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

1. 1

   University of Washington-Seattle Campus

   Seattle, WAPublic

   • 21Master's/yr
   • $102,920Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Education in Special Education: High-Incidence Disabilities
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   The University of Washington offers a Master of Education in Special Education: High-Incidence Disabilities, a cohort-based program that pairs graduate study with field practicum placements in special education classrooms across the Greater Seattle area. Its three pathways make room for very different candidates: those seeking a residency teaching certificate with a special education endorsement over six quarters, those adding only the endorsement in three quarters, and already-certified teachers completing the M.Ed. in a single year. That structure signals a program built around both aspiring and practicing educators, meeting each where their credentials stand. Coursework centers on high-incidence disabilities such as learning disabilities, emotional and behavioral disorders, and ADHD. Graduates earn a Washington state special education teaching endorsement, and the hybrid format keeps the program within reach of working professionals. This master's-level special education program prepares graduates for work as special education teachers in Washington.

   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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $102,920, roughly $92,610 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

   City University of Seattle

   Seattle, WAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

   • 6Master's/yr
   • $102,920Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education
   • Online
   About the program

   City University of Seattle offers an online Master of Education in Special Education that separates its two audiences cleanly through a pair of plans. The Special Education Endorsement plan folds in a practicum for those seeking to be recommended for certification, while the Special Education Plan is a coursework-only route for educators who want the knowledge without the licensure step. The 36 credit-hour program spans 13 courses with flexible pacing across seven to twelve quarters, a structure that suits working professionals moving through study on their own timeline. Endorsement seekers complete an optional 100-hour in-classroom practicum, a capstone project, and WEST-E test preparation, all pointing toward Washington State certification. The university is candid that other-state reciprocity depends on NASDTEC agreements and is not guaranteed, a transparency that helps out-of-state candidates plan realistically. Graduates of this special education program at the master's level often go on to work as special education teachers.

   Why it ranks here

   A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 6 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $102,920, roughly $92,610 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

   Washington State University

   Pullman, WAPublic

   • 4Master's/yr
   • $102,350State teacher pay
   • Master of Education in Special Education (Ed.M.)
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Washington State University offers a Master of Education in Special Education, an Ed.M. that reads as an advanced degree for people already working in schools rather than a first route to licensure. Admission requires prior P-12 teaching, substitute, or paraprofessional experience, a prerequisite that shapes the cohort into seasoned practitioners deepening their expertise. The curriculum ranges broadly across response-to-intervention, early childhood education, diversity, social and behavioral health prevention, universal design, transition, and the legal aspects of special education, and a supporting special education endorsement is available. Coursework is offered on campus in Pullman and Vancouver and online through the WSU Global Campus, while a parallel M.A. runs on campus only. The Ed.M. culminates in a special project rather than the thesis its M.A. counterpart requires, and it prepares graduates for teaching, educational specialist, and K-12 administration roles. Earning a master's degree in special education is a common route toward becoming one of Washington'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 4 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Washington statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $102,350, roughly $95,643 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

   Loyola Marymount University

   Los Angeles, CAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

   • 27Master's/yr
   • $101,860Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Special Education
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Loyola Marymount University offers a Master of Arts in Special Education built around a 1+1 cohort model that lets candidates earn the Preliminary Education Specialist credential in year one and then fold that coursework into the M.A. in a second year. That structure, paired with synchronous online classes and required in-person K-12 fieldwork, reads as a deliberate pathway from initial certification into a full graduate degree rather than two separate undertakings. The program leads to the Education Specialist Credential in Mild to Moderate Support Needs, authorizing graduates to teach and conduct educational assessments for students with mild and moderate needs. A dual-credential option adds the Multiple Subject Teaching Credential with no extra coursework, widening the grade levels a candidate can serve. Aligned with California Commission on Teacher Credentialing requirements, it suits aspiring specialists who want both the license and the master's in a single connected sequence. A master's-level path in special education, it builds toward a career among special education teachers in California.

