Best Master's in Elementary Special Education Programs by Degrees Awarded

1. 1

   Touro University

   New York, NYPrivate nonprofit

   • 333Master's/yr
   • MS in Education & Special Education, Childhood Education and Special Education (Grades 1-6)
   • New York State Education Department registered program-accredited
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Touro University's Graduate School of Education offers a Master of Science in Education and Special Education that prepares candidates for dual certification in Childhood Education and Students with Disabilities across Grades 1 through 6. The 36-credit program spans both general education and special education settings and reaches across the Grades 1-3 and 4-6 bands, so graduates leave equipped to teach in inclusive classrooms rather than a single niche. Its required placement in a high-need school and culminating e-portfolio point to a program grounded in real, high-demand practice. Candidates can pursue it as a traditional master's or through the Touro University Teaching Residents pathway, a residency model set in New York City public schools. Graduates earn New York State dual certification and advance to professional certification after three years of full-time teaching. The program is registered with the New York State Education Department. This master's-level elementary special education program prepares graduates for work as 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 333 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

   School site
2. 2

   Niagara University

   Niagara University, NYPrivate nonprofitOnline available

   • 172Master's/yr
   • $76,490Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Science in Education in Special Education
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Niagara University offers a fully online Master of Science in Education in Special Education that bends around the schedules of working educators while still leading to New York State certification in Students with Disabilities, All Grades. Candidates choose between a 37-credit Initial Certification track for those entering the field and a 31-credit Professional Certification track for teachers already licensed, and the department also houses a 24-credit Advanced Certificate and a 12-credit annotation in Severe and Multiple Disabilities for further specialization. Practicum hours, seventy days for initial candidates or a hundred hours at the advanced level, may be completed in the candidate's own workplace, which keeps teachers in their classrooms as they study. Certification requires passing the EAS, the Students with Disabilities CST, and the Multi-Subject exams. Backed by a College of Education that has held CAEP accreditation since 1984, the program pairs a recognized credential with the flexibility online delivery affords. As a master's degree in elementary 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 172 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
3. 3

   CUNY Hunter College

   New York, NYPublic

   • 154Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Science in Education (MSEd) in Childhood Special Education: Severe/Multiple Disabilities
   About the program

   CUNY Hunter College offers a Master of Science in Education in Childhood Special Education with a concentration in Severe/Multiple Disabilities, one of several special education tracks alongside Learning Disabilities and Behavior Disorders. The program runs in two parallel forms keyed to a candidate's starting point, one leading to dual certification in Childhood Education and Students with Disabilities for Grades 1-6 plus a severe and multiple disabilities extension for those without prior certification, and a shorter version yielding a single Students with Disabilities certification for teachers who already hold New York State credentials. This structure lets both career changers and practicing teachers pursue the same specialized focus. Coursework extends into deafblindness and the most complex disability profiles, signaling a program built for educators drawn to the highest-need corners of the field. The result is a targeted preparation for teachers committed to students with severe and multiple disabilities. A master's-level path in elementary special education, it builds toward a career among 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 154 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. 4

   CUNY City College

   New York, NYPublic

   • 73Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Science in Education in Special Education
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   CUNY City College offers a Master of Science in Education in Special Education built to move educators toward New York State certification in Teaching Students with Disabilities. The program splits into two paths, an initial certificate track for those entering the field and a professional certificate track for candidates who already hold initial certification, so the coursework meets teachers where they are in their careers. Its flexibility is a defining feature, with courses available on campus, in hybrid form, or fully online, and a full-online cohort that begins each June for those who cannot come to campus. Fieldwork is woven throughout rather than saved for the end, with roughly fifteen hours embedded per course and a capstone internship or practicum in the final semester. A state-mandated workshop on the needs of children with autism rounds out the preparation for classroom practice. A master's-level path in elementary 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 73 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. 5

