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Special Education

Colleges offering this major Rankings Trends

What you'll do in college

Special Education majors focus on teaching students with diverse learning needs, including physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities. Coursework covers special education law, individualized education programs (IEPs), behavior management, assistive technology, and instructional adaptations.

You will spend significant time observing and student-teaching in special education classrooms or inclusive settings to gain hands-on experience in supporting neurodivergent students and those with developmental delays.

What you'll do after college

Graduates typically work as special education teachers in K-12 schools, either managing self-contained classrooms or working as co-teachers and resource specialists in inclusive environments. Beyond the classroom, opportunities exist in early intervention programs, adult day programs, disability advocacy, and educational consulting.

The role requires immense patience and advocacy, but it is highly rewarding, and special educators are consistently in high demand nationwide.

Famous graduates

  • Anne Sullivan — Renowned teacher of Helen Keller and pioneer in education for the blind and deaf; Valedictorian of the Perkins School for the Blind
  • Torey Hayden — Special education teacher and bestselling author detailing her experiences teaching children with emotional disturbances; B.S. in Biology and Chemistry, M.A. in Special Education from Montana State University

Selectivity vs. earnings

By acceptance rate

$55,068
774
100–92%
$56,216
1,872
92–82%
$56,077
1,835
82–61%
$55,581
754
61–0%
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted earnings

By SAT median

$54,917
594
400–1050
$54,577
1,414
1050–1140
$57,221
1,401
1150–1270
$56,202
596
1270–1600
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted earnings

