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Bachelor's Degree in Special Education

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Bachelor’s Degrees in Special Education

9,331 Yearly Graduations
$38,748 Median Salary
$24,754 Median Debt
There are 553 colleges and univerities across the nation that offer a bachelor's degree in special ed. This degree is more popular with female students, and about 19% of recent graduates were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Also, 0.5% of special ed graduates were international students.

Education Levels of Special Ed Majors

During the most recent year for which data is available, 9,331 people earned their bachelor's degree in special ed. This earns it the #3 spot on the list of the most popular bachelor's degree programs in the nation.

The following table shows the number of diplomas awarded in special ed at each degree level.

Education Level Number of Grads
Master’s Degree 20,581
Bachelor’s Degree 9,331
Graduate Certificate 3,486
Associate Degree 1,317
Basic Certificate 739
Doctor’s Degree 276
Undergraduate Certificate 243

Earnings of Special Ed Majors With Bachelor’s Degrees

The median salary for graduates holding a bachelor's degree in special ed is $38,748. However, this can depend on a number of factors, such as where you live and the number of years experience you have. To get a better picture, earnings for this category of people can range from a low of $35,725 to a high of $41,583.

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Student Debt

The median student debt for graduates holding a bachelor's degree in special ed is $24,754. The length of time it takes you to graduate and what college you attend can affect this number quite a bit. The chart below shows the range of accumulated debt loads. On the high side of the range, $27,000 is the debt load, and the debt load on the low side is $21,113.

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Those students who are paying back their debt on a 10-year repayment plan have a median monthly payment of $345.

Student Diversity

More women than men pursue their bachelor's degree in special ed. About 89.9% of graduates with this degree are female.

Gender Number of Grads
Men 938
Women 8,393
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The racial-ethnic distribution of special ed bachelor’s degree students is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity Number of Grads
Asian 99
Black or African American 405
Hispanic or Latino 1,010
White 7,220
International Students 49
Other Races/Ethnicities 548
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There are 553 colleges that offer a bachelor’s degree in special ed. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:

#1

Western Governors University

Salt Lake City, Utah
836 Yearly Graduations
86% Women
16% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Western Governors University tops the list of the most popular school in the U.S. for special ed majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree. Each year, around 147,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,404 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,765 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 836 people received their bachelor's degree in special ed from WGU. Of these students, 86% were women and 16% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#2

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, Arizona
471 Yearly Graduations
91% Women
33% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Grand Canyon University is the 2nd most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in special ed. Each year, around 103,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $16,407 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,655 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 471 people received their bachelor's degree in special ed from Grand Canyon University. About 91% of this group were women, and 33% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

214 Yearly Graduations
91% Women
8% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus comes in at #3 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in special ed. Each year, around 18,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,272 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,418 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 214 people received their bachelor's degree in special ed from BGSU. About 91% of this group were women, and 8% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#4

Towson University

Towson, Maryland
165 Yearly Graduations
96% Women
26% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Towson University comes in at #4 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in special ed. Each year, around 21,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,238 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,676 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 165 people received their bachelor's degree in special ed from Towson. About 96% of this group were women, and 26% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#5

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
160 Yearly Graduations
89% Women
21% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Illinois State University comes in at #5 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in special ed. Roughly 20,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,907 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,694 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 160 people received their bachelor's degree in special ed from Illinois State. About 89% of this group were women, and 21% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#6

St. Joseph's College - New York

Brooklyn, New York
139 Yearly Graduations
90% Women
21% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 6th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is St. Joseph's College - New York. Each year, around 5,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $31,760 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $21,456 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 139 people received their bachelor's degree in special ed from SJC. About 90% of this group were women, and 21% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#7

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
131 Yearly Graduations
94% Women
5% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania comes in at #7 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in special ed. Roughly 8,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,716 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,288 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 131 people received their bachelor's degree in special ed from SRU. Of these students, 94% were women and 5% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#8

Liberty University

Lynchburg, Virginia
113 Yearly Graduations
94% Women
20% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 8th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is Liberty University. Each year, around 93,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $15,467 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,893 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 113 people received their bachelor's degree in special ed from Liberty University. Around 20% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 94% were women.

