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Best Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania

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2023 Best Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania

11 Colleges
$49,862 Avg Salary
$22,246 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Special Education Graduate Certificate School for You

In 2020-2021, special education students earned 1,854 degrees and certificates from a Pennsylvania school, making the subject the 3rd in the state.

Today's teaching students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Teaching Degree Search has created its Best Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Our analysis looked at 11 schools in Pennsylvania to see which graduate certificate programs offered the best educational experiences for teaching students. The factors used to develop this ranking include those related to how in-demand the school is, the overall quality of the school, and post-graduation wages, and more.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania

Check out the special ed graduate certificate programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.

Top 10 Best Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools

Our 2023 rankings named West Chester University of Pennsylvania the best school in Pennsylvania for special education students working on their graduate certificate. WCUPA is a large public school located in the suburb of West Chester.

Full Special Education at West Chester University of Pennsylvania Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Clarion University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania list. Located in the remote town of Clarion, Clarion University is a public school with a small student population.

Read full report on Special Education at Clarion University of Pennsylvania

#3

Drexel University

Philadelphia, PA

The excellent graduate certificate programs at Drexel University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best special education schools in Pennsylvania. Drexel is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Philadelphia.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania list. Located in the fringe town of Edinboro, Edinboro is a public school with a small student population.

Read More…

#5

Arcadia University

Glenside, PA

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Arcadia University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania list. Located in the large suburb of Glenside, Arcadia is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Full Special Education at Arcadia University Report

University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Pitt is a public school with a fairly large student population.

While working on their Graduate Certificate, special ed majors at Pitt accumulate an average of around $23,310 in student debt.

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California University of Pennsylvania landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best graduate certificate special education programs. Located in the suburb of California, Cal U is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

Read full report on Special Education at California University of Pennsylvania

#8

Marywood University

Scranton, PA

Marywood University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in the small city of Scranton, Marywood is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Full Special Education at Marywood University Report

Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in the town of Indiana, IUP is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.

Full Special Education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus Report

#10

Carlow University

Pittsburgh, PA

Carlow University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools in Pennsylvania ranking. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carlow is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Full Special Education at Carlow University Report

Best Special Education Colleges in the Middle Atlantic Region

Explore all the Best Special Education Schools in the Middle Atlantic Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
New Jersey 799
New York 4,329
Maryland 416
District of Columbia 101
Delaware 165

Special Education is one of 14 different types of teaching programs to choose from.

Special Ed Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
General Special Education 24,497
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs 3,111
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities 1,789
Elementary Special Education 1,625
Other Special Education & Teaching 1,227
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism 1,133
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Secondary Special Education Programs 655
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities 540
Education/Teaching of the Gifted & Talented 504
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments 415
Education of the Deaf 363
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Emotional Disturbances 226
Education/Teaching of Individuals Who are Developmentally Delayed 222
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Junior High/Middle School Special Education Programs 181
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Vision Impairments Including Blindness 134
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities 122
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Orthopedic & Other Physical Health Impairments 47
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injuries 1

Related Major Annual Graduates
Teacher Education Grade Specific 110,226
Educational Administration 46,469
Teacher Education Subject Specific 43,297
General Education 29,810
Curriculum & Instruction 19,832

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 11 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to woodleywonderworks.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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