Earnings by acceptance rate and institution category

$46,846p10 $63,740p90 STEM, Business & Military Liberal Arts Public University Religious University Private University 20–30% 10–20% 0–10% Dakota State University · $53,683 Providence College · $60,036 Grove City College · $54,403 Fisk University · $56,744 Carthage College · $57,352 Cumberland University · $54,909 Lees-McRae College · $50,419 Cedar Crest College · $62,192 Erskine College · $50,020 Ohio Wesleyan University · $48,925 Blackburn College · $48,417 Buena Vista University · $52,546 Missouri Valley College · $54,903 Piedmont University · $50,832 Calvin University · $56,563 Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College · $48,295 Hastings College · $53,089 Franklin Pierce University · $55,039 Keuka College · $46,772 Pfeiffer University · $55,269 Lipscomb University · $48,583 Augsburg University · $52,109 Dakota Wesleyan University · $55,197 Doane University · $59,079 Hood College · $49,855 Susquehanna University · $62,256 Moravian University · $57,041 Davis & Elkins College · $55,005 Catawba College · $49,071 Huntington University · $47,670 Greenville University · $48,956 Mars Hill University · $48,959 York College of Pennsylvania · $76,820 Converse University · $61,919 Batten University · $48,135 Muskingum University · $48,174 Eureka College · $45,024 Hope College · $55,500 Bethel University · $55,845 Goshen College · $52,301 Wilson College · $51,189 Elmira College · $57,487 University of Georgia · $56,180 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · $64,338 Alabama A&M University · $61,889 University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire · $50,949 University of South Florida · $53,676 University of Wisconsin - Madison · $53,590 University of Tennessee, Knoxville · $51,027 Clemson University · $43,226 Purdue University · $57,147 University of Maryland, College Park · $57,036 Auburn University · $59,733 Ohio State University · $55,505 Alabama State University · $59,942 Norfolk State University · $61,200 Northern Illinois University · $55,497 West Chester University of Pennsylvania · $57,121 University of West Florida · $44,973 University of Connecticut · $57,385 Pennsylvania State University · $60,322 New Mexico State University · $59,558 Georgia State University · $61,460 University of Arkansas at Little Rock · $54,480 Florida Atlantic University · $52,255 Central State University · $61,028 University of New Mexico · $59,026 State University of New York at Cortland · $68,656 College of New Jersey · $62,709 Jackson State University · $45,710 Minnesota State University, Mankato · $56,369 Northeastern Illinois University · $71,551 University of Central Missouri · $43,237 Winthrop University · $46,151 University of North Carolina Wilmington · $56,332 East Central University · $52,519 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities · $57,076 Western Carolina University · $45,249 Ball State University · $54,123 Eastern Michigan University · $54,754 Jacksonville State University · $53,459 University at Albany · $56,592 University of North Florida · $52,687 James Madison University · $60,684 Lander University · $45,767 University of Michigan - Dearborn · $54,161 Georgia Southern University · $52,943 Eastern Illinois University · $58,890 University of Alabama · $59,147 College of Charleston · $45,671 University of Tennessee Southern · $51,119 Wright State University · $54,095 Western Illinois University · $45,978 Augusta University · $51,033 University of Vermont · $49,961 University of Arkansas · $58,303 Miami University - Ohio · $52,181 University of West Alabama · $63,560 Henderson State University · $52,911 University of Wisconsin - Parkside · $51,103 Indiana University · $58,661 SUNY Brockport · $55,039 University of South Carolina Upstate · $62,913 Rowan University · $68,891 Elizabeth City State University · $43,936 SUNY Old Westbury · $66,329 University of Missouri · $57,742 Winona State University · $53,209 University of Oklahoma - Norman · $60,585 University of North Carolina at Charlotte · $51,169 East Tennessee State University · $47,607 Eastern Kentucky University · $44,352 Middle Tennessee State University · $51,221 Youngstown State University · $45,739 Arkansas State University · $62,719 Saginaw Valley State University · $53,644 Coastal Carolina University · $58,446 Columbus State University · $66,143 Southeast Missouri State University · $41,902 Tennessee Technological University · $40,816 University of West Georgia · $56,043 Metropolitan State University of Denver · $47,220 Portland State University · $60,336 Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania · $53,001 University of Nebraska, Lincoln · $58,479 University of Toledo · $60,958 University of Central Oklahoma · $54,230 Bowling Green State University · $49,276 East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania · $60,340 Eastern Washington University · $50,756 Indiana University of Pennsylvania · $53,661 Kent State University at Kent · $51,328 Kutztown University of Pennsylvania · $60,072 Nevada State University · $63,805 University of Maryland Eastern Shore · $48,471 University of Utah · $61,183 Southern Connecticut State University · $53,140 University of Wisconsin - Whitewater · $54,704 Western Michigan University · $54,240 Michigan State University · $59,924 University of Arizona · $55,997 Mississippi State University · $51,602 Wayne State University · $62,785 Boise State University · $48,963 University of Nevada, Las Vegas · $63,102 University of South Carolina - Aiken · $46,418 Morehead State University · $44,842 SUNY Buffalo State University · $54,721 Murray State University · $42,190 Central Washington University · $58,412 Georgia Gwinnett College · $60,834 Northern Kentucky University · $47,376 Northern State University · $58,790 Rhode Island College · $57,386 Saint Cloud State University · $55,772 University of Akron · $46,299 Metropolitan State University · $55,186 Ohio University · $56,251 University of Alaska - Southeast · $68,523 Indiana University Southeast · $54,175 Northern Michigan University · $66,144 University of Southern Maine · $48,456 Illinois State University · $56,850 Bridgewater State University · $65,801 Georgia Southwestern State University · $55,066 Indiana University - South Bend · $56,023 Temple University · $68,015 George Mason University · $68,323 University of Nebraska at Omaha · $60,211 University of Texas Rio Grande Valley · $66,922 Georgia College & State University · $57,140 South Carolina State University · $45,166 Towson University · $59,527 University of Cincinnati · $54,329 University of Hawaii at Manoa · $63,799 Minot State University · $61,584 Westfield State University · $52,372 University of Nebraska at Kearney · $65,452 Arizona State University · $53,734 Virginia State University · $51,655 Fitchburg State