111 Yearly Graduations
89% Women
51% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Arizona State University - Tempe is the 9th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in special ed. Each year, around 74,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,978 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,014 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 111 people received their bachelor's degree in special ed from ASU - Tempe. About 89% of this group were women, and 51% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#10

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Chester, Pennsylvania
105 Yearly Graduations
94% Women
10% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

West Chester University of Pennsylvania is the 10th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in special ed. Each year, around 17,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,716 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,288 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 105 people received their bachelor's degree in special ed from WCUPA. Around 10% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 94% were women.

#11

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona
98 Yearly Graduations
92% Women
47% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Northern Arizona University comes in at #11 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in special ed. Roughly 29,500 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,644 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,103 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 98 people received their bachelor's degree in special ed from NAU. About 92% of this group were women, and 47% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#12

Western Washington University

Bellingham, Washington
93 Yearly Graduations
93% Women
26% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 12th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is Western Washington University. Each year, around 15,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,760 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,756 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 93 people received their bachelor's degree in special ed from WWU. About 93% of this group were women, and 26% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#13

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Eau Claire, Wisconsin
85 Yearly Graduations
90% Women
9% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 13th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. Roughly 11,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,361 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,188 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 85 people received their bachelor's degree in special ed from UW - Eau Claire. Around 9% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 90% were women.

#14

SUNY Cortland

Cortland, New York
82 Yearly Graduations
93% Women
14% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

SUNY Cortland comes in at #14 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in special ed. Each year, around 6,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,070 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,310 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 82 people received their bachelor's degree in special ed from SUNY Cortland. About 93% of this group were women, and 14% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#15

SUNY Geneseo

Geneseo, New York
78 Yearly Graduations
93% Women
8% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

SUNY Geneseo is the 15th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in special ed. Each year, around 4,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,070 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,310 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 78 people received their bachelor's degree in special ed from SUNY Geneseo. Of these students, 93% were women and 8% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#16

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, Ohio
77 Yearly Graduations
93% Women
12% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Youngstown State University is the 16th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in special ed. Each year, around 11,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,426 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $6,494 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 77 people received their bachelor's degree in special ed from Youngstown State University. About 93% of this group were women, and 12% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#17

Auburn University

Auburn, Alabama
76 Yearly Graduations
94% Women
9% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Auburn University comes in at #17 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in special ed. Each year, around 30,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,392 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,386 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 76 people received their bachelor's degree in special ed from Auburn. About 94% of this group were women, and 9% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

75 Yearly Graduations
95% Women
19% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 18th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is University of Akron Main Campus. Each year, around 16,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,097 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,958 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 75 people received their bachelor's degree in special ed from University of Akron Main Campus. Around 19% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 95% were women.

#18

Utah State University

Logan, Utah
75 Yearly Graduations
96% Women
9% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Utah State University comes in at #18 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in special ed. Roughly 27,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,387 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $6,763 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 75 people received their bachelor's degree in special ed from USU. About 96% of this group were women, and 9% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#20

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown, Pennsylvania
74 Yearly Graduations
96% Women
5% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania is the 20th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in special ed. Roughly 7,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,716 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,288 per year. During the most recent year for which we have data, 74 people received their bachelor's degree in special ed from Kutztown University. Around 5% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 96% were women.

Special Ed Focus Areas

Major Annual Degrees Awarded
6,697
1,008
576
404
168

Below are some popular majors that are similar to special ed that offer bachelor’s degrees.

Major Annual Degrees Awarded
53,166
20,044
6,501
1,906
1,751

References

*The racial-ethnic minority student count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the percentage of racial-ethnic minorities.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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