Hakia Education

Best Master's in Special Education Programs by Degrees Awarded

Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology

Published ·Last updated

Ranked by the number of master's degrees awarded each year, the most established programs. The top 25 out of 459 programs reviewed from the IPEDS database.

  1. 1

    Arizona State University Digital Immersion

    Scottsdale, AZPublicOnline available

    • 1,534Master's/yr
    • $59,180Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Special Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Arizona State University Digital Immersion offers an online Master of Education in Special Education centered on a general mild-to-moderate disabilities track, aimed at educators who want to sharpen their practice without necessarily pursuing new licensure. The 31-credit, 11-course program carries a strongly applied character, asking students to design a classroom intervention through a culminating applied research project and to complete a daytime internship and student teaching component. Because the degree does not itself confer K-12 special education certification, ASU offers a separate Special Education Teaching Certification MEd track for candidates who need licensure, along with related online tracks in ABA, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Early Childhood Special Education. U.S. News & World Report has ranked the program #4 nationally among online special education master's offerings. The blend of applied research and supervised field time gives it a practice-focused feel suited to working professionals. As a master's degree in special education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as special education teachers in Arizona.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 1,534 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ, where elementary teachers earn a median $59,180, roughly $57,281 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  2. 2

    Grand Canyon University

    Phoenix, AZPrivate for-profitOnline available

    • 860Master's/yr
    • $59,180Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Special Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Grand Canyon University offers an online Master of Education in Special Education focused on mild-to-moderate exceptionalities across K-12, designed to move graduates toward initial teacher licensure. The 44-credit program centers on a substantial clinical component, a 15-week full-time student teaching practicum under a certified special educator plus roughly 100 hours of fieldwork and observation woven through coursework, signaling a program that treats classroom readiness as central rather than incidental. That practicum intensity marks it as preparation for candidates ready to commit to full-time teaching placement. Graduates become eligible to apply for initial mild-to-moderate licensure, pending individual state requirements. Programmatic accreditation from AAQEP and institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission anchor the degree, and GCU maintains parallel programs in Moderate to Severe, Early Childhood Special Education, and non-licensure special education for other career paths. This master's-level special education program prepares graduates for work as special education teachers in Arizona.

    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 860 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ, where elementary teachers earn a median $59,180, roughly $57,281 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  3. 3

    National University

    San Diego, CAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 352Master's/yr
    • Master of Education, Specialization in Special Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    National University offers a Master of Education with a Specialization in Special Education designed almost entirely around the schedules of working professionals. Its 30 credit hours span ten courses delivered in accelerated 8-week terms with year-round enrollment and no scheduled lecture hours, an all-asynchronous format that most students finish in about fifteen months. The specialization concentrates on the substance of the field, from IDEA and IDEIA provisions to inclusion, transition planning, and classroom modifications, positioning it as advanced study rather than an entry credential. The program is explicit that it does not confer automatic licensure and that graduates remain subject to additional certification and state requirements, though a separate National University pathway pairs the degree with a California Preliminary Education Specialist credential and an internship option. As a standalone degree, it fits educators seeking deeper expertise and flexibility over a fixed licensure track. 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 352 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
  4. 4

    American College of Education

    Indianapolis, INPrivate for-profitOnline available

    • 335Master's/yr
    • $60,510Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Special Education
    • Online
    About the program

    American College of Education offers an online Master of Education in Special Education that emphasizes advocacy, family partnerships, and action research over an initial teaching credential. Its 34 semester credits can be completed in twelve to sixteen months in a fully asynchronous format with no live-lecture requirement, a structure clearly built for working educators who need to study on their own time. After core coursework, students shape the degree with three electives, tailoring the program toward their interests. The college is transparent that the master's is not designed to lead to licensure and points candidates seeking that outcome toward its separate Certificate in Transition to Teaching in Special Education. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, it serves as a flexible, reflective degree for those advancing an established practice. A master's-level path in special education, it builds toward a career among special education teachers in Indiana.