University · $66,915 University of Northern Colorado · $51,083 Florida Gulf Coast University · $54,329 University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee · $57,375 Northern Arizona University · $51,980 University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh · $51,241 University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point · $51,699 Central Michigan University · $55,298 SUNY at Fredonia · $51,341 Southwest Minnesota State University · $65,883 University of Wisconsin - Stout · $50,664 Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania · $56,894 Old Dominion University · $53,558 Western Kentucky University · $50,033 Indiana State University · $49,337 University of Central Arkansas · $48,383 University of North Carolina at Greensboro · $49,763 Auburn University at Montgomery · $60,981 Utah State University · $61,090 East Carolina University · $53,451 Millersville University of Pennsylvania · $59,043 University of Southern Mississippi · $51,832 Missouri State University - Springfield · $48,000 Virginia Commonwealth University · $57,058 Grand Valley State University · $49,993 University of Northern Iowa · $56,804 University of Memphis · $51,396 University of Kentucky · $51,906 Western Washington University · $63,978 Appalachian State University · $53,335 Pennsylvania Western University · $51,507 University of Maine at Farmington · $44,648 Southern Illinois University - Carbondale · $47,655 University of South Alabama · $52,128 Lewis-Clark State College · $51,458 University of Wyoming · $63,218 University of Southern Indiana · $49,930 Black Hills State University · $49,932 University of North Carolina at Pembroke · $54,129 Concord University · $50,394 University of Mississippi · $50,912 Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville · $49,905 Eastern Oregon University · $51,688 Northeastern State University · $53,534 Missouri Western State University · $48,694 Chadron State College · $58,281 Lake Superior State University · $50,091 Mayville State University · $63,146 Montana State University - Billings · $47,797 New Mexico Highlands University · $51,166 Peru State College · $50,929 Shawnee State University · $46,264 Southwestern Oklahoma State University · $57,495 University of the District of Columbia · $60,307 Utah Valley University · $75,658 Wayne State College · $53,676 Weber State University · $63,154 Western New Mexico University · $57,014 Union University · $52,622 Point University · $61,614 Liberty University · $49,162 Florida Memorial University · $39,480 Baylor University · $58,872 Warner University · $52,272 Brescia University · $43,752 Ohio Dominican University · $48,216 Quincy University · $61,079 Oklahoma Baptist University · $52,485 Southern Wesleyan University · $63,955 Alvernia University · $46,516 Capital University · $50,157 High Point University · $59,618 University of Dayton · $56,208 Olivet Nazarene University · $52,610 Southeastern University · $51,715 Anderson University · $61,522 Cedarville University · $47,522 Harding University · $59,648 Manhattan University · $74,292 Missouri Baptist University · $38,942 Mount St. Joseph University · $48,414 Evangel University · $47,689 Cairn University - Langhorne · $48,955 Campbellsville University · $51,984 Spring Arbor University · $47,042 Our Lady of the Lake University · $52,132 Stonehill College · $54,749 Rockhurst University · $56,260 Bluffton University · $46,727 Brigham Young University · $33,318 Arcadia University · $50,686 Ashland University · $46,089 Avila University · $52,975 Concordia University - Nebraska · $55,784 University of St Francis · $65,092 William Woods University · $50,773 Concordia University Wisconsin · $52,194 Eastern University · $59,452 Seton Hall University · $64,472 Abilene Christian University · $53,366 Elmhurst University · $56,446 Lewis University · $50,133 Lee University · $50,177 Chaminade University of Honolulu · $46,352 Felician University · $62,029 Niagara University · $50,230 Le Moyne College · $52,779 Marian University · $70,092 Saint Francis University · $52,673 Salve Regina University · $57,832 Oakland City University · $50,944 Shenandoah University · $51,929 Colorado Christian University · $56,572 Millikin University · $51,171 Waynesburg University · $61,586 Loyola University Chicago · $59,216 Baldwin Wallace University · $63,878 Holy Family University · $67,847 Touro University · $73,284 Tusculum University · $46,206 St. Bonaventure University · $48,814 Trevecca Nazarene University · $51,650 DeSales University · $51,523 Carson-Newman University · $51,149 Molloy University · $54,966 University of Mary · $57,805 Gonzaga University · $70,894 Benedictine University · $49,980 St. Joseph's University - New York · $61,332 University of Mount Union · $47,798 Walsh University · $47,279 North Carolina Wesleyan University · $50,964 Canisius University · $50,432 La Salle University · $62,012 Shorter University · $60,824 Messiah University · $53,672 University of Saint Joseph · $62,305 Grace College and Theological Seminary · $52,157 Otterbein University · $54,902 Marymount University · $62,472 Neumann University · $55,393 University of Findlay · $47,881 Xavier University · $54,721 Houston Christian University · $51,626 Campbell University · $52,993 Roberts Wesleyan University · $42,852 Dominican University · $53,755 DePaul University · $63,740 Freed-Hardeman University · $51,806 Brenau University · $45,349 Indiana Wesleyan University · $47,283 Seattle Pacific University · $63,325 Concordia University - Chicago · $75,815 Dallas Baptist University · $61,861 Virginia Union University · $61,026 St. Thomas Aquinas College · $72,119 Brigham Young University - Idaho · $63,910 Benedictine College · $51,214 Central Methodist University · $43,364 Le Moyne-Owen College · $55,226 Syracuse University · $67,272 Marist University · $57,523 Lindenwood University · $50,109 Lincoln Memorial University · $50,300 Daemen University · $46,846 Lake Erie College · $50,324 Bradley University · $50,540 Marietta College · $48,793 Curry College · $49,785 Point Park University · $50,918 Robert Morris University · $50,747 University of New England · $64,053 Roosevelt University · $70,775 Rockford University · $50,747 Nova Southeastern University · $51,805 Wilkes University · $63,043 University of Hartford · $53,311 Lesley University · $64,040 University of Rio Grande · $38,387 Florida State University · $56,444 Boston University · $61,065 University of Virginia · $60,566 Vanderbilt University · $60,583 STEM, Business & Military: mean $53,683 Liberal Arts: mean $53,729 Public University: mean $55,107 Religious University: mean $54,608 Private University: mean $54,175 20–30%: mean $56,444 10–20%: mean $60,816 0–10%: mean $60,583 All colleges: p10 $46,846 All colleges: p90 $63,740
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted earnings