   Grand Canyon University

   Phoenix, AZPrivate for-profitOnline available

   • 68Master's/yr
   • $59,180Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Education in Elementary Education and Special Education
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Grand Canyon University offers an online Master of Education in Elementary Education and Special Education, a dual-licensure degree that pairs Elementary Education K-8 with Special Education for Mild to Moderate Disabilities K-12. Completing it makes graduates eligible for initial teacher licensure in Arizona in both certificate areas, broadening their reach across general and special education classrooms. The 57-credit curriculum is aligned to InTASC principles and CEC standards and requires a full-time 16-week student teaching experience split evenly between a K-8 general education placement and a K-12 special education placement, plus more than 100 hours of additional field experience. That extensive clinical component signals a program that treats supervised practice as central to preparing new teachers. The degree is programmatically accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation, and the university is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, reinforcing its standing as a licensure-oriented preparation route. Graduates of this elementary 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 68 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ, where elementary teachers earn a median $59,180, roughly $57,281 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. 6

   State University of New York at Plattsburgh

   Plattsburgh, NYPublic

   • 57Master's/yr
   • $85,760State teacher pay
   • Special Education Master's, Birth-Grade 2
   • New York State Education Department registered program-accredited
   • On-campus
   About the program

   SUNY Plattsburgh offers a Master of Science in Education in special education focused on the earliest learners, from birth through Grade 2. The program leads to New York State certification in Students with Disabilities, Birth-Grade 2, giving it a clear early-childhood orientation within the broader special education field. It sits inside a department that also runs a stand-alone Birth-Grade 12 online option, so candidates can find a match for the age range and delivery format they need. Most notably, it pairs with a combined five-year B.S./M.S.Ed. Childhood Education and Special Education pathway that lets students earn dual licensure in both childhood education and special education (Birth-Grade 6) at once. That structure reads as a program built for aspiring inclusive educators who want early-childhood depth and a wide certification footprint. It carries New York State Education Department registration. This master's-level elementary special education program prepares graduates for work 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 57 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $85,760, roughly $79,466 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. 7

   Merrimack College

   North Andover, MAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

   • 55Master's/yr
   • $98,060Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8)
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   Merrimack College offers a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8), a hybrid program approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as an Educator Preparation Program and leading to Initial licensure in the state. The single, focused track pairs its moderate disabilities coursework with the required Sheltered English Instruction endorsement, preparing teachers for the diverse classrooms they will actually enter. The program's standout feature is the PreK-12 Teacher Fellow cohort, a tuition-free, 13-month option that places candidates in a partner school district for a full year and includes a 450-hour full-time practicum. That immersive, cohort-based structure reads as a program built to move committed candidates into paid, high-need special education roles quickly and affordably. Merrimack is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. A master's-level path in elementary special education, it builds toward a career among special education teachers in Massachusetts.

   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 55 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 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. 8

   CUNY Brooklyn College

   Brooklyn, NYPublic

   • 55Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Special Education—Teacher of Students With Disabilities in Childhood Education (All Grades), M.S.Ed.
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Brooklyn College offers an M.S.Ed. preparing a Teacher of Students With Disabilities in Childhood Education across all grades, leading to New York State certification from PreKindergarten through Grade 12. The program is built to meet candidates where they are, with seven options that include standard special education tracks and bilingual extensions, and field and student-teaching requirements that scale to each applicant's prior certification. Supervised field experience ranges from fifty to more than a hundred hours and student teaching from twenty to seventy days, so already-certified teachers move faster than newcomers. In place of a thesis, candidates complete a data collection and data-based monitoring project under faculty advisement, a practice-oriented capstone that keeps the focus on classroom decision-making. The on-campus program reads as a flexible, applied route into special education for a range of candidates. A master's-level path in elementary special education, it builds toward a career among 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 55 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. 9

   St. John's University-New York

   Queens, NYPrivate nonprofit

   • 47Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Childhood/Special Education (1-6), Bachelor of Science in Education/Master of Science in Education
   • On-campus
   About the program