   Why it ranks here

   Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 27 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
5. 5

   Chapman University

   Orange, CAPrivate nonprofit

   • 7Master's/yr
   • $101,860Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Special Education (Joint Education Specialist and Multiple Subject Credentials)
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Chapman University offers a Master of Arts in Special Education that folds two teaching credentials into a single graduate pathway, joining a Preliminary Multiple Subject credential with a Preliminary Education Specialist credential in Mild/Moderate Support Needs, with an Extensive Support Needs option also available. Over two years, candidates emerge qualified to teach in general and special education classrooms alike, a dual-authorization design that broadens their reach. Evening classes meeting once a week signal a program shaped around working professionals balancing jobs with study. Support through tuition assistance and the Golden State Teacher Grant further lowers the barrier for candidates entering the field. Offered through the Attallah College of Educational Studies, it reads as an integrated, credential-earning route into inclusive teaching. Earning a master's degree in special education is a common route toward becoming one of California'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 7 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
6. 6

   California State University-Fullerton

   Fullerton, CAPublic

   • 36Master's/yr
   • $101,860Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Science in Special Education
   • Online
   About the program

   California State University-Fullerton offers a Master of Science in Special Education designed for classroom teachers who already hold a credential and want to advance their practice rather than earn a new license. The fully online, 21-month cohort structure moves a group of educators through 18 units of coursework and a three-unit culminating experience together, with new cohorts starting each fall. Candidates choose an emphasis in Early Childhood, Mild/Moderate, or Extensive Support Needs, tailoring the degree to the students they serve. The program closes with either a thesis or a project capstone, letting teachers pursue scholarly research or an applied endeavor. Taken together, this is a flexible, cohort-driven degree for working special educators seeking depth in a chosen specialty. As a master's degree in special education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as special education teachers in California.

   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 36 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
7. 7

   University of La Verne

   La Verne, CAPrivate nonprofit

   • 16Master's/yr
   • $101,860Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Teaching: Inclusive Education
   • On-campus
   About the program

   University of La Verne offers a Master of Arts in Teaching: Inclusive Education, a wide-ranging program that lets candidates pursue a Preliminary Mild/Moderate or Extensive Support Needs Education Specialist Credential, or both, on the way to the degree. Numerous options extend the reach further, including a dual Education Specialist plus Multiple Subject credential and emphases in Bilingual Teaching and Learning, Early Childhood Special Education, and Reading Instruction. The program ranges from 39 to 53 semester hours depending on the chosen option, with embedded Teacher Performance Assessments and a capstone research project keeping practice and inquiry in balance. Candidates can study at the main La Verne campus or at the Bakersfield and Santa Clarita regional sites. The breadth of tracks and credential outcomes marks this as a flexible, licensure-focused route into inclusive teaching. Earning a master's degree in special education is a common route toward becoming one of California'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 16 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
8. 8

   Concordia University-Irvine

   Irvine, CAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

   • 3Master's/yr
   • $101,860Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Education, combined with the Education Specialist: Mild/Moderate Preliminary Credential
   • Online
   About the program

   Concordia University-Irvine offers a Master of Education combined with the Education Specialist: Mild/Moderate Preliminary Credential, a structure that lets candidates earn a graduate degree and a California teaching license on one path. Delivered online, the program applies 30 units of preliminary credential coursework toward the 46-unit master's, an efficient design that keeps credential preparation from becoming a detour. Graduates earn the California Education Specialist: Mild-Moderate Preliminary Credential, authorizing them to teach students with learning disabilities, mild-to-moderate intellectual disabilities, ADD/ADHD, autism, and emotional disturbances. The program holds WSCUC accreditation, and its credential track is approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The blend of licensure and degree marks it as a streamlined entry point into special education teaching for online learners. Earning a master's degree in special education is a common route toward becoming one of California'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 3 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
9. 9

   California State University-Northridge

   Northridge, CAPublic

   • 25Master's/yr
   • $101,860Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Special Education
   • On-campus
   About the program

   California State University-Northridge offers a Master of Arts in Special Education that fans out across distinct specializations, including Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Early Childhood Special Education, Educational Therapy, and Mild/Moderate and Extensive Support Needs. Building on the Preliminary and Induction Education Specialist credential programs, the degree can be combined with the Induction Program, positioning it as a next step for teachers who have already begun their credential journey. The minimum 30-unit program culminates in a comprehensive exam, thesis, or graduate project, giving candidates a choice of how to demonstrate mastery. Its structure is designed for full-time working teachers to finish in about two years. Offered through the Michael D. Eisner College of Education, it reads as a flexible advanced degree for practicing special educators. Earning a master's degree in special education is a common route toward becoming one of California'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 25 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
10. 10

    Saint Mary's College of California

    Moraga, CAPrivate nonprofit

    • 3Master's/yr
    • $101,860Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Special Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Saint Mary's College of California offers a Master of Education in Special Education positioned as an advanced degree rather than an entry credential, since admission requires candidates to have already completed, or be completing, an Education Specialist (Mild/Moderate) credential at the college. That prerequisite frames the program as the graduate capstone atop credential work, letting practicing specialists deepen and formalize their expertise. The degree centers on a research-based thesis or an applied synthesis project supervised by a faculty chair and reader, giving candidates a substantial scholarly or practice-oriented culminating experience. A cohort-based learning community and a compressed timeline that can be finished in as few as three terms make it manageable alongside teaching. In-person classes meet Monday through Thursday in the afternoon and evening, with some online learning support, reflecting a design aimed at working educators. Earning a master's degree in special education is a common route toward becoming one of California'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 3 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $88,104 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