Majors in this category

Major Colleges Degrees ▼ Male/Female Intl Earnings Employment
Special Education 407 5,235 11% / 89% 0% $54,787 96%
Special Education 357 4,129 12% / 88% 0% $54,442 96%
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs 11 413 5% / 95% 0% $57,258 96%
Elementary Special Education 18 182 9% / 91% 2% $54,081 97%
Applied Special Education 1 87 18% / 82% 0% $55,039
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Elementary Special Education Programs 3 86 7% / 93% 0% $54,204 96%
Special Education and Teaching 12 64 6% / 94% 2% $57,971 95%
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities 3 39 3% / 97% 0% $54,110 95%
Developmental Disabilities Education 3 29 10% / 90% 0% $49,088 97%
Elementary Education and Special Education 1 25 4% / 96% 0% $53,590 96%
Inclusive Childhood Education 1 24 4% / 96% 0% $67,272 100%
Middle School Special Education 5 20 0% / 100% 5% $60,363 95%
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities 3 18 17% / 83% 0% $57,390 95%
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism 2 17 12% / 88% 0% $58,392 95%
Learning Disabilities Education 6 12 33% / 67% 0% $53,557 99%
Education of Speech/Language Impaired 2 12 17% / 83% 0% $53,254 100%
Secondary Special Education 5 11 36% / 64% 0% $52,711 100%
Intellectual Disabilities Education 2 10 10% / 90% 0% $61,978 98%
Inclusive Education with Blended Licensure 1 10 10% / 90% 0% $52,181 93%
Special Education (Elementary) 2 9 0% / 100% 0% $54,527 96%
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Secondary Special Education Programs 1 7 29% / 71% 0% $60,211 98%
Emotional Behavioral Disorders Education 2 6 50% / 50% 0% $60,822 99%
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities 1 5 0% / 100% 0% $56,332 92%
Multiple Disabilities Education 1 5 0% / 100% 0% $50,177 100%
Visual Disabilities Education 1 4 50% / 50% 0% $56,444 100%
Teacher Education: Special Education 1 3 0% / 100% 0% $49,961
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Emotional Disturbances 2 2 0% / 100% 0% $55,026 95%
Special Education (Secondary) 2 2 50% / 50% 0% $54,527 96%
Special Education - Intellectual Disabilities 1 2 50% / 50% 0% $63,955
Education of Hearing Impaired 3 1 0% / 100% 0% $57,981 98%
Education of Orthopedically Disabled 1 1 0% / 100% 0% $54,754 95%
Education of Gifted and Talented 7 0 $50,025 95%
Education of Aging Population 2 0 $57,067
Childhood/Special Education 1 0 $66,329 97%
Education of Specific Learning Disabilities 1 0 $54,240 93%