   St. John's University offers a combined Bachelor of Science in Education and Master of Science in Education in Childhood/Special Education that moves students from undergraduate study straight through to dual initial New York State certification in Childhood Education and Special Education for grades 1-6. The five-year pathway lets students take 12 to 15 graduate credits at the undergraduate tuition rate, a cost advantage that rewards planning early toward a teaching career. Each candidate selects a content-area concentration from options such as English, mathematics, a modern foreign language, psychology, sociology, science, or social studies, grounding their preparation in a subject as well as pedagogy. Two field placements and two student-teaching experiences build a substantial base of classroom time before graduation. On the Queens campus, the program reads as an efficient, integrated route for students who know early that they want to teach in inclusive elementary settings. Graduates of this elementary 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 47 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. 10

    Manhattanville University

    Purchase, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 40Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Childhood Education (Grades 1-6) and Special Education PK-12
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Manhattanville University offers a Master of Professional Studies that pairs Childhood Education for Grades 1-6 with Special Education PK-12, a combination that certifies teachers to work across general and special education settings. Approved by the New York State Education Department, it leads to Initial or Professional certification in Students with Disabilities alongside a childhood certification. The hybrid format opens with a fall start and runs roughly one and a half to two years, a pace suited to candidates balancing the degree with other commitments. Manhattanville surrounds the program with related MPS tracks in early childhood and standalone PK-12 special education, so candidates can match the grade span to their goals. For those entering without prior certification, a Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education PK-12 provides a separate route into the field. As a master's degree in elementary 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 40 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. 11

    College of Staten Island CUNY

    Staten Island, NYPublic

    • 32Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Education (MSEd) in Special Education, All Grades PreK-12
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    The College of Staten Island (CUNY) offers a Master of Science in Education in Special Education, All Grades PreK-12, a hybrid program leading to New York State certification as a teacher of students with disabilities across all grade levels. Its structure recognizes two kinds of candidates through separate advisement sequences: a 33-credit Sequence 1 for those who already hold initial certification in childhood education, and a 39-credit Sequence 2 for candidates without prior certification. Sequence 1 leads to professional certification while Sequence 2 leads to initial certification, so the same degree serves both practicing teachers extending their credentials and newcomers entering the field. Sequence 2 candidates cap their studies with an original research paper in special education, adding a scholarly dimension to their preparation. The dual-track design makes it a versatile PreK-12 special education pathway. A master's-level path in elementary special education, it builds toward a career among 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 32 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. 12

    Metropolitan College of New York

    New York, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 30Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Education (MSED) - Dual Childhood Education Grades 1-6/Students with Disabilities Grades 1-6
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Metropolitan College of New York offers a Master of Science in Education leading to dual New York State certification in Childhood Education Grades 1-6 and Students with Disabilities Grades 1-6, a hybrid program accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation. The 46-credit degree runs on an accelerated 12-to-16-month timeline and is organized around the college's Purpose-Centered Education model, in which students carry out Constructive Action projects that tie academic work to real practice. A 10-month residency in urban public schools puts candidates in classrooms for the length of a school year, reflecting a mission focused on preparing teachers for high-need city schools. The combination of dual certification, an extended urban residency, and project-based learning frames it as a program built for candidates committed to inclusive, community-rooted elementary teaching. Graduates of this elementary 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 30 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
13. 13

    CUNY Queens College

    Queens, NYPublicOnline available

    • 23Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Education (MSEd), Teacher of Special Education, Grades 1-6
    • On-campus
    About the program