    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 335 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN, where elementary teachers earn a median $60,510, roughly $63,231 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  5. 5

    Lamar University

    Beaumont, TXPublicOnline available

    • 324Master's/yr
    • Master of Education in Special Education (Generalist)
    • Online
    About the program

    Lamar University offers an online Master of Education in Special Education with a Generalist track, a 36-credit, non-thesis degree that ends in a comprehensive exam rather than a research project. The program is explicit that it does not provide teacher or special education certification and is not an initial-licensure pathway, which positions it as a knowledge-deepening credential for people who already hold certification or work in related roles. Its structure leans hard into flexibility, with rolling admissions, multiple start dates, and mostly five-week course terms rather than a fixed cohort, allowing candidates to finish in about 18 months. The absence of a supervised practicum reinforces that this is a coursework-based degree built around convenience for busy adults. The Generalist framing suits educators seeking broad grounding in special education content. 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 324 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
  6. 6

    University of the Cumberlands

    Williamsburg, KYPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 304Master's/yr
    • $60,610State teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Education, Special Education: Learning and Behavior Disorders (P-12)
    • Online
    About the program

    The University of the Cumberlands offers a Master of Arts in Education in Special Education with a focus on Learning and Behavior Disorders for the P-12 range, delivered fully online in a 30-credit format. The program is built for already-licensed Kentucky educators seeking an advanced credential in LBD, and every class is recorded and archived for asynchronous access, a design that lets working teachers fit study around their schedules and finish in just over a year. Candidates complete field and clinical experience hours and must earn passing scores on state-required exams before the institution recommends them for professional licensure. Accreditation runs through SACSCOC at the institutional level and CAEP at the advanced level, with oversight from the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board. The recorded-class model and compressed timeline read as a program tuned for busy in-service teachers advancing their certification. A master's-level path in special education, it builds toward a career among special education teachers in Kentucky.

    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 304 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Kentucky statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $60,610, roughly $67,226 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

    Western Governors University

    Salt Lake City, UTPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 294Master's/yr
    • $77,920Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching, Special Education (K-12)
    • AAQEP and CAEP accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    Western Governors University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education for grades K-12, an online program that leads to initial special education licensure. Built on WGU's competency-based, self-paced model, it lets candidates progress as they demonstrate mastery and pay a flat rate per six-month term, an approach suited to motivated learners balancing work and study. The path to licensure includes state-specific basic skills testing, a background check, and a two-part supervised student teaching sequence, while virtual clinical experiences and Mursion classroom simulations build practice before the field placement. A dedicated Program Mentor supports candidates throughout. Focused on mild-to-moderate disabilities across the K-12 span, the program carries both AAQEP and CAEP accreditation, making it a full initial-licensure route into special education teaching. A master's-level path in special education, it builds toward a career among special education teachers in Utah.

    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 294 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Salt Lake City-Murray, UT, where elementary teachers earn a median $77,920, roughly $77,249 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

    University of West Florida

    Pensacola, FLPublicOnline available

    • 278Master's/yr
    • Exceptional Student Education, M.A. with Special Education specialization
    • SACSCOC-accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    The University of West Florida offers an online Master of Arts in Exceptional Student Education with a Special Education specialization through the SACSCOC accredited institution. The 33 credit hour program runs about 24 months and is not intended to lead to teacher certification, so candidates who hope for salary advancement are advised to check eligibility with their own school district. Its coursework pairs a research sequence, moving from Introduction to Research into Applied Research, with practical territory such as IEP development and behavior management, blending scholarly method with the daily work of special education. The fully non-residential format and out-of-state tuition waivers of up to 90 percent make it notably accessible to distance learners nationwide. Taken together, the program reads as an affordable, research-informed way for practicing educators to deepen special education expertise. A master's-level path in special education, it builds toward a career among special education teachers in Florida.

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

    School site
  9. 9

    George Mason University

    Fairfax, VAPublicOnline available

    • 242Master's/yr
    • Master of Education in Special Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    George Mason University offers a Master of Education in Special Education with an unusually wide menu of concentrations, giving candidates room to specialize by disability population and setting. Students can pursue K-12 Adapted Curriculum or General Curriculum licensure, PK-12 Blindness and Visual Impairments licensure, a Behavior Analysis concentration, or an Autism Spectrum Disorders certificate alongside the degree, with the licensure-track options leading to Virginia teaching credentials in the corresponding area. Available fully online or in a blended on-campus format, the 30-credit program balances flexibility with connection to Mason's applied resources, including the Mason LIFE program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the Kellar Institute for Human disAbilities. Those partnerships signal a program grounded in real service settings rather than coursework alone. U.S. News ranked it 7th nationally among online special education graduate programs in its 2026 rankings. Graduates of this 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 242 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
  10. 10

    Liberty University

    Lynchburg, VAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 233Master's/yr
    • $50,470Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Special Education – General Curriculum
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Liberty University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education with a General Curriculum concentration, an online pathway built for candidates preparing to enter the special education classroom for the first time. The 36 credit-hour program pairs two practicum placements with a full semester of student teaching, a clinical arc that signals a genuine licensure preparation rather than coursework alone. Delivered in accelerated eight-week terms, it lets working adults progress at a steady pace while completing field experiences in their own communities. Related tracks in Adapted Curriculum and Early Childhood Special Education sit under the same MAT umbrella, giving candidates room to align the degree with the population they want to serve. Backed by CAEP accreditation and SACSCOC standing, the program leads to initial teaching licensure in special education, with specific requirements varying by state. This master's-level special education program prepares graduates for work as special education teachers in Virginia.

