Master’s Degrees in Special Education
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Education Levels of Special Ed Majors
During the 2020-2021 academic year, 21,797 students earned their master's degree in special ed. This earns it the #3 spot on the list of the most popular master'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 | 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 Master’s Degrees
The median salary for graduates holding a master's degree in special ed is $48,941. A lot of factors can contribute to this number, such as the location of your workplace and the availability of other perks and bonuses. To get a better picture, earnings for this category of people can range from a low of $45,291 to a high of $53,653.
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Student Debt
We do not have the data to estimate the median debt for this class of people.
Student Diversity
More women than men pursue their master's degree in special ed. About 85.3% of graduates with this degree are female.
Gender | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Men | 3,195 |
Women | 18,602 |
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The racial-ethnic distribution of special ed master’s degree students is as follows:
Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Asian | 620 |
Black or African American | 2,185 |
Hispanic or Latino | 2,919 |
White | 14,000 |
International Students | 200 |
Other Races/Ethnicities | 1,873 |
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Most Popular Special Ed Programs for Master’s Degrees
There are 631 colleges that offer a master’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 master's degree is Grand Canyon University. Roughly 103,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $16,401 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,621 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 1,624 master's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at Grand Canyon University. Of these students, 85% were women and 40% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Ball State University is the 2nd most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in special ed. Each year, around 21,500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,628 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,482 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 1,369 people received their master's degree in special ed from Ball State. About 90% of this group were women, and 25% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 3rd most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their master's degree is Arizona State University - Skysong. Roughly 53,900 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,710 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,774 per year. The special ed program at Arizona State University - Skysong awarded 1,272 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 87% were women and 41% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Touro College is the 4th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in special ed. Each year, around 11,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $18,283 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,708 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 635 people received their master's degree in special ed from Touro. About 85% of this group were women, and 32% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
National University comes in at #5 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in special ed. Each year, around 18,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $13,320 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $15,480 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 431 master's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at National University. Around 48% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 72% were women.
Western Governors University comes in at #6 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in special ed. Roughly 147,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,162 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,500 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 420 people received their master's degree in special ed from WGU. Around 9% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 86% were women.
Lamar University comes in at #7 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in special ed. Each year, around 16,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,228 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $6,471 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 330 people received their master's degree in special ed from Lamar University. About 93% of this group were women, and 43% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 8th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their master's degree is George Mason University. Roughly 38,500 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,510 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $13,035 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 326 people received their master's degree in special ed from GMU. Of these students, 91% were women and 31% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Hunter College is the 9th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in special ed. Roughly 24,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,930 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,090 per year. The special ed program at Hunter College awarded 320 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 80% were women and 53% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Liberty University is the 10th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in special ed. Roughly 93,300 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $15,409 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,847 per year. The special ed program at Liberty University awarded 306 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 16% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 84% were women.
The University of West Florida comes in at #11 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in special ed. Roughly 13,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $3,735 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,088 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 243 people received their master's degree in special ed from UWF. Of these students, 86% were women and 34% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Brooklyn College comes in at #12 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in special ed. Roughly 17,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,930 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,090 per year. The special ed program at Brooklyn College awarded 236 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 69% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 69% were women.
The 13th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their master's degree is Endicott College. Roughly 4,200 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $35,764 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,746 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 208 people received their master's degree in special ed from Endicott. Of these students, 86% were women and 15% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Pace University - New York is the 14th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in special ed. Roughly 12,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $46,978 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $33,000 per year. The special ed program at Pace University - New York awarded 196 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 69% were women and 49% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 15th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their master's degree is Daemen College. Roughly 2,500 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $30,590 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $23,928 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 187 people received their master's degree in special ed from Daemen College. Of these students, 84% were women and 1% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 16th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their master's degree is LIU Post. Roughly 15,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $37,296 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $22,047 per year. The special ed program at LIU Post awarded 173 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 73% were women and 51% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Arkansas State University - Main Campus is the 17th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in special ed. Each year, around 13,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $5,232 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $4,986 per year. The special ed program at Arkansas State University - Main Campus awarded 156 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 94% were women and 9% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
University of Northern Colorado comes in at #18 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in special ed. Each year, around 11,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,127 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,192 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 152 people received their master's degree in special ed from University of Northern Colorado. Of these students, 93% were women and 14% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 19th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their master's degree is American International College. Roughly 2,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $39,370 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,657 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 148 people received their master's degree in special ed from AIC. Of these students, 77% were women and 10% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 20th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their master's degree is The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Roughly 32,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,857 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,002 per year. The special ed program at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley awarded 142 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 93% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 86% were women.
Special Ed Concentrations
Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
---|---|
General Special Education | 15,631 |
Teaching for Multiple Disabilities | 1,580 |
Elementary Special Education | 1,006 |
Early Childhood Special Education | 685 |
Other Special Education & Teaching | 645 |
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Related Majors
Below are some popular majors that are similar to special ed that offer master’s degrees.
Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
---|---|
Teacher Education Grade Specific | 29,374 |
Educational Administration | 28,511 |
Teacher Education Subject Specific | 17,998 |
General Education | 17,801 |
Curriculum & Instruction | 16,825 |
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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