    CUNY Queens College offers a Master of Science in Education preparing a Teacher of Special Education for Grades 1-6, aimed at educators who already hold New York State certification in Early Childhood or Childhood Education. The 36-credit program is designed around working teachers, with hybrid and online classes scheduled in the late afternoon and evening and a choice between a two-year or three-year sequence. Graduates who complete the required seminars and Content Specialty Tests are recommended to the state for an extension in Teaching Students with Disabilities, Grades 1-6. For those drawn to applied behavior work, an optional Board Certified Behavior Analyst sub-plan runs alongside the standard sequence. The overall shape, an add-on extension delivered on an evening schedule with a behavior-analysis option, reads as a program built for practicing elementary teachers expanding into special education. Graduates of this elementary 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 23 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. 14

    SUNY Old Westbury

    Old Westbury, NYPublic

    • 23Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Special Education
    • New York State Education Department registered program-accredited
    • On-campus
    About the program

    SUNY Old Westbury offers a Master of Science in Special Education built around the Students with Disabilities (1-6) endorsement and paced deliberately for people who are already in classrooms. The 36-credit design is part-time only, opening in the fall and typically unfolding over three years, which signals a program shaped around working educators rather than full-time students. Coursework layers a 24-credit core with 12 additional credits of specialized study, research, and supervised field experience, keeping the emphasis on applied practice. Graduates follow the pathway to New York State initial certification in special education, moving to professional certification once they complete the state's classroom experience requirement. As a state-registered program, it holds its standing through the New York State Education Department. The result reads as a steady, licensure-focused route for elementary-level special educators. Earning a master's degree in elementary 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 23 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
15. 15

    CUNY Lehman College

    Bronx, NYPublic

    • 22Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Education in Students with Disabilities (Childhood Special Education)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    CUNY Lehman College offers a Master of Science in Education in Students with Disabilities, a childhood special education program that leads to both initial and professional certification in New York State. The program is organized non-categorically rather than around a single disability condition, preparing teachers to work across the full range of learners they will meet in inclusive classrooms. Candidates choose between two subplans, one hybrid and one fully online, that carry identical completion requirements, so the delivery format bends to a teacher's schedule without changing the degree. Its strong grounding in Bronx-based schools and community organizations gives the fieldwork a distinctly local, practice-oriented character. Together these features make it a fit for educators seeking a broadly applicable special education credential rooted in real community placements. As a master's degree in elementary special education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as 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 22 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
16. 16

    Buena Vista University

    Storm Lake, IAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 21Master's/yr
    • Master of Education in Special Education, Instructional Strategist I: Mild to Moderate Disabilities (K-8) track
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Buena Vista University offers an online Master of Education in Special Education, with this track leading to the Instructional Strategist I endorsement for Mild to Moderate Disabilities in grades K-8, one of several tracks that also cover 5-12 mild to moderate, significant support needs, and a comprehensive option spanning all endorsements. The degree earns candidates a special education consultant endorsement alongside the master's, subject to approval by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, so it functions as both a credential and a professional advancement. Structured as a two-year online program with no GRE required, it is explicitly designed to be completed while teaching, and the Mild to Moderate K-8 track runs 27 credit hours. Recent bachelor's graduates can instead use the accelerated Plus One program to finish in a single year. The framing throughout points to practicing and early-career teachers building endorsement credentials without leaving the classroom. Earning a master's degree in elementary special education is a common route toward becoming one of Iowa's 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 21 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
17. 17

    University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

    Pittsburgh, PAPublic

    • 20Master's/yr
    • MEd in PreK-12 Special Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Pittsburgh offers a Master of Education in PreK-12 Special Education structured as an intensive, one-year full-time program for candidates ready to commit to a concentrated year of study. Beginning in late June, the 33-credit sequence pairs a fall practicum with full-time spring student teaching, so clinical placement drives the second half of the year. A single track spanning both high- and low-incidence disabilities across PreK-12 prepares generalists rather than narrow specialists, matching the breadth of the certificate it targets. The absence of a GRE requirement lowers the barrier to a fast-moving program. Graduates become eligible for the Instructional I Special Education PreK-12 certificate from the Pennsylvania Department of Education once they pass the required ETS exams and complete the PDE 430 professional evaluation. The program is aligned to Pennsylvania Department of Education certification standards. As a master's degree in elementary special education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as 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 20 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
18. 18

