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

1. 1

   CUNY Brooklyn College

   Brooklyn, NYPublic

   • 190Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Special Education, Teacher of Students With Disabilities in Childhood Education, Generalist (7-12)
   • New York State Education Department registered program-accredited
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Brooklyn College offers a Master of Science in Education in Special Education, preparing candidates for New York certification as a Teacher of Students with Disabilities Generalist for grades 7 through 12. The 33-credit program is organized into two options, one built for candidates without a Transitional B alternative certificate and another for those who hold one, so applicants enter through the door that matches their standing. Fieldwork is real and place-based, with internships arranged in public and private schools across the New York City region and beyond. A required research project, completed under a faculty member's advisement, gives the degree an inquiry-driven spine alongside its clinical work. The design deliberately serves two audiences at once, both practicing teachers deepening their expertise and career-changers entering special education for the first time. This master's-level secondary 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 190 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
2. 2

   CUNY Hunter College

   New York, NYPublic

   • 110Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Adolescent Special Education - Generalist
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Hunter College offers a Master of Science in Education in Adolescent Special Education - Generalist, a registered New York program leading to certification to teach students with disabilities in grades 7 through 12. Candidates work toward the Generalist credential and prepare for the state content specialty tests in Students with Disabilities and in Multi-Subject Secondary Teaching that the certification requires. A notable feature is the Internship Certificate option, which lets a qualified candidate serve as the teacher or leader of record in a classroom while still completing the master's degree. That pathway makes the program especially practical for those already working in schools or ready to step into a paid teaching role. Together the structure signals a degree built to move committed candidates efficiently into full secondary special education certification. Earning a master's degree in secondary 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 110 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
3. 3

   CUNY Lehman College

   Bronx, NYPublic

   • 104Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Special Education, Students with Disabilities - All Grades (Adolescent concentration)
   • New York State Education Department registered program-accredited
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   Lehman College offers a Master of Science in Education in Special Education, Students with Disabilities - All Grades, with an adolescent concentration for those aiming at the 7-12 Generalist credential. The program is unusually wide in its reach, offering concentrations from early childhood through childhood and adolescence, including bilingual special education tracks, and delivering the same requirements through either a hybrid or fully online subplan. Field experiences are extensive and rooted in partnerships with Bronx-based schools, aligned with the School of Education's Lehman Urban Transformative Education framework and its commitment to serving city classrooms. The 36-credit core, with up to 12 additional credits for candidates needing further coursework, typically unfolds over about three years. Fulfilling New York's licensure requirements, the degree carries candidates toward both initial and professional certification as special education teachers. Earning a master's degree in secondary 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 104 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

   Fordham University

   Bronx, NYPrivate nonprofit

   • 54Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Adolescence Special Education (M.S.T., Transitional B)
   • New York State Education Department registered program-accredited
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Fordham University offers a Master of Science in Teaching in Adolescence Special Education through the Transitional B pathway, a 30-credit program that lets candidates teach as the classroom teacher of record while completing the degree. It leads to New York Transitional B alternative certification with a Students with Disabilities 7-12 Generalist endorsement, preparing graduates for roles such as consultant teacher, resource room provider, and integrated co-teacher. The program is clinically rich, structured around a two-year field placement in which candidates spend three days a week in the same classroom during year one and move to five days a week in year two, each year blending observation with extended student teaching. Required workshops on child abuse reporting, dignity for students, substance abuse, violence prevention, and autism round out the state-mandated preparation. The design fits candidates ready to earn a living in the classroom while training for a demanding secondary special education role. As a master's degree in secondary 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 54 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

   Bank Street College of Education

   New York, NYPrivate nonprofit

   • 21Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Science in Education (MSEd) — Students with Disabilities, All Grades (Pre-K–12)
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Bank Street College of Education offers a Master of Science in Education in Students with Disabilities, All Grades, leading to New York State certification across the full Pre-K through 12 span. The program is rooted in Bank Street's progressive, child-development-centered approach to teacher education, which frames special education less as remediation and more as understanding how each child learns and grows. It is one of several grade-band special education tracks at the college, sitting alongside Early Childhood and Elementary options so candidates can match their preparation to the ages they plan to teach. Offered in both online and on-campus formats, the all-grades track adapts to students studying near the New York campus or at a distance. The result is a developmentally grounded route to broad special education certification. As a master's degree in secondary 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 21 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. 6

   SUNY Buffalo State University

   Buffalo, NYPublic

   • 19Master's/yr
   • $76,490Metro teacher pay
   • Special Education: Generalist 7-12 and Students with Disabilities 7-12 Subject Area Extensions
   • CAEP-accredited
   • On-campus
   About the program