    Alder Graduate School of Education

    Redwood City, CAPrivate nonprofit

    • 108Master's/yr
    • $101,860Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Education with a Concentration in Special Education
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Alder Graduate School of Education offers a Master of Arts in Education with a Concentration in Special Education delivered through a full teacher residency model, an immersive design for candidates entering the profession. Residents apprentice four days a week in a California public school classroom alongside an expert teacher for a complete school year, accumulating more than 860 clinical hours, and spend one day a week in regional cohort seminars. This apprenticeship-heavy structure, totaling 37 graduate units, leads to a California Preliminary Education Specialist credential for Mild to Moderate Support Needs, paired with an English Learner Authorization on most credentials. The emphasis on sustained classroom practice under mentorship reflects a program built to produce classroom-ready special educators rather than to credential those already teaching. The school reports that 96 percent of graduates obtain full-time teaching positions. This master's-level special education program prepares graduates for work as special education teachers in California.

    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 108 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $88,104 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

    Azusa Pacific University

    Azusa, CAPrivate nonprofit

    • 15Master's/yr
    • $101,860Metro teacher pay
    • MA in Education: Special Education and Extensive Support Needs Education Specialist Credential
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Azusa Pacific University offers an MA in Education: Special Education and Extensive Support Needs Education Specialist Credential, a program aimed at candidates preparing to teach students with the most significant support needs. Its cohort-style learning community and compact structure, 51 program units completed across three semesters and a summer session, give it the feel of an intensive, guided journey through to the credential. The emphasis on Extensive Support Needs is reinforced by required student teaching and fieldwork, so classroom experience is woven throughout rather than tacked on. A required thesis or capstone project adds a scholarly dimension to the practical training. The degree fulfills content requirements for the California Extensive Support Needs Education Specialist Credential covering TK-12 through age 22, and it carries WSCUC, CAEP, and California Commission on Teacher Credentialing recognition. A master's-level path in special education, it builds toward a career among special education teachers in California.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 15 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
13. 13

    University of Massachusetts Global

    Aliso Viejo, CAPublicOnline available

    • 73Master's/yr
    • $101,860Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Special Education, Teaching and Learning
    • Online
    About the program

    UMass Global offers a Master of Arts in Special Education, Teaching and Learning built expressly for educators who already hold a California credential and want to advance rather than enter the field. Delivered online, the degree layers graduate study on the Council for Exceptional Children's Advanced Content Standards, and candidates can pursue emphases in Autism, Early Childhood, or Applied Behavior Analysis alongside the core Teaching and Learning track. Admission is tied to holding, or having completed at least the first year of, an Education Specialist Clear Induction credential, which frames the program as a deliberate next step for practicing special educators in California. The institution is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, with School of Education programs approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and AAQEP membership. It is an advanced degree rather than an initial licensure pathway. As a master's degree in special education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as special education teachers in California.

    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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
14. 14

    Whitworth University

    Spokane, WAPrivate nonprofit

    • 2Master's/yr
    • $98,800Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Whitworth University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education designed around the schedules of educators already in the field, with classes meeting just one or two evenings a week. Candidates choose between a Special Education endorsement spanning P-12 or an Early Childhood Special Education endorsement covering P-3, and practicum placements at Whitworth's Literacy Center or in local schools ground the coursework in real classrooms. Because applicants must already hold or be concurrently earning a teaching certificate, the program reads as an endorsement-focused step for teachers extending their reach into special education rather than an entry point to the profession. Completion leads to a Washington special education teaching endorsement. The program page currently indicates it is closed to new applications. Earning a master's degree in special education is a common route toward becoming one of Washington'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 2 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,800, roughly $98,459 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

    Fairfield University

    Fairfield, CTPrivate nonprofit

    • 9Master's/yr
    • $98,600Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Special Education
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Fairfield University offers a Master of Arts in Special Education built around sequences of study aligned with Connecticut State Department of Education and Council for Exceptional Children standards, including a cross-endorsement option for teachers who already hold certification. The program leads to Connecticut special education teaching certification and is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation through December 2028. Paid teaching internships offered in both spring and fall semesters, together with small classes of twelve to twenty students, signal a program that treats classroom practice as central rather than supplemental. Flexible full-time and part-time scheduling across a twenty-four to thirty-month span makes the degree workable for candidates balancing employment. The hybrid format and standards-aligned tracks position it for educators moving deliberately toward special education roles. Graduates of this special education program at the master's level often go on to work as special education teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 9 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,600, roughly $92,267 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

