Best colleges for Special Education and Teaching in Florida
Ranked by graduate earnings
Florida Atlantic University, Miami Dade College and Broward College are the top bachelor's Special Education and Teaching programs in Florida by graduate earnings. Florida Atlantic University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $56,009, College Scorecard. University of West Florida, University of Florida and Florida International University award the most Special Education and Teaching degrees in Florida: 383, 141 and 113 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 29 Florida colleges offer Special Education and Teaching and award 1,141 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Special Education and Teaching program prepares students to work with individuals who have a range of disabilities and special needs. This program is ideal for those who are passionate about making a difference in the lives of students…
Top 9 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton Public · Bachelor's degree | $56,009 | 20 | 63% | — | — |
| 2 | Miami Dade College Miami Public · Bachelor's degree | $53,935 | 56 | 46% | — | $9,671 |
| 3 | Broward College Fort Lauderdale Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,262 | 59 | 39% | — | — |
| 4 | University of Central Florida Orlando Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,147 | 101 | 78% | — | — |
| 5 | University of North Florida Jacksonville Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,734 | 25 | 69% | — | $13,509 |
| 6 | Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,866 | 25 | 57% | — | $22,931 |
| 7 | University of West Florida Pensacola Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,643 | 383 | 59% | — | $29,750 |
| 8 | Florida International University Miami Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,598 | 113 | 74% | — | $20,031 |
| 9 | University of South Florida Tampa Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $50,975 | 12 | 77% | — | — |
Colleges awarding the most Special Education and Teaching degrees in Florida
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of West Florida Pensacola Public | 383 | $46,643 |
| 2 | University of Florida Gainesville Public | 141 | Not reported |
| 3 | Florida International University Miami Public | 113 | $36,598 |
| 4 | University of Central Florida Orlando Public | 101 | $48,147 |
| 5 | Broward College Fort Lauderdale Public | 59 | $49,262 |
| 6 | Miami Dade College Miami Public | 56 | $53,935 |
| 7 | Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale Private not-for-profit | 43 | Not reported |
| 8 | Florida State University Tallahassee Public | 26 | Not reported |
| 9 | University of North Florida Jacksonville Public | 25 | $47,734 |
| 10 | Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers Public | 25 | $46,866 |
ShowHide the other 19 Florida colleges offering Special Education and Teaching
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southeastern University | Lakeland | Private not-for-profit | 24 |
| Barry University | Miami | Private not-for-profit | 22 |
| Florida Memorial University | Miami Gardens | Private not-for-profit | 22 |
| Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton | Public | 20 |
| Daytona State College | Daytona Beach | Public | 15 |
| Flagler College | Saint Augustine | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| University of South Florida | Tampa | Public | 12 |
| Florida State College at Jacksonville | Jacksonville | Public | 10 |
| Lynn University | Boca Raton | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Atlantis University | Miami | Private for-profit | 6 |
| Indian River State College | Fort Pierce | Public | 5 |
| Saint Leo University | Saint Leo | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| St Petersburg College | St. Petersburg | Public | 3 |
| State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota | Bradenton | Public | 2 |
| Chipola College | Marianna | Public | 1 |
| University of Miami | Coral Gables | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Trinity College of Jacksonville | Jacksonville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Warner University | Lake Wales | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Ana G. Mendez University | Orlando | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Special Education Teachers, Preschool (SOC 25-2051).
Top skills
What Special Education Teachers, Preschool earn in Florida
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Special Education and Teaching programs in Florida.
Which Florida colleges award the most Special Education and Teaching degrees?+
University of West Florida (383 graduates a year), University of Florida (141 graduates a year) and Florida International University (113 graduates a year) award the most Special Education and Teaching degrees in Florida, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 29 Florida colleges offer Special Education and Teaching.
What is the best college for Special Education and Teaching in Florida?+
By graduate earnings, Florida Atlantic University leads among bachelor's Special Education and Teaching programs in Florida, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $56,009, College Scorecard. Miami Dade College and Broward College follow. By degrees awarded, University of West Florida is the largest, with 383 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Special Education and Teaching program in Florida has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Florida Atlantic University tops the list at $56,009. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Special Education Teachers, Preschool earn in Florida?+
The average annual wage for Special Education Teachers, Preschool in Florida is $61,580 (median $58,240), across about 1,370 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Special Education and Teaching program?+
The Special Education and Teaching program prepares students to work with individuals who have a range of disabilities and special needs. This program is ideal for those who are passionate about making a difference in the lives of students…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Special Education Teachers, Preschool?+
The national job outlook is about +1.4% growth with around 2,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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