Best colleges for Special Education and Teaching in Ohio
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Dayton, University of Cincinnati and Miami University - Oxford are the top bachelor's Special Education and Teaching programs in Ohio by graduate earnings. University of Dayton leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $45,260, College Scorecard. Bowling Green State University, University of Cincinnati and Ohio University award the most Special Education and Teaching degrees in Ohio: 260, 98 and 73 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 37 Ohio colleges offer Special Education and Teaching and award 1,077 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 10 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 | University of Dayton Dayton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,260 | 25 | 80% | $28,560 | $20,612 |
| 2 | University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,347 | 98 | 75% | — | $25,240 |
| 3 | Miami University - Oxford Oxford Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,871 | 48 | 80% | — | $27,000 |
| 4 | Ohio University Athens Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,362 | 73 | 65% | — | $26,950 |
| 5 | University of Toledo Toledo Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,952 | 30 | 57% | — | $22,073 |
| 6 | Kent State University at Kent Kent Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,139 | 58 | 64% | — | $25,000 |
| 7 | Bowling Green State University Bowling Green Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,671 | 260 | 64% | — | $27,000 |
| 8 | Ashland University Ashland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,709 | 57 | 61% | $21,785 | $27,000 |
| 9 | Youngstown State University Youngstown Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,220 | 38 | 50% | — | $29,125 |
| 10 | University of Akron Main Campus Akron Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,073 | 61 | 52% | — | $26,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Special Education and Teaching degrees in Ohio
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 | Bowling Green State University Bowling Green Public | 260 | $38,671 |
| 2 | University of Cincinnati Cincinnati Public | 98 | $42,347 |
| 3 | Ohio University Athens Public | 73 | $41,362 |
| 4 | University of Akron Main Campus Akron Public | 61 | $34,073 |
| 5 | Kent State University at Kent Kent Public | 58 | $39,139 |
| 6 | Ashland University Ashland Private not-for-profit | 57 | $35,709 |
| 7 | Mount St. Joseph University Cincinnati Private not-for-profit | 49 | Not reported |
| 8 | Miami University - Oxford Oxford Public | 48 | $41,871 |
| 9 | Youngstown State University Youngstown Public | 38 | $35,220 |
| 10 | University of Toledo Toledo Public | 30 | $40,952 |
ShowHide the other 27 Ohio colleges offering Special Education and Teaching
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xavier University | Cincinnati | Private not-for-profit | 28 |
| Central State University | Wilberforce | Public | 27 |
| University of Dayton | Dayton | Private not-for-profit | 25 |
| University of Rio Grande | Rio Grande | Private not-for-profit | 24 |
| Shawnee State University | Portsmouth | Public | 19 |
| Wright State University | Dayton | Public | 19 |
| Marietta College | Marietta | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Mount Vernon Nazarene University | Mount Vernon | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Lourdes University | Sylvania | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Ohio State University | Columbus | Public | 14 |
| Ohio Wesleyan University | Delaware | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Baldwin Wallace University | Berea | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Cleveland State University | Cleveland | Public | 9 |
| University of Akron Wayne College | Orrville | Public | 8 |
| The University of Findlay | Findlay | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Franklin University (Online) | Columbus | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Muskingum University | New Concord | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Lake Erie College | Painesville | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Otterbein University | Westerville | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Ursuline College | Pepper Pike | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Walsh University | North Canton | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Bluffton University | Bluffton | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| University of Cincinnati-Clermont College | Batavia | Public | 4 |
| Capital University | Columbus | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Cedarville University | Cedarville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| University of Mount Union | Alliance | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Ohio Dominican University | Columbus | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Special Education Teachers, Preschool (SOC 25-2051).
Top skills
What Special Education Teachers, Preschool earn in Ohio
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Special Education and Teaching programs in Ohio.
Which Ohio colleges award the most Special Education and Teaching degrees?+
Bowling Green State University (260 graduates a year), University of Cincinnati (98 graduates a year) and Ohio University (73 graduates a year) award the most Special Education and Teaching degrees in Ohio, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 37 Ohio colleges offer Special Education and Teaching.
What is the best college for Special Education and Teaching in Ohio?+
By graduate earnings, University of Dayton leads among bachelor's Special Education and Teaching programs in Ohio, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $45,260, College Scorecard. University of Cincinnati and Miami University - Oxford follow. By degrees awarded, Bowling Green State University is the largest, with 260 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Special Education and Teaching program in Ohio has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Dayton tops the list at $45,260. 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 Ohio?+
The average annual wage for Special Education Teachers, Preschool in Ohio is $68,960 (median $60,700), across about 1,150 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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