    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 233 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Lynchburg, VA, where elementary teachers earn a median $50,470, roughly $56,478 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

    University of West Georgia

    Carrollton, GAPublicOnline available

    • 149Master's/yr
    • $76,570Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education (M.Ed.) with a Major in Special Education and Teaching, General
    • Online
    About the program

    The University of West Georgia offers an online Master of Education with a major in Special Education and Teaching, built for certified Georgia teachers ready to specialize and upgrade their credential. A trauma-informed behavior-support focus runs through the thirty-credit-hour program, and three concentrations in dyslexia, autism, and applied behavior analysis let candidates align their study with the students and settings they work in. The choice of concentration shapes the outcome: dyslexia and autism add a Georgia PSC endorsement, while the applied behavior analysis track addresses BACB coursework and includes two required practicum courses with ten to twenty hours of weekly fieldwork on the path toward BCBA certification. Completing the degree makes teachers eligible for a Level 5 certificate upgrade, and most finish in four to five semesters. Institutional accreditation comes through SACSCOC, and the fully online delivery keeps the program accessible to teachers in the field. A master's-level path in special education, it builds toward a career among special education teachers in Georgia.

    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 149 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA, where elementary teachers earn a median $76,570, roughly $76,526 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

    Fort Hays State University

    Hays, KSPublicOnline available

    • 116Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Special Education (High Incidence)
    • CAEP Advanced-Level Accreditation
    • Online
    About the program

    Fort Hays State University offers a Master of Science in Special Education focused on high-incidence disabilities, preparing educators to serve students with learning disabilities, mild intellectual disability, high-functioning autism spectrum disorder, and mild behavior disorder. The 36-credit program runs fully online and can be completed in as little as 18 months, a pace that suits working teachers who want to add a specialization quickly. An embedded practicum keeps the coursework anchored in classroom practice, and graduates become eligible to add a PreK-12 high-incidence special education endorsement to a current teaching license. A separate Low-Incidence track lets the department serve candidates focused on more significant support needs. Carrying CAEP advanced-level accreditation and no listed GRE requirement, it is a streamlined endorsement pathway for practicing educators. A master's-level path in special education, it builds toward a career among special education teachers in Kansas.

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

    School site
  13. 13

    Ball State University

    Muncie, INPublicOnline available

    • 113Master's/yr
    • $58,610Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Special Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Ball State University offers an online Master of Arts in Special Education through Ball State Online that reads as a specialization degree rather than a route to first-time licensure. The program does not confer an initial teaching license, but candidates who already hold one can pursue coursework toward an add-on special education license after a license evaluation and required state exams. Its strength is breadth of focus, with concentrations spanning Administration, Autism, Deaf Education, Early Childhood Special Education, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, Mild Interventions, and Intense Interventions. The 30 credit hours can be paired with graduate certificates such as autism or with an add-on license, and flexible seven-week and fifteen-week online course formats let working educators set their own pace. National recognition from the Council for Exceptional Children anchors the concentrations in field standards. A master's-level path in special education, it builds toward a career among special education teachers in Indiana.

    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 113 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Muncie, IN, where elementary teachers earn a median $58,610, roughly $66,490 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

    University of Northern Colorado

    Greeley, COPublic

    • 112Master's/yr
    • $60,160Metro teacher pay
    • Special Education M.A. – Generalist Concentration
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Northern Colorado offers a Special Education M.A. with a Generalist concentration, delivered online through its College of Education and Behavioral Sciences and organized as a three-year program preparing educators to work with students who have moderate to severe disabilities. The concentration spans literacy and mathematics instruction, standards and assessment, behavior, differentiated instruction, and technology, emphasizing academic and behavioral supports and accommodations. It sits within a broader UNC special education catalog that also includes Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing, Early Childhood, Gifted and Talented, Intervention Specialist, and Visual Impairment tracks, signaling a department with deep specialization. The generalist path assumes a Colorado teaching license, though candidates without initial licensure can complete an additional course to qualify. Before practicum, candidates pass the Elementary Education Multiple Subjects and Special Education Core Knowledge and Application PRAXIS exams, marking it as a licensure-facing degree for practicing teachers. Earning a master's degree in special education is a common route toward becoming one of Colorado'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 112 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Greeley, CO, where elementary teachers earn a median $60,160, roughly $60,054 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
  15. 15

