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Associate Degree in Special Education

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Associate Degrees in Special Education

1,328 Yearly Graduations
$15,697 Median Debt
93% Women
An associate degree in special ed is offered at 89 colleges in the United States. Among those who recently graduated from the schools offering this degree, the majority were women, and 73% were students from underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Also, 0.8% of special ed graduates were international students.

Education Levels of Special Ed Majors

In 2020-2021, 1,328 earned their associate degree in special ed. This earns it the #3 spot on the list of the most popular associate 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 21,797
Bachelor’s Degree 9,368
Graduate Certificate 3,157
Associate Degree 1,328
Basic Certificate 713
Undergraduate Certificate 225
Doctor’s Degree 204

Earnings of Special Ed Majors With Associate Degrees

We are unable to calculate the median earnings for special ed majors with their associate degree due to lack of data.

Student Debt

The median student debt for graduates holding an associate degree in special ed is $15,697. The school you go to and how long it takes you to graduate, among other things, can cause this number to vary. The chart below shows the range of accumulated debt loads. On the high side of the range, $18,252 is the debt load, and the debt load on the low side is $13,142.

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Student Diversity

More women than men pursue their associate degree in special ed. About 93.4% of graduates with this degree are female.

Gender Number of Grads
Men 87
Women 1,241
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The racial-ethnic distribution of special ed associate degree students is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity Number of Grads
Asian 115
Black or African American 33
Hispanic or Latino 748
White 308
International Students 10
Other Races/Ethnicities 114
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There are 89 colleges that offer an associate degree in special ed. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:

#1

Pasadena City College

Pasadena, California
171 Yearly Graduations
91% Women
89% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The most popular school in the United States for special ed students seekingan associate degree is Pasadena City College. Roughly 25,000 attend the school each year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 171 associate degrees were handed out to special ed majors at Pasadena City College. About 91% of this group were women, and 89% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#2

Fullerton College

Fullerton, California
105 Yearly Graduations
92% Women
84% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 2nd most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their associate degree is Fullerton College. Roughly 21,400 attend the school each year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 105 associate degrees were handed out to special ed majors at Fullerton College. Of these students, 92% were women and 84% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#3

Riverside City College

Riverside, California
96 Yearly Graduations
90% Women
83% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Riverside City College comes in at #3 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in special ed. Roughly 20,000 attend the school each year. The special ed program at Riverside City College awarded 96 associate degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 83% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 90% were women.

#4

Mt. San Jacinto College

San Jacinto, California
79 Yearly Graduations
99% Women
68% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Mt. San Jacinto College comes in at #4 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in special ed. Roughly 13,900 attend the school each year. The special ed program at Mt. San Jacinto College awarded 79 associate degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 68% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 99% were women.

#5

Moorpark College

Moorpark, California
75 Yearly Graduations
93% Women
55% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Moorpark College comes in at #5 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in special ed. Each year, around 14,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 75 associate degrees were handed out to special ed majors at Moorpark College. About 93% of this group were women, and 55% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#6

San Bernardino Valley College

San Bernardino, California
57 Yearly Graduations
98% Women
95% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

San Bernardino Valley College comes in at #6 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in special ed. Roughly 12,200 attend the school each year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 57 people received their associate degree in special ed from San Bernardino Valley College. About 98% of this group were women, and 95% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#7

Evergreen Valley College

San Jose, California
53 Yearly Graduations
92% Women
85% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 7th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their associate degree is Evergreen Valley College. Each year, around 8,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 53 people received their associate degree in special ed from Evergreen Valley College. About 92% of this group were women, and 85% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#8

College of the Sequoias

Visalia, California
50 Yearly Graduations
96% Women
64% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

College of the Sequoias is the 8th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in special ed. Each year, around 12,500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 50 associate degrees were handed out to special ed majors at College of the Sequoias. About 96% of this group were women, and 64% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#9

Southwestern College

Chula Vista, California
48 Yearly Graduations
94% Women
98% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Southwestern College is the 9th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in special ed. Each year, around 17,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 48 people received their associate degree in special ed from SWC Chula Vista. Of these students, 94% were women and 98% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#10

Golden West College

Huntington Beach, California
47 Yearly Graduations
83% Women
70% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Golden West College comes in at #10 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in special ed. Each year, around 11,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 47 people received their associate degree in special ed from Golden West College. About 83% of this group were women, and 70% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#11

Chemeketa Community College

Salem, Oregon
43 Yearly Graduations
93% Women
44% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Chemeketa Community College is the 11th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in special ed. Each year, around 8,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The special ed program at Chemeketa Community College awarded 43 associate degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. About 93% of this group were women, and 44% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#12

Saddleback College

Mission Viejo, California
41 Yearly Graduations
88% Women
56% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Saddleback College comes in at #12 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in special ed. Each year, around 18,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 41 people received their associate degree in special ed from Saddleback College. Of these students, 88% were women and 56% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#12

Palomar College

San Marcos, California
41 Yearly Graduations
98% Women
80% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Palomar College comes in at #12 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in special ed. Roughly 21,100 attend the school each year. The special ed program at Palomar College awarded 41 associate degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 98% were women and 80% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#12

Norco College

Norco, California
41 Yearly Graduations
93% Women
68% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 12th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their associate degree is Norco College. Each year, around 10,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The special ed program at Norco College awarded 41 associate degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. About 93% of this group were women, and 68% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#15

Los Angeles Trade Technical College

Los Angeles, California
31 Yearly Graduations
97% Women
94% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 15th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their associate degree is Los Angeles Trade Technical College. Each year, around 11,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The special ed program at Los Angeles Trade Technical College awarded 31 associate degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 97% were women and 94% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#16

Santa Monica College

Santa Monica, California
30 Yearly Graduations
97% Women
80% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 16th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their associate degree is Santa Monica College. Roughly 25,900 attend the school each year. The special ed program at Santa Monica College awarded 30 associate degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 80% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 97% were women.

#17

Foothill College

Los Altos Hills, California
27 Yearly Graduations
96% Women
78% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Foothill College is the 17th most popular school in the nation for students seeking an associate degree in special ed. Each year, around 14,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 27 associate degrees were handed out to special ed majors at Foothill College. About 96% of this group were women, and 78% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#18

College of Southern Nevada

Las Vegas, Nevada
25 Yearly Graduations
92% Women
44% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

College of Southern Nevada comes in at #18 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in special ed. Each year, around 29,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The special ed program at College of Southern Nevada awarded 25 associate degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 92% were women and 44% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#19

Cuesta College

San Luis Obispo, California
24 Yearly Graduations
100% Women
46% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Cuesta College comes in at #19 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in special ed. The special ed program at Cuesta College awarded 24 associate degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 46% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 100% were women.

#20

Butte College

Oroville, California
22 Yearly Graduations
95% Women
36% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Butte College comes in at #20 on our list of the most popular colleges offering associate degrees in special ed. Each year, around 9,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 22 associate degrees were handed out to special ed majors at Butte College. Around 36% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 95% were women.

Special Ed Concentrations

Major Annual Degrees Awarded
Early Childhood Special Education 1,195
General Special Education 55
Teaching for Speech Impaired 43
Teaching for the Deaf 33
Teaching for Learning Disabilities 1

Below are some popular majors that are similar to special ed that offer associate degrees.

Major Annual Degrees Awarded
Teacher Education Grade Specific 12,921
General Education 2,078
Teacher Education Subject Specific 945
Teaching Assistant/Aide 871
Instructional Media Design 77

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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