Bachelor’s Degrees in Special Education
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Education Levels of Special Ed Majors
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 8,866 students 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 | 18,013 |
Bachelor’s Degree | 8,866 |
Graduate Certificate | 2,240 |
Basic Certificate | 554 |
Associate’s Degree | 408 |
Undergraduate Certificate | 301 |
Doctor’s Degree | 257 |
Earnings of Special Ed Majors With Bachelor’s Degrees
The median salary for graduates holding a bachelor's degree in special ed is $36,400. This number may vary for a lot of reasons. For instance, you may decide to move to a location where people with your degree are rare and make more money.
To get a better picture, earnings for this category of people can range from a low of $32,875 to a high of $39,025.

Student Debt
The median student debt for graduates holding a bachelor's degree in special ed is $26,000. 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 $22,488.

The median monthly payment of a special ed graduate with a 10-year repayment plan is $270.
Student Diversity
More women than men pursue their bachelor's degree in special ed. About 89.4% of graduates with this degree are female.
Gender | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Men | 938 |
Women | 7,928 |

The racial-ethnic distribution of special ed bachelor’s degree students is as follows:
Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Asian | 97 |
Black or African American | 317 |
Hispanic or Latino | 785 |
White | 7,146 |
International Students | 32 |
Other Races/Ethnicities | 489 |

Most Popular Special Ed Programs for Bachelor’s Degrees
There are 539 colleges that offer a bachelor’s degree in special ed. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:
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. Roughly 121,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,380 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,500 per year.
The special ed program at Western Governors University awarded 645 bachelor's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. About 89% of this group were women, and 13% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
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 90,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $16,419 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,175 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 341 bachelor's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at Grand Canyon University. About 87% of this group were women, and 30% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Bowling Green State University - Main Campus is the 3rd most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in special ed. Each year, around 17,500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,278 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,017 per year.
The special ed program at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus awarded 210 bachelor's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. About 94% of this group were women, and 8% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Utah State University comes in at #4 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in special ed. Roughly 27,900 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,549 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $5,996 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 180 bachelor's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at USU. About 81% of this group were women, and 9% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 5th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is Illinois State University. Each year, around 20,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,547 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,956 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 152 people received their bachelor's degree in special ed from Illinois State. About 93% of this group were women, and 8% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
St. Joseph's College-Long Island comes in at #6 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in special ed. Roughly 4,100 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $28,590 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $19,350 per year.
The special ed program at St. Joseph's College-Long Island awarded 145 bachelor's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. About 91% of this group were women, and 10% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
West Chester University of Pennsylvania is the 7th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in special ed. Each year, around 17,500 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.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 137 bachelor's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at WCUPA. About 98% of this group were women, and 6% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 8th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is Liberty University. Roughly 79,100 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $15,417 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,980 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 132 people received their bachelor's degree in special ed from Liberty University. Around 11% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 87% were women.
Northern Arizona University comes in at #9 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in special ed. Roughly 31,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,018 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,305 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 110 people received their bachelor's degree in special ed from NAU. Of these students, 94% were women and 34% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Towson University comes in at #10 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in special ed. Roughly 22,900 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,962 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,902 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 106 bachelor's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at Towson. About 90% of this group were women, and 16% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
University of Akron Main Campus is the 11th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in special ed. Each year, around 18,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,371 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,306 per year.
The special ed program at University of Akron Main Campus awarded 99 bachelor's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Of these students, 88% were women and 10% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Kean University comes in at #12 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in special ed. Roughly 14,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,935 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $15,326 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 96 bachelor's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at Kean. About 91% of this group were women, and 29% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is the 13th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree 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.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 93 bachelor's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at SRU. Around 3% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 91% were women.
Western Washington University comes in at #14 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in special ed. Roughly 16,100 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,215 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,806 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 81 bachelor's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at WWU. About 88% of this group were women, and 20% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is the 15th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in special ed. Roughly 16,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,422 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,793 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 71 bachelor's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at UW Oshkosh. Of these students, 90% were women and 4% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Auburn University is the 16th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in special ed. Each year, around 30,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,816 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,828 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 70 people received their bachelor's degree in special ed from Auburn. About 96% of this group were women, and 13% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania comes in at #17 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in special ed. Roughly 8,900 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.
The special ed program at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania awarded 68 bachelor's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Around 7% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 97% were women.
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania comes in at #18 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in special ed. Each year, around 8,200 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.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 67 bachelor's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at Kutztown University. Of these students, 90% were women and 12% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Ball State University comes in at #19 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in special ed. Roughly 21,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,358 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,850 per year.
The special ed program at Ball State University awarded 63 bachelor's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. About 95% of this group were women, and 10% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire comes in at #20 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in special ed. Roughly 11,600 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 $8,027 per year.
The special ed program at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire awarded 62 bachelor's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Around 2% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 90% were women.
Special Ed Focus Areas
Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
---|---|
General Special Education | 6,568 |
Early Childhood Special Education | 712 |
Elementary Special Education | 455 |
Other Special Education & Teaching | 400 |
Teaching for Learning Disabilities | 164 |
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Related Majors
Below are some popular majors that are similar to special ed that offer bachelor’s degrees.
Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
---|---|
Teacher Education Grade Specific | 50,540 |
Teacher Education Subject Specific | 21,322 |
General Education | 4,523 |
Other Education | 1,730 |
Educational Administration | 573 |
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.
- College Factual
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Image Credit: By woodleywonderworks under License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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