Doctor’s Degrees in Special Education
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Education Levels of Special Ed Majors
In 2018-2019, 257 doctor's degrees were awarded to special ed majors. This makes it the 8th most popular doctor's degree program in the country.
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 Doctor’s Degrees
The median salary for graduates holding a doctor's degree in special ed is $62,300. However, this can depend on a number of factors, such as where you live and the number of years experience you have.
A better approximation of salary is to look at the typical range of salaries. In this case the low is $62,300 and the high is $62,300.

Student Debt
The data on debt ranges for special ed majors who have their doctor's degree is not available.
Student Diversity
More women than men pursue their doctor's degree in special ed. About 75.5% of graduates with this degree are female.
Gender | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Men | 63 |
Women | 194 |

The racial-ethnic distribution of special ed doctor’s degree students is as follows:
Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Asian | 7 |
Black or African American | 14 |
Hispanic or Latino | 21 |
White | 140 |
International Students | 52 |
Other Races/Ethnicities | 23 |

Most Popular Special Ed Programs for Doctor’s Degrees
There are 74 colleges that offer a doctor’s degree in special ed. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:
The most popular school in the United States for special ed students seekinga doctor's degree is The University of Texas at Austin. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,824 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,998 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 13 doctor's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at UT Austin. About 100% of this group were women, and 23% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The most popular school in the United States for special ed students seekinga doctor's degree is Vanderbilt University. Each year, around 13,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $50,800 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $48,624 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 13 people received their doctor's degree in special ed from Vanderbilt. Around 23% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 92% were women.
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania comes in at #3 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees in special ed. Roughly 8,700 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, 12 doctor's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at SRU. Of these students, 67% were women and 8% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Saint Louis University comes in at #4 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees in special ed. Roughly 12,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $44,700 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $20,880 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 11 doctor's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at SLU. About 55% of this group were women, and 9% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
University of Kentucky comes in at #5 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees in special ed. Roughly 29,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,011 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,055 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 9 doctor's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at UK. Of these students, 56% were women and 11% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
University of North Texas is the 5th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in special ed. Roughly 39,300 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,295 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $5,900 per year.
The special ed program at University of North Texas awarded 9 doctor's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Around 56% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 67% were women.
Columbia University in the City of New York is the 5th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in special ed. Each year, around 31,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $57,763 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $47,600 per year.
The special ed program at Columbia University in the City of New York awarded 9 doctor's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year.
University of Iowa comes in at #5 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees in special ed. Roughly 31,200 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,073 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,079 per year.
The special ed program at University of Iowa awarded 9 doctor's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year.
University of Northern Colorado is the 5th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in special ed. Roughly 12,900 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,596 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,867 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 9 people received their doctor's degree in special ed from University of Northern Colorado. About 78% of this group were women, and 11% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 10th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is University of Oregon. Roughly 22,500 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,440 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $14,958 per year.
The special ed program at University of Oregon awarded 8 doctor's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year.
George Washington University is the 10th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in special ed. Roughly 27,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $54,453 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $31,770 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 8 people received their doctor's degree in special ed from GWU. About 88% of this group were women, and 50% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Teachers College at Columbia University comes in at #10 on our list of the most popular colleges offering doctor's degrees in special ed. Roughly 4,400 attend the school each year. The special ed program at Teachers College at Columbia University awarded 8 doctor's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Of these students, 88% were women and 25% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 13th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is University of Washington - Seattle Campus. Each year, around 47,500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,370 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $18,198 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 6 doctor's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at UW Seattle. About 83% of this group were women, and 17% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 13th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is Illinois State 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, 6 people received their doctor's degree in special ed from Illinois State.
The 13th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Each year, around 29,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $3,812 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $4,337 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 6 doctor's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at UNC Charlotte. About 83% of this group were women, and 17% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 13th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Metro. Roughly 7,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,840 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $3,870 per year.
The special ed program at Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Metro awarded 6 doctor's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. About 67% of this group were women, and 100% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 13th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is Pennsylvania State University - University Park. Roughly 91,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $17,416 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $21,960 per year.
The special ed program at Pennsylvania State University - University Park awarded 6 doctor's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year.
The 18th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Roughly 51,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $14,188 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $14,997 per year.
The special ed program at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign awarded 5 doctor's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year.
The 18th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their doctor's degree is University of Kansas. Each year, around 27,500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,092 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,989 per year.
The special ed program at University of Kansas awarded 5 doctor's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Around 40% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 80% were women.
Lamar University is the 18th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a doctor's degree in special ed. Each year, around 15,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,032 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $6,324 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 5 people received their doctor's degree in special ed from Lamar University. About 60% of this group were women, and 20% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Special Ed Concentrations
Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
---|---|
General Special Education | 228 |
Other Special Education & Teaching | 12 |
Teaching for Emotional Disturbances | 6 |
Teaching for Mental Retardation | 6 |
Teaching for the Deaf | 5 |
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Related Majors
Below are some popular majors that are similar to special ed that offer doctor’s degrees.
Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
---|---|
Educational Administration | 6,651 |
General Education | 2,518 |
Curriculum & Instruction | 1,415 |
Teacher Education Subject Specific | 570 |
Other Education | 500 |
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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