    Boston University

    Boston, MAPrivate nonprofit

    • 26Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education (EdM) in Special Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Boston University's Wheelock College offers an EdM in Special Education whose eleven tracks make it one of the most configurable programs of its kind, spanning a non-licensure General Track, initial licenses in Moderate and Severe Disabilities across several grade bands, accelerated add-on options, and a dual track combining Moderate Disabilities with Elementary Education. Nine of the eleven tracks lead to a recommendation for initial or add-on Massachusetts licensure, positioning the degree for candidates entering the field as well as certified teachers expanding their credentials. Licensure students complete supervised fieldwork across the greater Boston area, culminating in a term-long student teaching placement that grounds the coursework in practice. A distinctive dual degree with the BU School of Social Work joins the EdM and an MSW in 85 total units for those bridging education and social work. The university is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. Graduates of this special education program at the master's level often go on to work as special education teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 26 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into 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
17. 17

    Boston College

    Chestnut Hill, MAPrivate nonprofit

    • 23Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Special Education for Moderate Support Needs
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Boston College's Lynch School offers an on-campus Master of Education in Special Education for Moderate Support Needs built around dual licensure, pairing special education with Early Childhood, Elementary grades 1 through 6, or Secondary grades 5 through 12 preparation. The DESE-approved program leads to a Massachusetts initial teaching license with a special education endorsement and folds in a required Sheltered English Immersion endorsement component, broadening candidates' readiness for diverse classrooms. Clinical training is a centerpiece, moving from a ten-week pre-practicum of one day per week into a semester-long full-time placement supported by both school-based and university-based mentors. A Donovan Urban Teaching Scholars intensive one-year option offers a focused route for those drawn to urban schools. The design reads as a mentorship-rich preparation program for candidates seeking broad, licensure-ready expertise. Earning a master's degree in special education is a common route toward becoming one of Massachusetts'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 23 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
18. 18

    Simmons University

    Boston, MAPrivate nonprofit

    • 48Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Education: Special Education, Moderate or Severe Disabilities Licensure
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Simmons University offers a Master of Science in Education in Special Education, Moderate or Severe Disabilities Licensure, an on-campus program approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education whose completers can carry licensure across state lines through the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement. The design centers on grade-banded licensure tracks, Moderate Disabilities at PreK-8 or 5-12 and Severe Disabilities across all levels, alongside a customizable non-licensure option for those with different aims. What distinguishes it is a year-long school placement that pairs a full-time pre-practicum with a full-time practicum, an immersive clinical spine that reads as preparation for the classroom rather than study at arm's length. The result is a licensure-focused route into Massachusetts special education teaching, built around sustained time in real schools. As of the 2023-2024 catalog, admission to this track was listed as suspended. As a master's degree in special education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as 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 48 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
19. 19

    Gordon College

    Wenham, MAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

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

    Gordon College offers a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Moderate Disabilities Education that pairs Massachusetts licensure with a distinct emphasis on structured literacy and assistive technology. Candidates choose Initial or Professional Licensure options across PreK-2, PreK-8, and 5-12 grade bands, and can add a Wilson Reading System Certificate, reinforcing the reading focus. That literacy identity is more than branding, since the School of Education holds International Dyslexia Association accreditation as one of a select group of programs nationally. Courses run online in a mix of synchronous and asynchronous formats scheduled for evenings and weekends, with four start dates a year. The result is a program plainly built for working professionals who want to deepen expertise in teaching struggling readers while earning licensure. As a master's degree in special education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as 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 8 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
20. 20

    University of New Hampshire-Main Campus

    Durham, NHPublic

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Special Education, M.Ed.
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of New Hampshire offers a campus-based Master of Education in Special Education organized as a single track, with an advisor setting exact requirements around a minimum of 32 graduate credits based on each student's background. That advising-driven structure suggests a program tailored individually rather than run through fixed cohorts. UNH undergraduates in Education or Educational Studies can accelerate the degree by completing up to twelve graduate credits during their senior year, a clear on-ramp for the university's own students. The program currently prepares candidates to meet New Hampshire K-12 special education licensure requirements, though the catalog notes that beginning in the 2026/2027 academic year it will no longer lead to a Special Education Teacher license, a change worth weighing for prospective applicants. This master's-level special education program prepares graduates for work as special education teachers in New Hampshire.