   SUNY Buffalo State University offers a Master of Science in Education in Special Education with a Generalist 7-12 secondary track, one of three department specialty tracks alongside early childhood and childhood options. The on-campus program culminates in a sequential pair of capstone research courses taken at the end of study, giving candidates a scholarly finish grounded in special education inquiry. Students who do not already hold provisional or initial special education certification complete up to eighteen credits of preliminary coursework, making the program accessible to those changing direction as well as those extending existing credentials. This layered structure reads as flexible entry into a research-informed secondary special education credential. Completion leads to New York State certification eligibility in special education, Grades 7-12, and the program carries CAEP accreditation. Graduates of this secondary 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 19 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
7. 7

   St. John's University-New York

   Queens, NYPrivate nonprofit

   • 13Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Adolescent Education and Teaching Students with Disabilities (PreK-12), Master of Science in Education
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   St. John's University offers a Master of Science in Education in Adolescent Education and Teaching Students with Disabilities, a hybrid, 39-credit program whose curriculum is grounded in Council for Exceptional Children standards. Candidates choose a content-area concentration in Social Studies, Science, or Math, with English and foreign language available through advisor consultation, and may add a middle school extension certificate. The program's heavy clinical emphasis stands out: 150 hours of supervised special education practicum spread across self-contained, inclusive, mainstreamed, clinic, and early-intervention settings, followed by dedicated student teaching and practicum semesters. That breadth of placement signals a program intent on preparing teachers who can work across the full range of special education environments. Completion leads to New York State initial certification as a teacher of students with disabilities, contingent on required state exams and teaching experiences. This master's-level secondary 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 13 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. 8

   Chestnut Hill College

   Philadelphia, PAPrivate nonprofit

   • 10Master's/yr
   • M.Ed. in Secondary Education and Special Education PreK-12 (Dual)
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   Chestnut Hill College offers an M.Ed. in Secondary Education and Special Education PreK-12 that folds two certifications into a single course of study, signaling a program built for candidates who want to enter classrooms with broad hiring appeal. Students pair a secondary content area, drawn from English, social studies, biology or chemistry, mathematics, and Spanish or French world language, with special education preparation, then complete a special education student teaching component. The 36-credit structure, or 33 credits for the certification-only track, leads to dual Pennsylvania certification in secondary education for grades 7-12 and special education PreK-12. Its hybrid or fully online delivery makes it workable for candidates balancing other commitments while they earn licensure. Accreditation runs through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, with certification overseen by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The combined licensure and flexible format define it as an efficient, career-widening route into teaching. Earning a master's degree in secondary special education is a common route toward becoming one of Pennsylvania'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 10 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

   School site
9. 9

   Hofstra University

   Hempstead, NYPrivate nonprofit

   • 9Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Secondary Special Education Generalist
   • New York State Education Department registered program-accredited
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Hofstra University offers a Master of Science in Education in Secondary Special Education Generalist, a 37-credit program leading to New York certification as a Special Education 7-12 Generalist. It is built specifically for candidates who arrive without prior subject-matter certification or teaching experience in grades 7 through 12, making it a genuine entry point into the field rather than an add-on for veteran teachers. Those who want to pair special education with a teachable subject can choose the Generalist with Extensions option, which layers in 18 or more credits in English, Mathematics, Science, or Social Studies. The curriculum emphasizes research-based methods, collaborative and co-teaching practice, and preparation to address autism and other pressing issues in special education. Related tracks, including an Inclusive Secondary Special Education degree, extend the department's offerings for candidates with differing goals. A master's-level path in secondary 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 9 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

    State University of New York at Cortland

    Cortland, NYPublic

    • 8Master's/yr
    • $85,760State teacher pay
    • Teaching Students with Disabilities (7-12)
    • CAEP-accredited
    • On-campus
    About the program

    SUNY Cortland offers a Master of Science in Education in Teaching Students with Disabilities (7-12), an on-campus program designed as an add-on advanced degree for teachers who already hold adolescence education certification. Its single-focus, certification-extension structure and one-calendar-year completion mark it as an efficient route for practicing secondary teachers adding a special education credential rather than starting from scratch. Coursework leads to New York State certification in Teaching Students with Disabilities, Grades 7-12, and the program holds CAEP accreditation. Prospective applicants should note that new New York State legislation requires Cortland to discontinue this separate 7-12 program in favor of a combined all-grades PreK-12 certification track going forward. As it stands, it reads as a fast, targeted upgrade for content-certified adolescence teachers. A master's-level path in secondary 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 8 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
11. 11

