Early Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 2), M.S.Ed.
- On-campus
About the program
Brooklyn College offers a Master of Science in Education preparing Teachers of Students With Disabilities in Early Childhood Education, spanning Birth to Grade 2 and leading to New York State certification for early childhood special education settings. The program routes candidates through three credit options tuned to their existing credentials, a 30-credit Option A for those already holding both general and special education initial certificates, a 33-credit Option B for candidates with only a general education certificate, and a 30-credit Option C for alternative-certification candidates such as NYC Teaching Fellows. This structure reads as a program built to meet teachers wherever they are in their certification path. A teacher-as-researcher emphasis requires candidates to complete an independent research project, framing early childhood special education as reflective, inquiry-driven practice. Field placements in public and private schools across the New York City region tie that inquiry to real classrooms. Delivered on campus, the program is a strong fit for New York City educators moving deeper into inclusive early childhood work. Earning a master's degree in early childhood special education is a common route toward becoming one of New York's special education teachers.
Why it ranks here
For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 11 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
9
Pace University
New York, NYPrivate nonprofit
- 6Master's/yr
- $96,900Metro teacher pay
- Early Childhood and Special Education, MST
- Online
About the program
Pace University's Early Childhood and Special Education, MST was an online Master of Science in Teaching that combined early childhood pedagogy with special education preparation for the Birth-Grade 2 band. The single integrated track aimed candidates toward New York State certification in both Early Childhood Education and teaching students with disabilities. The program has been formally discontinued as of Fall 2026 and is no longer accepting new applicants, with currently enrolled students completing their studies through a teach-out plan. A master's-level path in early childhood special education, it builds toward a career among special education teachers in New York.
Why it ranks here
Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 6 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
10
St. John's University-New York
Queens, NYPrivate nonprofit
- 4Master's/yr
- $96,900Metro teacher pay
- Early Childhood Education and Teaching Students with Disabilities (B-2), Master of Science in Education
- On-campus
About the program
St. John's University offers a Master of Science in Education in Early Childhood Education and Teaching Students with Disabilities for the Birth-Grade 2 band. The 45-credit program opens two admission pathways, a Field Change route for candidates who already hold New York State teacher certification and a Career Change route for graduates coming from outside education, letting the degree meet very different starting points. Coursework aligned with Council for Exceptional Children standards is anchored by 150 hours of supervised special education practicum spread across self-contained, inclusive, and mainstreamed settings, so candidates practice across the full range of placements they will later navigate. Classes run primarily on the Queens campus with some online offerings. Graduates emerge positioned for dual New York State certification in both early childhood education and teaching students with disabilities, pending state exams and training modules. As a master's degree in early childhood special education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as special education teachers in New York.
Why it ranks here
Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 4 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
11
CUNY Lehman College
Bronx, NYPublic
- 26Master's/yr
- $96,900Metro teacher pay
- Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) in Special Education Teacher – Early Childhood (Birth–Grade 2)
- On-campus
About the program
Lehman College offers a Master of Science in Education in Special Education Teacher, focused on the Early Childhood Birth-Grade 2 band, and it is built for candidates preparing to serve the youngest learners with disabilities. Rather than sorting students by disability category, the program takes a non-categorical approach and ties the grade band to each candidate's initial teaching certificate, which keeps the preparation broad and inclusive. Coursework is grounded in Council for Exceptional Children standards and New York State Learning Standards, and supervised practica and student teaching place candidates in both inclusive and specialized urban classrooms. Those field experiences flow from the Lehman Urban Transformative Education framework, signaling a deliberate emphasis on equity and city schools. Completion leads to New York State initial and professional certification in Special Education, Early Childhood, making this a full pathway into the profession for aspiring early childhood special educators. Graduates of this early childhood special education program at the master's level often go on to work as special education teachers.
Why it ranks here
A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 26 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
12
Long Island University
Brookville, NYPrivate nonprofit
- 1Master's/yr
- $96,900Metro teacher pay
- M.S.Ed. in Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education (Birth–Grade 2)
- On-campus
About the program
Long Island University offers a Master of Science in Education in Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education at its LIU Hudson campus, a 44-credit program that prepares candidates for initial New York State certification in both early childhood teaching and special education for the Birth-Grade 2 range. Pursuing dual certification in a single degree signals a program built to produce versatile early childhood educators ready for a range of settings. Candidates can apply for Internship Certification after their first 22 credits, letting them move into paid classroom work partway through and learn while they earn. The curriculum points graduates toward inclusive and self-contained classrooms as well as Special Education Itinerant Teacher roles that serve young children across multiple sites. Together the dual credential and internship option make this a practical route into early childhood special education. Graduates of this early childhood special education program at the master's level often go on to work as special education teachers.
Why it ranks here
Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
13
Manhattanville University
Purchase, NYPrivate nonprofit
- 16Master's/yr
- $96,900Metro teacher pay
- Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Special Education: Early Childhood (Birth–Grade 2)
- On-campus
About the program
Manhattanville University offers a Master of Professional Studies in Special Education focused on the Early Childhood Birth-Grade 2 band, delivered in a hybrid mix of online and in-person evening classes. Because admission requires prior education coursework and existing teacher certification, the program is aimed at practicing teachers extending their credentials into special education rather than newcomers to the field. The evening and online schedule reinforces that working-professional orientation. Practicum experiences keep the preparation grounded in real classrooms, and job-placement assistance signals a program invested in where its graduates land. Candidates who want a wider reach can pursue a related 41-credit dual-certification track spanning early childhood and childhood, or a 29-credit advanced certificate. Approved by the New York State Education Department, the MPS leads to New York State Early Childhood Special Education certification. Graduates of this early childhood special education program at the master's level often go on to work as special education teachers.
Why it ranks here
For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 16 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
14
Iona University
New Rochelle, NYPrivate nonprofit
- 5Master's/yr
- $96,900Metro teacher pay
- Master of Science in Education (MSEd) in Special Education
- On-campus
About the program
Iona University offers a fully online Master of Science in Education in Special Education, a 30-credit program that adapts to the grade band of each candidate's existing initial certification, including the Birth-Grade 2 early childhood range. Because it builds on a credential candidates already hold, the degree functions as an add-on specialization for practicing teachers, and its asynchronous, synchronous, and hybrid options give those working educators real flexibility in how they attend. A combined 45-credit track pairing Special Education with Literacy is available for candidates who want a broader dual focus. Students can also fold in a tuition-free Interdisciplinary Advanced Certificate in Working with Young Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and Their Families, deepening their reach into a specialized population at no added cost. Accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation, the program leads to New York State certification in Students with Disabilities. A master's-level path in early childhood special education, it builds toward a career among special education teachers in New York.
Why it ranks here
A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 5 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
15
Rhode Island College
Providence, RIPublic
- 2Master's/yr
- $86,720Metro teacher pay
- Special Education Master of Education (M.Ed.), Early Childhood Special Education concentration
- On-campus
About the program
Rhode Island College offers a Special Education Master of Education with an Early Childhood Special Education concentration, one of several tracks in a department that also spans elementary, secondary, exceptional learning needs, severe intellectual disabilities, and urban multicultural special education. The concentration leads to Rhode Island certification in early childhood special education and qualifies graduates to work with children from birth through grade 2 in home, early-intervention, or preschool settings, reflecting a birth-to-classroom continuum of practice. A hybrid format mixes synchronous and asynchronous courses, and an intensive one-year completion option, alongside a two-year path, lets candidates choose their own pace. The college holds accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, and the special education programs are recognized by NCATE and NASDTEC, while 89% of department faculty hold terminal degrees. Together these features suggest a credibly credentialed program that accommodates both accelerated and part-time students. Graduates of this early childhood special education program at the master's level often go on to work as special education teachers.
Why it ranks here
Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 2 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Providence-Warwick, RI-MA, where elementary teachers earn a median $86,720, roughly $85,209 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
16
University of Saint Joseph
West Hartford, CTPrivate nonprofit
- 12Master's/yr
- $79,800Metro teacher pay
- Early Childhood Education/Special Education, M.A.T.
- Hybrid
About the program
University of Saint Joseph offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Early Childhood Education/Special Education, a hybrid program that leads to Connecticut recommendations for grades PK-3 teacher licensure and grades PK-K special education licensure. The dual-licensure design prepares one candidate to teach both general early childhood and special education, a versatile credential for the earliest grades. Its flexible format blends online synchronous instruction with in-person campus sessions as little as one day a week, and evening classes run in eight-week sessions. That schedule signals a program shaped around adults who are working or otherwise unable to attend full daytime study. Accredited institutionally through the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, it reads as an accessible, licensure-driven path into early childhood and special education. This master's-level early childhood special education program prepares graduates for work as special education teachers in Connecticut.
Why it ranks here
For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 12 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT, where elementary teachers earn a median $79,800, roughly $77,667 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
17
George Washington University
Washington, DCPrivate nonprofit
- 3Master's/yr
- $79,470Metro teacher pay
- Master of Arts in Education and Human Development in the Field of Early Childhood Special Education
- On-campus
About the program
