Master’s Degrees in Special Education
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Education Levels of Special Ed Majors
In 2018-2019, 18,013 earned their master's degree in special ed. This earns it the #4 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 | 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 Master’s Degrees
The median salary for graduates holding a master's degree in special ed is $47,350. 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 $43,550 and the high is $54,325.

Student Debt
The median student debt for graduates holding a master's degree in special ed is $29,523. 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, $37,972 is the debt load, and the debt load on the low side is $21,760.

The median monthly payment of a special ed graduate with a 10-year repayment plan is $344.
Student Diversity
More women than men pursue their master's degree in special ed. About 85.1% of graduates with this degree are female.
Gender | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Men | 2,677 |
Women | 15,336 |

The racial-ethnic distribution of special ed master’s degree students is as follows:
Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Asian | 446 |
Black or African American | 1,718 |
Hispanic or Latino | 1,977 |
White | 12,197 |
International Students | 246 |
Other Races/Ethnicities | 1,429 |

Most Popular Special Ed Programs for Master’s Degrees
There are 635 colleges that offer a master’s degree in special ed. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:
Ball State University tops the list of the most popular school in the U.S. for special ed majors who are seeking their master's degree. Each year, around 21,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. 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.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 1,065 people received their master's degree in special ed from Ball State. Around 22% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 92% were women.
Grand Canyon University comes in at #2 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in special ed. Roughly 90,200 attend the school each year. 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.
The special ed program at Grand Canyon University awarded 1,057 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Of these students, 82% were women and 38% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Touro College is the 3rd most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in special ed. Roughly 11,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $18,038 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,240 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 543 master's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at Touro. Around 32% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 84% were women.
The 4th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their master's degree is Western Governors University. Each year, around 121,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. 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.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 363 people received their master's degree in special ed from WGU. About 85% of this group were women, and 13% 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 16,900 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.
The special ed program at National University awarded 304 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. About 76% of this group were women, and 44% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 6th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their master's degree is George Mason University. Each year, around 37,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,060 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,144 per year.
The special ed program at George Mason University awarded 273 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. About 85% of this group were women, and 37% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
CUNY Hunter College is the 7th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in special ed. Each year, around 23,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. 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.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 268 master's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at Hunter. Of these students, 74% were women and 43% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Liberty University comes in at #8 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in special ed. Each year, around 79,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. 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.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 260 master's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at Liberty University. About 84% of this group were women, and 25% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 9th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their master's degree is Arkansas State University - Main Campus. Roughly 13,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,540 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $4,986 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 254 people received their master's degree in special ed from Arkansas State University - Main Campus. Around 12% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 89% were women.
The 10th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their master's degree is LIU Post. Roughly 15,100 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $36,452 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $22,482 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 236 people received their master's degree in special ed from LIU Post. Around 44% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 68% were women.
The 11th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their master's degree is Concordia College - New York. Each year, around 1,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $33,150 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $18,795 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 175 people received their master's degree in special ed from Concordia College - New York. Of these students, 95% were women and 29% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 12th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their master's degree is Ashford University. Each year, around 34,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,640 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,060 per year.
The special ed program at Ashford University awarded 168 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. Of these students, 87% were women and 65% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 13th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their master's degree is American International College. Roughly 3,100 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $36,930 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,579 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 160 people received their master's degree in special ed from AIC. Of these students, 84% were women and 7% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Texas Tech University comes in at #14 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in special ed. Roughly 38,200 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,744 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $5,958 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 152 master's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at Texas Tech. About 93% of this group were women, and 36% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
CUNY Brooklyn College comes in at #15 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in special ed. Roughly 18,100 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.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 146 master's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at Brooklyn. Around 71% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 81% were women.
The 16th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their master's degree is William Carey University. Roughly 5,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,850 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,600 per year.
The special ed program at William Carey University awarded 143 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. About 78% of this group were women, and 34% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Endicott College is the 17th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in special ed. Roughly 4,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $33,304 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,555 per year.
The special ed program at Endicott College awarded 142 master's degrees during the 2018-2019 school year. About 87% of this group were women, and 5% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Daemen College is the 17th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in special ed. Roughly 2,500 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $28,830 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $23,928 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 142 people received their master's degree in special ed from Daemen College. About 95% of this group were women, and 1% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Pace University - New York is the 19th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in special ed. Each year, around 13,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $44,714 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $31,320 per year.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, 131 people received their master's degree in special ed from Pace University. About 71% of this group were women, and 52% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 19th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of St Thomas Minnesota. Roughly 10,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $44,780 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $24,766 per year.
For the 2018-2019 academic year, 131 master's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at UST MN. About 71% of this group were women, and 27% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Special Ed Concentrations
Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
---|---|
General Special Education | 12,254 |
Other Special Education & Teaching | 1,658 |
Early Childhood Special Education | 822 |
Elementary Special Education | 812 |
Secondary Special Education | 426 |
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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 |
---|---|
Educational Administration | 27,762 |
Teacher Education Grade Specific | 25,769 |
General Education | 19,995 |
Teacher Education Subject Specific | 17,465 |
Curriculum & Instruction | 16,093 |
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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