    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 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
21. 21

    Bridgewater State University

    Bridgewater, MAPublic

    • 67Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Special Education, Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities
    • Online
    About the program

    Bridgewater State University offers an online Master of Education in Special Education that leads to Massachusetts initial or professional licensure as a Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities, with additional concentrations in Severe Disabilities and Applied Behavior Analysis. The program is notably accessible, admitting students on a rolling basis and requiring no undergraduate education degree, and it lets candidates obtain licensure even before completing the full degree. Fieldwork placements draw on roughly 120 school districts across southeastern Massachusetts, embedding candidates in a wide network of local classrooms. The university describes itself as the state's largest preparer of special education teachers, a scale that reflects its regional reach. Between the online format, open entry, and dense placement network, the program reads as a broad-access pathway into special education licensure for career-changers and educators alike. This master's-level special education program prepares graduates for work as 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 67 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
22. 22

    Framingham State University

    Framingham, MAPublic

    • 13Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education (M.Ed.) with a Concentration in Special Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Framingham State University offers a Master of Education (M.Ed.) with a Concentration in Special Education that prepares candidates for the Massachusetts Initial License as Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities at PreK-8 or grades 5-12. The concentration is clearly aimed at people already in or entering the field, since entry expects a Massachusetts teaching license at Initial level or higher or qualifying MTEL scores, plus a Sheltered English Instruction endorsement. Across 12 courses students complete a 300-hour practicum in inclusive general-education settings, with fixed hour splits of 75 hours for PreK-8 and 150 for 5-12, keeping the training grounded in co-taught classrooms. The final semester culminates in a professional portfolio and an oral comprehensive exam, a capstone structure that asks candidates to synthesize rather than simply accumulate credits. Offered online with an eight-year completion window, it accommodates teachers advancing their careers at their own pace. This master's-level special education program prepares graduates for work as special education teachers in Massachusetts.

    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 13 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
23. 23

    Lesley University

    Cambridge, MAPrivate nonprofit

    • 30Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Inclusive Special Education: Moderate Disabilities
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Lesley University offers a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Inclusive Special Education: Moderate Disabilities that combines a low-residency hybrid format with a cohort model, a structure suited to educators who value a shared peer group and steady field immersion. Candidates work toward the Massachusetts Initial License as Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities at PreK-8 or 5-12, with a dual-license pathway that also covers Severe Disabilities across all levels. A defining feature is the Scholar Partner Program, which guarantees a field placement beginning in the first semester, so practice starts alongside coursework rather than after it. The licensure track runs 36 credits split across core, specialization, and practicum with seminar, while an Individually Designed non-licensure option is available at 30 credits for those with different goals. Together the design reads as a hands-on route into inclusive classrooms for people committed to the work from day one. Graduates of this special education program at the master's level often go on to work as special education teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 30 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
24. 24

    Salem State University

    Salem, MAPublicOnline available

    • 10Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Special Education, Initial Licensure
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Salem State University offers a Master of Education in Special Education, Initial Licensure, that leans on a deep regional placement network to ground its training in real classrooms. Candidates complete a 300-hour practicum through partnerships with more than 50 schools across Greater Boston and the North Shore, working toward the Massachusetts Initial License as Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities at PreK-2, PreK-8, or 5-12. The program favors flexibility, with courses offered in synchronous and asynchronous online formats plus summer options and a variable 30 to 40.5 credit load that reflects each student's prior coursework. That individualized pacing, together with optional concurrent certificates in Autism Spectrum Disorders or TESOL, lets candidates shape the degree around the endorsements they want. A separate Advanced Studies MEd serves those not seeking initial licensure, rounding out the department's offerings. As a master's degree in special education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as special education teachers in Massachusetts.

    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. 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
25. 25

    Cambridge College

    Boston, MAPrivate nonprofit

    • 34Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education (MEd) in Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Cambridge College offers a Master of Education (MEd) in Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities built around the choice teachers actually face, whether they want a Massachusetts Initial License or advanced study without one. Candidates pick a PreK-8 or grades 5-12 track, and the licensure path runs in a hybrid rhythm of Zoom sessions and asynchronous coursework anchored by a 300-hour practicum and seminar completed before graduation. Those pursuing licensure clear the MTEL Communication and Literacy exam ahead of the practicum rather than at admission, which keeps the door open to career-changers still building credentials. The non-licensure track can be finished fully online and asynchronously, a fit for practitioners who need flexibility over a classroom placement. The program approved by DESE also connects to combined options in Applied Behavior Analysis and a separate Autism Specialist master's, signaling a department organized around the range of special education roles. A master's-level path in special education, it builds toward a career among special education teachers in Massachusetts.

    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 34 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

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