    Florida Memorial University

    Miami Gardens, FLPrivate nonprofitHBCU

    • 8Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Exceptional Student Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Florida Memorial University offers a Master of Science in Exceptional Student Education as a state-approved initial certification program, giving candidates a route into Florida's special education classrooms. The degree leans on practicum experiences and applied learning, culminating in either a practicum or a comprehensive-exam capstone, which signals a program that wants graduates ready for real classroom practice rather than theory alone. Candidates demonstrate academic readiness through passing scores on established skills assessments such as the CLAST, Praxis I, or a GRE equivalent. Offered in a hybrid format that can be completed full-time in about one and a half to two years or stretched out part-time, it accommodates both dedicated and working students. The applied, certification-focused design suits those aiming to teach students with exceptionalities. Earning a master's degree in secondary special education is a common route toward becoming one of Florida'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 8 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
12. 12

    State University of New York at Plattsburgh

    Plattsburgh, NYPublic

    • 7Master's/yr
    • $85,760State teacher pay
    • Special Education - Grades 7-12
    • AAQEP-accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    SUNY Plattsburgh offers a fully online Master of Science in Education in Special Education, Grades 7-12, distinct from the school's Birth-Grade 12 and Grades 1-6 tracks and aimed at candidates who already hold an undergraduate degree and a teaching certificate. Full-time students who already hold an initial or professional teaching certificate can complete the program in three semesters, with just one winter or summer course, a pace that suits working teachers adding a secondary special education credential. The online delivery and compressed timeline signal a program built for practicing educators rather than newcomers to the classroom. Its teacher education programs are nationally accredited by AAQEP, the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation. Completion leads to New York State certification to teach special education to students in Grades 7-12. Graduates of this secondary 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 7 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
13. 13

    Empire State University

    Saratoga Springs, NYPublic

    • 7Master's/yr
    • Adolescent Special Education
    • Online
    About the program

    SUNY Empire State University offers a Master of Education in Adolescent Special Education, an online program built around an inclusive co-teaching model, with a Master of Arts in Teaching variant available for candidates needing Residency or Transitional B initial certification. Ranging from 33 to 42 credits depending on foundation-course waivers, the program combines online coursework with a required in-person clinical residency in New York State schools, keeping candidates grounded in real classrooms despite the flexible format. The co-teaching emphasis and residency requirement read as preparation for teachers who will share inclusive secondary classrooms. Prospective students should note that the program under this title is closing to new applicants, with those admitted Summer 2026 and beyond entering a newly titled Special Education PreK-12, M.Ed. program instead. Completion leads to New York State Students with Disabilities 7-12 Generalist initial and professional certification upon passing the required state exams. Graduates of this secondary 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 7 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
14. 14

    Molloy University

    Rockville Centre, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 6Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Adolescent Education Social Studies (7-12)/Teaching Students with Disabilities (7-12) - Dual Initial Certification
    • NYS-registered program (program code 26603)-accredited
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Molloy University offers a Master of Science in Adolescent Education Social Studies (7-12) paired with Teaching Students with Disabilities (7-12), a dual-certification path that prepares candidates to enter the secondary classroom already qualified in both a content area and special education. The program pairs Social Studies with special education, and the broader adolescence track extends the same dual model to science, mathematics, Spanish, and English. Before student teaching, candidates log 100 hours of observation and participation in a field school and gain experience in a high-needs setting, signaling a design that grounds theory in real classroom demands. On-campus coursework leads to New York State Dual Initial Certification in both Social Studies (Grades 7-12) and Students with Disabilities (Grades 7-12). It reads as a route for aspiring secondary teachers who want to teach across general and inclusive settings from the start. Earning a master's degree in secondary 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 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
15. 15

    Niagara University

    Niagara University, NYPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 6Master's/yr
    • $76,490Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Education in Special Education
    • CAEP-accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    Niagara University offers a Master of Science in Education in Special Education delivered fully online, built to fit teachers already working in schools while still holding them to hands-on standards. The curriculum branches into an initial certification track, a professional certification track, an advanced certificate, and an annotation in severe and multiple disabilities, with adolescence-focused coursework such as methods of teaching adolescents with disabilities woven in. Despite the online format, candidates complete field experiences, classroom observations, and supervised student teaching in schools, and small classes of ten to twenty keep the cohort close. Rolling admissions and a typical twelve to eighteen month completion make it flexible for busy educators. Graduates are prepared for New York State special education certification, backed by the College of Education's CAEP accreditation held continuously since 1984. Earning a master's degree in secondary 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 6 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
16. 16