    SUNY Buffalo State University

    Buffalo, NYPublic

    • 14Master's/yr
    • $76,490Metro teacher pay
    • Special Education: Childhood Program, M.S.Ed.
    • On-campus
    About the program

    SUNY Buffalo State University offers a Master of Science in Education in Special Education, Childhood Program, one of three specialty tracks in its Exceptional Education department alongside early childhood and generalist secondary options. The practicum and internship-based degree leads to New York State special education certification at the childhood level for grades 1-6, with an optional concurrent Bilingual Certificate and Bilingual Education Extension for candidates preparing to serve multilingual classrooms. A sequential capstone research component, taken as two linked courses at the end of the program, asks candidates to consolidate their learning into disciplined inquiry rather than a loose collection of coursework. Accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation gives the credential national standing. With its structured field experiences and bilingual option, the program reads as preparation for teachers headed into urban and diverse elementary special education settings. As a master's degree in elementary 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 14 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
19. 19

    Hofstra University

    Hempstead, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 12Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Elementary Special Education, MSEd
    About the program

    Hofstra University offers an Elementary Special Education MSEd for teachers who already hold New York State Initial certification in Childhood Education, Grades 1-6, and want to add Initial certification in Students with Disabilities for the same grades. The program is framed around an ethical scholar-practitioner model with an explicit social-justice focus, positioning special education as a matter of equity as much as technique. Candidates can shape the degree through an optional annotation in severe and multiple disabilities or through dual-certification pathways that pair special education with TESOL or with Literacy Studies. A dedicated Office of Field Placement arranges observations, clinical experience, and student teaching across local schools, so classroom time is coordinated rather than left to the candidate. For those without prior certification, a related Inclusive Elementary Special Education MSEd leads to dual childhood and special education credentials. Earning a master's degree in elementary special education is a common route toward becoming one of New York's 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 12 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
20. 20

    Adelphi University

    Garden City, NYPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 12Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science (M.S.) in Childhood Special Education (dual certification, Childhood 1-6 and Students with Disabilities)
    • Online
    About the program

    Adelphi University offers a Master of Science (M.S.) in Childhood Special Education leading to dual New York State certification in Childhood 1-6 and Students with Disabilities. Offered online, the program supports both preservice candidates entering the field and in-service teachers already working, and it extends to related tracks including Early Childhood Special Education from Birth through Grade 2 and a bilingual childhood special education extension. What distinguishes it is the emphasis on field-based methods courses tied to hands-on internships at partner schools, including New York City Public Schools and BOCES, grounding coursework in the classrooms candidates are preparing to serve. The dual-certification design and school partnerships mark it as a program built to place graduates in New York's inclusive elementary classrooms. Candidates earn certification for the grade range matching their chosen track. As a master's degree in elementary 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 12 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
21. 21

    Molloy University

    Rockville Centre, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 12Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • BS/MS Dual Degree in Childhood Education and Special Education
    About the program

    Molloy University offers a BS/MS Dual Degree in Childhood Education and Special Education, an accelerated five-year pathway that carries a student from a bachelor's straight through the master's. The program leads to New York State Initial Certification as a Teacher of Childhood for Grades 1-6 and in Special Education, preparing graduates for inclusive elementary classrooms. Candidates pair their education studies with a content specialization such as Biology, Communications, English, History, Mathematics, Psychology, or Spanish and other languages, grounding their teaching in a subject area. Clinical preparation builds in stages across three field experiences, moving from an observation placement to a pre-student-teaching placement and finally a full-time student-teaching semester. The design suits undergraduates who know early that they want a dual childhood and special education credential and prefer to earn both degrees on a continuous track. As a master's degree in elementary 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 12 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
22. 22

