Best colleges for Special Education and Teaching in Michigan
Ranked by graduate earnings
Grand Valley State University, Western Michigan University and Central Michigan University are the top bachelor's Special Education and Teaching programs in Michigan by graduate earnings. Grand Valley State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $49,494, College Scorecard. Grand Valley State University, Western Michigan University and Michigan State University award the most Special Education and Teaching degrees in Michigan: 164, 148 and 92 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 22 Michigan colleges offer Special Education and Teaching and award 737 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 | Grand Valley State University Allendale Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,494 | 164 | 67% | — | $30,350 |
| 2 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,868 | 148 | 58% | — | $31,000 |
| 3 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,522 | 52 | 59% | — | $31,000 |
| 4 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,777 | 82 | 46% | — | $31,000 |
| 5 | Spring Arbor University Spring Arbor Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,324 | 40 | 64% | $19,806 | $29,750 |
| 6 | Hope College Holland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $48,630 | 11 | 80% | $21,746 | — |
| 7 | Concordia University Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $47,295 | 7 | 48% | $25,071 | — |
| 8 | Wayne State University Detroit Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $44,157 | 8 | 58% | — | $43,500 |
| 9 | Saginaw Valley State University University Center Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $43,191 | 14 | 48% | — | $29,873 |
Colleges awarding the most Special Education and Teaching degrees in Michigan
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 | Grand Valley State University Allendale Public | 164 | $49,494 |
| 2 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Public | 148 | $47,868 |
| 3 | Michigan State University East Lansing Public | 92 | Not reported |
| 4 | Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti Public | 82 | $43,777 |
| 5 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant Public | 52 | $46,522 |
| 6 | Spring Arbor University Spring Arbor Private not-for-profit | 40 | $41,324 |
| 7 | Alma College Alma Private not-for-profit | 38 | Not reported |
| 8 | Northern Michigan University Marquette Public | 28 | Not reported |
| 9 | Oakland University Rochester Hills Public | 26 | Not reported |
| 10 | Saginaw Valley State University University Center Public | 14 | $43,191 |
ShowHide the other 12 Michigan colleges offering Special Education and Teaching
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hope College | Holland | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Oakland Community College | Auburn Hills | Public | 11 |
| Wayne State University | Detroit | Public | 8 |
| Concordia University Ann Arbor | Ann Arbor | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Calvin University | Grand Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Lake Superior State University | Sault Ste Marie | Public | 3 |
| Siena Heights University | Adrian | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Andrews University | Berrien Springs | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| University of Michigan-Dearborn | Dearborn | Public | 2 |
| Henry Ford College | Dearborn | Public | 1 |
| Madonna University | Livonia | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Schoolcraft Community College District | Livonia | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Special Education Teachers, Preschool (SOC 25-2051).
Top skills
What Special Education Teachers, Preschool earn in Michigan
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Special Education and Teaching programs in Michigan.
Which Michigan colleges award the most Special Education and Teaching degrees?+
Grand Valley State University (164 graduates a year), Western Michigan University (148 graduates a year) and Michigan State University (92 graduates a year) award the most Special Education and Teaching degrees in Michigan, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 22 Michigan colleges offer Special Education and Teaching.
What is the best college for Special Education and Teaching in Michigan?+
By graduate earnings, Grand Valley State University leads among bachelor's Special Education and Teaching programs in Michigan, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $49,494, College Scorecard. Western Michigan University and Central Michigan University follow. By degrees awarded, Grand Valley State University is the largest, with 164 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Special Education and Teaching program in Michigan has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Grand Valley State University tops the list at $49,494. 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 Michigan?+
The average annual wage for Special Education Teachers, Preschool in Michigan is $75,760 (median $75,860), across about 430 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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