    Manhattanville University

    Purchase, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 6Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Professional Studies in Special Education (PK-12), with content-area dual-certification options for Grades 7-12
    • Approved by the New York State Education Department-accredited
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Manhattanville College offers a Master of Professional Studies in Special Education PK-12, with a menu of dual-certification options that pair the special education credential with content-area certification for grades 7 through 12. Candidates can combine Students with Disabilities PK-12 with English, Mathematics, Science, or Social Studies for grades 7-12, or with a Literacy 5-12 track, tailoring the degree to the subject they intend to teach. The hybrid program is designed to finish in roughly one and a half to two years with a fall start, moving candidates through student teaching, seminars, or research experiences. Most tracks assume candidates already hold prior teacher certification, positioning the degree as a route to expand into special education. For those who already hold a master's, certificate-only options offer the certification without the full degree. Earning a master's degree in secondary 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 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
17. 17

    College of Staten Island CUNY

    Staten Island, NYPublic

    • 6Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Special Education Adolescence Generalist (Grades 7-12)
    • New York State Education Department registered program-accredited
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The College of Staten Island offers a Master of Science in Education in Special Education Adolescence Generalist, leading to New York certification to teach students with disabilities in grades 7 through 12. The program runs two instructional sequences that sort candidates by where they are starting, one for those who have already completed adolescence education initial-certification coursework and another for college graduates who have not. That split shapes the outcome as well, since the first sequence completers meet requirements for professional certification while the second earns initial certification. Coursework moves from subject-specific work, such as Reading Instruction and Assessment of Adolescent Students with Special Needs, into a dedicated practicum and mentorship course in assessment and classroom management. The result reads as a program that meets candidates at their level and carries each toward the same secondary special education credential. Earning a master's degree in secondary 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 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
18. 18

    Adelphi University

    Garden City, NYPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 5Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Students with Disabilities (All Grades)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Adelphi University offers a Master of Science in Students with Disabilities spanning all grades, leading to New York State certification for PreK-12 special education. The degree divides into a longer Preservice Track for candidates without prior New York certification and a shorter In-service Track for those already certified, with optional extensions in Bilingual Education and in Autism and Severe and Multiple Disabilities, so it can serve newcomers, working teachers, and specialists pursuing a niche. Hands-on field placements in both public and private schools anchor the preparation in varied classroom settings. Recognition in U.S. News best online rankings and Colleges of Distinction for Education points to an established, well-regarded program. Offered in both online and on-campus formats, it gives candidates room to choose the delivery that fits their lives. Earning a master's degree in secondary 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 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
19. 19

    CUNY Queens College

    Queens, NYPublicOnline available

    • 5Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Adolescent Special Education - Generalist (Grades 7-12)
    • Online
    About the program

    Queens College offers a fully online Master of Science in Education in Adolescent Special Education - Generalist, a 36-credit program leading to New York certification to teach students with disabilities in grades 7 through 12. Although the coursework is delivered online, the clinical demands are substantial, with developmental fieldwork in New York City public schools and a semester of supervised student teaching five days a week. The part-time structure typically spans three years and includes required summer internship courses, a rhythm that fits candidates balancing study with other commitments. A distinctive bonus is that the program also satisfies coursework eligibility for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst exam, widening graduates' options beyond the classroom. Candidates earn an initial five-year certificate, with the professional certificate following after three years of mentored teaching experience. This master's-level secondary 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 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
20. 20

    State University of New York at Oswego

    Oswego, NYPublic

    • 5Master's/yr
    • $78,560Metro teacher pay
    • Adolescence Special Education Grades 7-12 Generalist (Initial Certification)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    SUNY Oswego offers a Master of Science in Education in Adolescence Special Education, Grades 7-12 Generalist, leading to initial certification for candidates who already hold a New York State teaching certificate in Adolescence Education 7-12 or TESOL Education. The 30-credit program is cleanly structured as 24 credits of core and specialization coursework, a 3-credit internship, and a 3-credit capstone experience, a layout that pairs classroom theory with applied practice and a culminating project. Its requirement of an existing content-area certificate marks it as an extension for teachers building inclusive expertise on top of a secondary credential. The on-campus format keeps candidates close to faculty and field placements. Completion leads to New York State initial and professional certification in special education for adolescence, Grades 7-12 generalist. Earning a master's degree in secondary 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 5 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
21. 21