George Washington University's Graduate School of Education and Human Development offers a Master of Arts in Education and Human Development in the field of Early Childhood Special Education, an on-campus program it describes as the only dual-endorsement early childhood and early childhood special education option in the D.C. area. The degree prepares candidates for initial licensure in early childhood education with an early childhood special education endorsement covering PreK through third grade. Two semesters of supervised clinical internship anchor the preparation, and licensure runs through required teacher assessments and a comprehensive exam. Non-categorical focus areas across birth-to-three, three-to-five, and K-3 let candidates orient toward the developmental range they intend to serve. Offered at both a Foggy Bottom rate and a lower-cost Alexandria rate, it pairs a distinctive dual credential with flexible pricing for aspiring early-childhood special educators. As a master's degree in early childhood special education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as special education teachers in Washington, D.C..
Why it ranks here
For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 3 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, where elementary teachers earn a median $79,470, roughly $72,986 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
18
Temple University
Philadelphia, PAPublic
- 4Master's/yr
- $78,570Metro teacher pay
- Master of Education in Early and Elementary Education with Special Education
- On-campus
About the program
Temple University offers a Master of Education in Early and Elementary Education with Special Education, a dual-specialization degree that pairs PreK-Grade 4 teaching with PreK-Grade 12 special education. Approved as a teacher certification program by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, it leads to Temple's recommendation for Pennsylvania Instructional I certification in both areas, positioning graduates to move fluidly between general and special education roles. The 46-credit curriculum is substantial and culminates in 14 weeks of full-time student teaching, a serious clinical commitment that grounds the coursework in real classrooms. Evening classes on Main Campus, supplemented by some online and hybrid options, along with full- or part-time enrollment and up to four years to finish, make the program workable for candidates who are juggling other obligations. The overall design reads as a flexible but clinically demanding route to broad certification. A master's-level path in early childhood special education, it builds toward a career among special education teachers in Pennsylvania.
Why it ranks here
Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 4 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, where elementary teachers earn a median $78,570, roughly $76,613 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
19
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NYPrivate nonprofit
- 3Master's/yr
- $78,560Metro teacher pay
- Early Childhood Special Education (Birth-Grade 2), M.S.
- On-campus
About the program
Syracuse University offers a Master of Science in Early Childhood Special Education for the Birth-Grade 2 band. The 60-credit on-campus program is structured for full-time study and can be completed in 16 months, an intensive pace that moves candidates quickly from coursework into practice. Its scope extends beyond the classroom, preparing graduates to work with infants and young children across home, school, community, and agency settings, a breadth that reflects how early intervention actually unfolds. The single-track curriculum meets the academic requirements for New York State initial and professional certification in both Early Childhood Education and Students with Disabilities. The program is currently not accepting new applications. A master's-level path in early childhood special education, it builds toward a career among special education teachers in New York.
Why it ranks here
Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 3 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Syracuse, NY, where elementary teachers earn a median $78,560, roughly $82,054 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
20
Lewis University
Romeoville, ILPrivate nonprofit
- 19Master's/yr
- $78,390Metro teacher pay
- Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education (with Early Childhood Special Education and ESL endorsements embedded)
- On-campus
About the program
Lewis University offers a Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education that embeds three teaching endorsements into a single degree, a structure it markets as the first of its kind in Illinois. Candidates earn Early Childhood Education (birth to Grade 2) and Early Childhood Special Education (birth to Grade 2) endorsements with an ESL endorsement (PreK-12) built in, and qualifying students can add a fourth Bilingual Education endorsement, positioning graduates for the Illinois Professional Educator License with unusually broad reach. The program runs online in synchronous eight-week evening sessions, a rhythm suited to working teachers who need to keep teaching while they study. Life Experience Credits can shorten time to completion, rewarding candidates who arrive with relevant classroom background. Approved by the Illinois State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board and the Illinois State Board of Education, Lewis also holds an IEPP Exemplary Early Childhood Education designation. The combined design reads as a practical way for early childhood educators to multiply their credentials at once. As a master's degree in early childhood special education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as special education teachers in Illinois.
Why it ranks here
Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 19 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, where elementary teachers earn a median $78,390, roughly $75,670 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
21
Concordia University-Chicago
River Forest, ILPrivate nonprofitOnline available
- 4Master's/yr
- $78,390Metro teacher pay
- Master of Arts in Early Childhood Special Education
- On-campus
About the program
Concordia University Chicago offers a Master of Arts in Early Childhood Special Education built for educators who already hold an Illinois early childhood certificate, endorsement, or LBS1 credential and want to deepen their work with the youngest learners. The curriculum concentrates on teaching children with disabilities from birth to below kindergarten, and select courses are marked to apply toward the Illinois Special Education endorsement, giving working teachers a clear path to expand their licensure. Delivered in an online, off-campus format, the program fits around classroom schedules while keeping candidates grounded in inclusive practice. Every candidate completes a master's capstone project that demonstrates mastery of the program content, signaling a degree meant to consolidate expertise rather than introduce the field. The College of Education is accredited by CAEP and approved by the Illinois State Board of Education, anchoring the program in recognized state standards. As a master's degree in early childhood special education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as special education teachers in Illinois.