    Fordham University

    Bronx, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 11Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Teaching (M.S.T.) in Childhood Special Education
    • Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)-accredited
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Fordham University offers a Master of Science in Teaching in Childhood Special Education, a 45-credit program nationally recognized by the Council for Exceptional Children. It is built as an integrated dual-certification pathway rather than a set of separate concentrations, blending regular childhood education and special education coursework so graduates emerge prepared for both worlds. That design leads to New York State dual certification as a Childhood teacher for Grades 1-6 and as a Teacher of Children with Disabilities. Field experiences and student teaching are completed in both general and special education settings, reinforcing the program's inclusive, cross-setting orientation. Required specialized workshops, including autism training and child-abuse identification, complete a preparation aimed at teachers who want to serve diverse learners in the same classroom. Offered on campus and online, it accommodates a range of candidates entering the profession. Earning a master's degree in elementary special education is a common route toward becoming one of New York's 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 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
23. 23

    State University of New York at Cortland

    Cortland, NYPublic

    • 10Master's/yr
    • $85,760State teacher pay
    • Special Education: Inclusive Teaching and Advocacy (All Grades), M.S.Ed.
    • On-campus
    About the program

    SUNY Cortland offers an online Master of Science in Education in Special Education framed around inclusive teaching and advocacy, leading to New York State certification in Students with Disabilities across all grades. The 30-credit program spans ten courses paired with a 50-hour internship, keeping fieldwork proportionate for teachers balancing study with work. Its framing around advocacy signals more than technique, pointing toward preparing educators to champion students with disabilities within their schools and communities. Scheduling flexibility is a defining feature, with an accelerated one-year option that starts in summer or a part-time path stretched across five semesters. Delivered online with a single focused track, the program reads as an accessible route for working educators who want an all-grades special education credential without stepping away from their classrooms. Earning a master's degree in elementary 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 10 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $85,760, roughly $79,466 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. 24

    State University of New York at Oswego

    Oswego, NYPublic

    • 9Master's/yr
    • $78,560Metro teacher pay
    • Childhood Special Education Grades 1-6 (Initial Certification), M.S.Ed.
    • On-campus
    About the program

    SUNY Oswego offers a Master of Science in Education in Childhood Special Education for grades 1-6 on an initial certification track, leading to New York State certification for both initial and professional candidates. The 33-credit program pairs a 21-credit teacher-preparation core with a 12-credit professional core, giving candidates both hands-on classroom preparation and deeper study of the field. Students work directly with full-time special education faculty and gain access to assistive and instructional technology, grounding the degree in the practical tools of inclusive teaching. Offered at both the main Oswego campus and the Syracuse campus, it reaches candidates across the region, and a separate pre-K-12 track exists for those wanting a wider grade band. National CAEP accreditation of Oswego's School of Education backs the credential, marking it as a well-supported route into elementary special education classrooms. As a master's degree in elementary 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 9 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
25. 25

    Neumann University

    Aston, PAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 9Master's/yr
    • $78,570Metro teacher pay
    • Dual Certification in Early Elementary (PK-4) and Special Education (PK-12), M.S.
    • Online
    About the program

    Neumann University offers a fully online Master of Science in Education track leading to dual certification in Early Elementary (PreK-4) and Special Education (PreK-12), a combination that widens a graduate's classroom options considerably. The 45-credit program is delivered online with a 3-credit student teaching requirement, keeping a hands-on clinical component even in a distance format. Practical entry features, no GRE requirement and up to nine accepted transfer credits, signal a program pitched at accessibility for busy career-changers and current staff. It sits within a broader MSEd that also houses related standalone tracks in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Online Instruction, and Instructional Coaching, giving the school a coherent menu for specializing further. Graduates earn Pennsylvania licensure in both early elementary and special education after passing the required state certification tests. The university is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and the program is Pennsylvania Department of Education approved. This master's-level elementary special education program prepares graduates for work as 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 9 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

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