    SUNY Oneonta

    Oneonta, NYPublic

    • 3Master's/yr
    • Special Education
    • Online
    About the program

    SUNY Oneonta offers an online Master of Science in Education in Special Education built around an All Grades certification track, with an adolescence pathway for candidates who already hold an initial teaching certificate in fields such as English, math, social studies, the sciences, Spanish, or French. The 30-credit program can be finished in as few as three semesters and runs on a cohort model with individual faculty advisement, a combination that keeps online learners paced together and supported. A partnership with Springbrook even offers tuition-free enrollment for teaching assistants, widening access for those already working in schools. This design reads as a practical, career-embedded route for certified teachers moving into special education. Completion leads to All Grades special education certification through the initial track, or professional certification for teachers who are already certified. This master's-level secondary 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 3 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
22. 22

    Upper Iowa University

    Fayette, IAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 3Master's/yr
    • Master of Education (M.Ed.) — Instructional Strategist I: Mild/Moderate (5-12) emphasis
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Upper Iowa University offers an online Master of Education whose Instructional Strategist I: Mild/Moderate emphasis leads to a special education endorsement for grades 5-12 earned alongside the degree. The program is unusually broad, spanning eleven areas of emphasis and ten education endorsements, including advanced Instructional Strategist II tracks in behavior disorders and learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and a Special Education Consultant endorsement, which lets practicing teachers target the exact credential their careers call for. Delivered in eight-week sessions with a six-week accelerated summer term, its 36 credit hours can be completed in about two years at one course per session, a rhythm suited to teachers already in the classroom. TEACH grants of up to four thousand dollars are available to those preparing for high-need areas. The fully online format extends the endorsement to educators wherever they teach. As a master's degree in secondary special education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as special education teachers in Iowa.

    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 3 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
23. 23

    University of Rochester

    Rochester, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 2Master's/yr
    • $62,840Metro teacher pay
    • MS in Inclusion Adolescent Education: Generalist
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Rochester's Warner School of Education offers a Master of Science in Inclusion Adolescent Education: Generalist, an on-campus program aimed squarely at educators who already hold professional teaching certification in a content area and want to add inclusive expertise. Its single generalist track focuses on teaching students with disabilities across the secondary grades, reflecting a targeted rather than sprawling design. The program culminates in a capstone course, and candidates may transfer in up to ten credits of prior graduate coursework with faculty approval, easing the path for those returning to study. This structure reads as built for practicing teachers layering a special education credential onto an established classroom career. Completion leads to New York State certification in Teaching Students with Disabilities in Adolescence (Grades 7-12), Generalist, at both the initial and professional levels. This master's-level secondary 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 2 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Rochester, NY, where elementary teachers earn a median $62,840, roughly $64,760 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

    Syracuse University

    Syracuse, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $78,560Metro teacher pay
    • Inclusive Special Education (Grades 7-12 Generalist), M.S.
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Syracuse University offers a Master of Science in Inclusive Special Education focused on the Grades 7-12 generalist level, and its design points squarely at candidates preparing to teach adolescents with disabilities in real classrooms. Because it requires no prior teaching experience and can be finished in 15 months of full-time study, it reads as an entry pathway rather than an add-on for veterans. The small cohort moves through a minimum of four field placements spanning urban and suburban settings, reinforced by clinical simulations at the Center for Experiential Pedagogy and Practice, so candidates rehearse practice before and during their placements. Graduates meet the academic requirements for both initial and professional New York State certification in Students with Disabilities at the 7-12 generalist level, with eligibility for subject-specific extensions. The heavy clinical scaffolding and state alignment mark it as a licensure-driven, practice-immersive program. Graduates of this secondary 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 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

    Canisius University

    Buffalo, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $76,490Metro teacher pay
    • Teaching Students with Disabilities - Adolescence
    • New York State Education Department registered program-accredited
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Canisius University offers a Master of Science in Education in Teaching Students with Disabilities - Adolescence, a dual-certification degree that trains candidates to work in both general and special education classrooms. The heart of the program is a pathway that pairs an Adolescence content-area certification, in fields such as Mathematics, English, Social Studies, Biology, Chemistry, or Spanish, with Special Education certification spanning PreK through Grade 12. Candidates who already hold a content major can instead enter a 7-12 Generalist add-on track, a route that acknowledges the varied backgrounds of incoming students. Grounded in theory, research, and practicum experience, the curriculum is built to answer the persistent demand for teachers qualified to serve adolescents with disabilities. This registered New York program leads to initial certification in both a content area and special education, an unusually broad credential for a single degree. Graduates of this secondary 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 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

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