Why it ranks here
For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 4 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, where elementary teachers earn a median $78,390, roughly $75,670 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
22
SUNY Buffalo State University
Buffalo, NYPublic
- 9Master's/yr
- $76,490Metro teacher pay
- Special Education: Early Childhood Program, M.S.Ed
- On-campus
About the program
SUNY Buffalo State University offers an M.S.Ed. in Special Education with an Early Childhood focus, part of a broader special education program that also runs Childhood and Generalist Secondary tracks. The curriculum is cross-categorical by design, moving candidates through physical, intellectual, sensory, communication, and behavioral disorders so they can serve young children with a wide spread of needs. A practicum and a sequential research-course requirement give the degree both applied and scholarly footing, and credits range from 30 to 54 depending on a candidate's prior coursework. Scheduling is flexible, blending face-to-face, hybrid, and online formats with some Saturday classes to accommodate working adults, and an optional Bilingual Education Extension is available. Accredited by CAEP, the program leads to recommendation for New York State certification in special education with an early childhood emphasis. Earning a master's degree in early childhood special education is a common route toward becoming one of New York's special education teachers.
Why it ranks here
Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 9 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY, where elementary teachers earn a median $76,490, roughly $79,807 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
23
University of New Orleans
New Orleans, LAPublic
- 1Master's/yr
- $60,350Metro teacher pay
About the program
A standalone Early Childhood Special Education, Birth to Age 5, master's degree could not be confirmed as an active offering at this institution. The University of New Orleans College of Education merged into the LSU System in 2024, and the related Early Intervention add-on certification is no longer enrolling new students. Prospective students should contact the school directly to learn about current options. A master's-level path in early childhood special education, it builds toward a career among special education teachers in Louisiana.
Why it ranks here
For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New Orleans-Metairie, LA, where elementary teachers earn a median $60,350, roughly $65,175 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
24
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZPublic
- 7Master's/yr
- $53,900Metro teacher pay
- Special Education - Early Childhood Special Education with Certification, Master of Education
- Online
About the program
Northern Arizona University offers a Master of Education in Special Education with an Early Childhood Special Education certification focus, an online degree that leads to Arizona teaching certification for children from birth through age eight. Although coursework is delivered online, the program requires onsite fieldwork, an internship, and supervised student teaching placed in Arizona, grounding the credential in real early-childhood settings. The licensure pathway runs through the Professional Knowledge: Early Childhood exam and the Arizona and U.S. Constitutions requirement, signaling a clear alignment with state certification rules. Accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and approval by the Arizona State Board of Education reinforce its standing as a licensure program. The structure suits aspiring early-childhood special educators who need flexible coursework anchored by hands-on classroom preparation. A master's-level path in early childhood special education, it builds toward a career among special education teachers in Arizona.
Why it ranks here
For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 7 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Flagstaff, AZ, where elementary teachers earn a median $53,900, roughly $53,725 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site
25
Harding University
Searcy, ARPrivate nonprofit
- 15Master's/yr
- $52,700State teacher pay
- Master of Arts in Teaching, Early Childhood/Special Education Integrated (B-K)
- Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) program approval-accredited
- Online
About the program
Harding University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Early Childhood/Special Education Integrated, a fully online program that folds early childhood education, child development, and special education into a single Birth-Kindergarten licensure track. Rather than treating special education as a separate credential, the integrated design prepares one teacher to serve the full range of young learners from birth through kindergarten. The degree leads to an Arkansas educator license recognized through reciprocal agreements with other states, extending its value beyond state lines. Individualized degree plans and online delivery point to a program built for flexibility around working schedules. Approved by the Arkansas Department of Education, it characterizes a streamlined, licensure-focused route into early childhood and special education teaching. Graduates of this early childhood special education program at the master's level often go on to work as special education teachers.
Why it ranks here
For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 15 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Arkansas statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $52,700, roughly $60,619 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.
Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.
School site

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Best Master's in Early Childhood Special Education Programs by Local Teacher Pay

University of Massachusetts Global

State University of New York at New Paltz

Fordham University

CUNY Hunter College

Hofstra University

Adelphi University

CUNY Queens College

CUNY Brooklyn College

Pace University

St. John's University-New York

CUNY Lehman College

Long Island University

Manhattanville University

Iona University

Rhode Island College

University of Saint Joseph

George Washington University

Temple University

Syracuse University

Lewis University

Concordia University-Chicago

SUNY Buffalo State University

University of New Orleans

Northern Arizona University

Harding University