    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

    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 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
  16. 16

    University of Nevada-Las Vegas

    Las Vegas, NVPublic

    • 100Master's/yr
    • $65,040Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education - Special Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Nevada, Las Vegas offers a Master of Education in Special Education distinguished by the sheer breadth of focus areas a candidate can choose. Emphases span applied behavior analysis, autism, early childhood special education, emotional and behavioral disorders, gifted and talented, intellectual and learning disabilities, and a mild-disabilities generalist track, letting students tailor the degree closely to a specialization or population. The program can be completed with or without licensure, so it accommodates both those seeking Nevada Department of Education endorsements and those pursuing knowledge alone. For candidates entering teaching through a nontraditional door, an Alternative Route to Licensure pathway pairs a final-semester comprehensive exam with state licensing exams and two years of satisfactory teaching before a standard license is granted. Taken together, it functions as a wide-ranging, campus-based hub for special education preparation in southern Nevada. Earning a master's degree in special education is a common route toward becoming one of Nevada'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 100 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV, where elementary teachers earn a median $65,040, roughly $64,900 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

    Touro University

    New York, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 98Master's/yr
    • MS in Education & Special Education
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Touro University offers an MS in Education & Special Education that prepares candidates for dual New York State certification in both general and special education. Students select a grade band, Early Childhood, Childhood, or Grades 7-12, so the degree maps cleanly onto the classroom a teacher intends to lead. The hybrid format supports two distinct pathways: a traditional coursework-first track, or a Teacher Residency (TUTR) that places candidates directly in NYC public schools while they study. That residency option, combined with dual certification, reads as a program aimed at aspiring teachers who learn best inside a real school from the start. Certification follows the completion of NYSED exam and fingerprinting requirements, positioning the master's as a direct route into the profession. 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 98 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
  18. 18

    National Louis University

    Chicago, ILPrivate nonprofit

    • 97Master's/yr
    • $78,390Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    National Louis University offers a Master of Education in Special Education built for teachers who already hold a license and want to add or deepen a special education endorsement. The 32 semester-hour program centers on a practical research project in which participants tackle a real problem from their own school or district, tying advanced study directly to the challenges of their daily work. Candidates can pursue an LBS1 endorsement or move into LBS2 specializations as a curriculum adaptation, technology, or transition specialist, with early childhood special education approval also available. For those who need initial licensure instead, National Louis separately offers a 42-credit M.A.T. in Special Education, which keeps this M.Ed. focused on practicing educators. The emphasis on applied, workplace-rooted research marks it as a degree for teachers advancing their expertise from within the classroom. This master's-level special education program prepares graduates for work as special education teachers in Illinois.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 97 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, where elementary teachers earn a median $78,390, roughly $75,670 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  19. 19

    Texas Tech University

    Lubbock, TXPublicOnline available

    • 95Master's/yr
    • Master of Education in Special Education
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Texas Tech University offers a Master of Education in Special Education notable for the breadth of its concentrations, spanning Applied Behavior Analysis, Autism, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Deafblindness, Educational Diagnostician, supervision, Orientation and Mobility, and Visual Impairment. That range signals a department deep enough to prepare specialists across both high-incidence and sensory disability fields rather than a single generalist track. Two dedicated research centers, the Burkhart Center for Autism Education and Research and the Virginia Murray Sowell Center for sensory disabilities, back several of these concentrations and give the program a strong research-and-clinical foundation. The Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Educational Diagnostician tracks prepare students for the corresponding Texas TExES certification exams, tying selected pathways directly to state credentials. With delivery ranging from online to hybrid depending on concentration, the program reads as a flexible, specialization-driven degree for educators pursuing focused expertise. As a master's degree in special education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as special education teachers in Texas.

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

    School site
  20. 20

    Southeastern Oklahoma State University

    Durant, OKPublicOnline available

    • 95Master's/yr
    • Master of Education in Special Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Southeastern Oklahoma State University offers a Master of Education in Special Education structured for busy educators who want a specialized credential without a long timeline. The program spans 30 credit hours across ten courses and can be finished in about 12 months, and it waives the GRE for admission, lowering the barrier to entry. Candidates select from concentrations in Administration, Autism and Developmental Disabilities, and Challenging Behaviors, letting them tailor study toward leadership, autism-focused practice, or behavioral intervention. The recently launched Autism and Developmental Disabilities track, opening with a cohort in January 2026, signals a program responsive to growing demand in that area. Accredited through CAEP, it offers a streamlined, concentration-driven path for advancing in the field. A master's-level path in special education, it builds toward a career among special education teachers in Oklahoma.

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

    School site
  21. 21

    Pace University

    New York, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 92Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Education (MSEd) in Special Education (All Grades)
    About the program

    Pace University's catalog lists a Master of Science in Education (MSEd) in Special Education (All Grades), though the university has formally discontinued the program effective Fall 2026 and no longer accepts new applicants or declarations. As designed, the 30-credit degree served candidates who already held an initial Childhood or Adolescence certificate and wanted to add the New York credential for Teaching Students with Disabilities. Its structure paired a full-time practicum with a teacher-as-researcher capstone, an arrangement that read as preparation for reflective classroom practitioners rather than coursework alone. Prospective students should note that this pathway is now closed going forward. The record here reflects the program's prior design as documented in the university catalog. A master's-level path in 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 92 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  22. 22

    University of West Alabama

    Livingston, ALPublic

    • 92Master's/yr
    • $61,380State teacher pay
    • Collaborative Teacher Special Education (M.Ed.)
    • Online
    About the program

    The University of West Alabama offers a fully online Master of Education in Collaborative Teacher Special Education structured as separate K-6 and 6-12 degree tracks, so candidates train for the grade band they intend to teach. The online format and one-to-two-year timeline read as built for working teachers who want to earn Alabama Class A certification in Collaborative Special Education without leaving their jobs. An Alt-A pathway extends the program to candidates without prior certification, who must meet the Alabama Educator Certification Testing Program requirements before entering the classroom. That combination lets the same degree advance experienced educators and bring career-changers into special education. By separating the elementary and secondary tracks and delivering everything online, the program keeps preparation focused while remaining accessible to students across the state. Earning a master's degree in special education is a common route toward becoming one of Alabama'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 92 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Alabama statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,380, roughly $69,104 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
  23. 23

    Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

    Slippery Rock, PAPublic

    • 88Master's/yr
    • Master of Education in Special Education, PK-12 Concentration
    • Online
    About the program

    Slippery Rock University offers a Master of Education in Special Education with a PK-12 concentration, one branch of a department that also runs distinct programs in autism, applied behavior analysis, and school supervision. The concentration leads to Pennsylvania teaching certification in Special Education PK-12 and spans the field's core endorsement areas, including learning support, emotional support, life skills, and autism support. Delivered primarily through asynchronous online coursework with strategic synchronous sessions, it accommodates candidates who need to fit study around their existing responsibilities. A flexible completion window of 18 to 72 months, along with no GRE or MAT requirement, lets students calibrate the pace to their prior credentials and circumstances. Accredited by CAEP, the program reads as a broad, adaptable route into certified special education teaching across the full grade span. As a master's degree in special education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as special education teachers in Pennsylvania.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 88 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
  24. 24

    Alliant International University-San Diego

    San Diego, CAPrivate for-profitOnline available

    • 88Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts in Education: Special Education, built on the Education Specialist Instruction Credential (Mild/Moderate Disabilities)
    • California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC)-accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    Alliant International University offers a Master of Arts in Education: Special Education, built on the Education Specialist Instruction Credential in Mild/Moderate Disabilities and delivered online in five 8-week terms. Candidates choose between a Student Teaching track with two eight-week unpaid placements or a Standard Intern Teaching track for those already serving as teacher of record, a split that accommodates both career changers and working teachers. Because the 27-credit credential coursework applies toward the master's, candidates can complete the MAE with just three additional courses, an efficient design that treats the credential and the degree as one continuous path. The program leads to the California Preliminary Education Specialist Credential for Mild to Moderate Support Needs, authorizing K-12 instruction, and is recognized by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. 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 88 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
  25. 25

    The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

    Edinburg, TXPublic

    • 86Master's/yr
    • Master of Education in Special Education
    • Online
    About the program

    The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley offers an accelerated online Master of Education in Special Education that compresses 30 credit hours into seven-week terms, allowing motivated students to finish in as little as ten months. That pace, paired with fully online delivery, marks it as a program built for speed and for educators balancing work with study. An initial teaching certificate is not required to enter, so career changers and newcomers can begin alongside already-certified teachers, and the program is TEACH Grant-eligible to help with cost. For teachers who already hold certification, the coursework prepares them for additional special education credentials, extending their reach into specialized roles. The design reads as an efficient, inclusive on-ramp into special education, welcoming both new entrants and practicing teachers seeking to specialize. As a master's degree in special education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as special education teachers in Texas.

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

    School site

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