Best institutions to study Administration of Special Education
A program that prepares individuals to plan, supervise, and manage programs for exceptional students and their parents.
30 U.S. institutions graduated 253 Administration of Special Education students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 13.0402, a specialization of Educational Administration and Supervision (CIP 13.04), and leads most directly to the Education Administrators, All Other occupation (BLS SOC 11-9039).
About Administration of Special Education programs
A program that prepares individuals to plan, supervise, and manage programs for exceptional students and their parents. Includes instruction in special education theory and practice, special education program development, evaluation and assessment in special education, state and federal law and regulations, managing individual education plans, problems of low- and high- disability students, mainstreaming, special education curricula, staff management, parent education, communications and community relations, budgeting, and professional standards and ethics.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Administration of Special Education program, part of the Educational Administration and Supervision field, prepares individuals to effectively plan, supervise, and manage educational programs for exceptional students and their families. This program is ideal for those looking to enhance their leadership skills in special education settings and advocate for the needs of diverse learners.
Students in this program will gain knowledge in special education theory and practice, program development, evaluation and assessment, and the management of individual education plans. They will also study state and federal laws, budgeting, and professional ethics relevant to special education.
Credentials awarded
What Administration of Special Education graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Post-master's certificate104 graduates / yr · 10 institutions41%
- Master's degree80 graduates / yr · 9 institutions32%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate43 graduates / yr · 11 institutions17%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship26 graduates / yr · 5 institutions10%
Graduates over time
Administration of Special Education completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 74 |
| 2013 | 82 |
| 2014 | 150 |
| 2015 | 167 |
| 2016 | 149 |
| 2017 | 198 |
| 2018 | 155 |
| 2019 | 222 |
| 2020 | 156 |
| 2021 | 186 |
| 2022 | 190 |
| 2023 | 185 |
| 2024 | 228 |
| 2025 | 253 |
Top 30 institutions for Administration of Special Education, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia Southern University Statesboro, GAPublicMaster's | 44 | 55% | — |
| 2 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 32 | 65% | $28,911 |
| 3 | Concordia University - Chicago River Forest, ILPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralMaster'sMaster's | 24 | 36% | $17,620 |
| 4 | Illinois State University Normal, ILPublicMaster's | 21 | 65% | — |
| 5 | Viterbo University La Crosse, WIPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 17 | 68% | $20,655 |
| 6 | The College of Saint Scholastica Duluth, MNPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert.Master's | 13 | 71% | $21,150 |
| 7 | Columbus State University Columbus, GAPublicMaster's | 9 | 42% | — |
| 8 | Bay Path University Longmeadow, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sMaster's | 9 | 44% | $16,859 |
| 9 | Walden University Minneapolis, MNPrivate for-profitMaster's | 8 | — | — |
| 10 | Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud, MNPublicPost-degree cert. | 8 | 40% | — |
| 11 | Hamline University Saint Paul, MNPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 7 | 60% | $20,981 |
| 12 | University of Maine Orono, MEPublicPost-degree cert. | 6 | 55% | — |
| 13 | Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Winona, MNPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 6 | 66% | $18,163 |
| 14 | Gwynedd Mercy University Gwynedd Valley, PAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 6 | 57% | $25,843 |
| 15 | Houston Christian University Houston, TXPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 6 | 49% | $21,247 |
| 16 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 5 | 78% | $36,004 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania Western University California, PAPublicMaster's | 5 | 52% | — |
| 18 | High Point University High Point, NCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 4 | 74% | $37,072 |
| 19 | University of St Thomas Saint Paul, MNPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 3 | 76% | $28,888 |
| 20 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PAPublicPost-degree cert. | 3 | 85% | — |
| 21 | Idaho State University Pocatello, IDPublicPost-degree cert. | 2 | 39% | — |
| 22 | Northwest Missouri State University Maryville, MOPublicMaster's | 2 | 54% | — |
| 23 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MOPublicPost-degree cert. | 2 | 58% | — |
| 24 | University of New Hampshire - Main Campus Durham, NHPublicPost-degree cert. | 2 | 76% | — |
| 25 | Appalachian State University Boone, NCPublicPost-degree cert. | 2 | 75% | — |
| 26 | Delaware Valley University Doylestown, PAPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 2 | 56% | $25,402 |
| 27 | Marywood University Scranton, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 2 | 72% | $21,769 |
| 28 | Missouri Baptist University Saint Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | 48% | $25,407 |
| 29 | University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Oshkosh, WIPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 46% | — |
| 30 | Capella University Minneapolis, MNPrivate for-profitDoctoral | 1 | 20% | $19,369 |
Offered in 13 states
Where Administration of Special Education graduates come from. Each state links to all Educational Administration and Supervision programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 2 | 53 | Georgia Southern University44 / yr |
| Minnesota | 7 | 46 | The College of Saint Scholastica13 / yr |
| Illinois | 2 | 45 | Concordia University - Chicago24 / yr |
| Virginia | 1 | 32 | Liberty University32 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 6 | 23 | Gwynedd Mercy University6 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 2 | 18 | Viterbo University17 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 9 | Bay Path University9 / yr |
| North Carolina | 2 | 6 | High Point University4 / yr |
| Maine | 1 | 6 | University of Maine6 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 6 | Houston Christian University6 / yr |
| Missouri | 3 | 5 | Northwest Missouri State University2 / yr |
| Idaho | 1 | 2 | Idaho State University2 / yr |
| New Hampshire | 1 | 2 | University of New Hampshire - Main Campus2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 11-9039, Education Administrators, All Other, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Administration of Special Education program often pursue careers as Education Administrators. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an estimated 4,100 annual openings and a median wage of $89,040. A typical entry-level requirement is a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 13.0402
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Education Administrators, All Otherprimary SOC 11-9039 | $95,200 | +2.5% About as fast as average | ~4,100 | Bachelor's degree |
Related careers
Other Educational Administration and Supervision specializations
The 13 other 6-digit CIP codes under Educational Administration and Supervision (CIP 13.04).
- Educational Leadership and AdministrationCIP 13.040131,615 graduates / yr708 institutions
- Higher Education/CIP 13.0406
Higher Education Administration 4,257 graduates / yr258 institutions - Educational Administration and SupervisionCIP 13.04992,266 graduates / yr93 institutions
- Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum SupervisionCIP 13.04041,918 graduates / yr78 institutions
- Elementary and Middle School Administration/CIP 13.0408
Principalship 1,306 graduates / yr30 institutions - Superintendency and Educational System AdministrationCIP 13.04111,176 graduates / yr83 institutions
- Urban Education and LeadershipCIP 13.0410674 graduates / yr39 institutions
- Secondary School Administration/CIP 13.0409
Principalship 397 graduates / yr23 institutions - Community College AdministrationCIP 13.0407375 graduates / yr28 institutions
- Adult and Continuing Education AdministrationCIP 13.0403367 graduates / yr19 institutions
- Early Childhood Program AdministrationCIP 13.0414partial data99 graduates / yr8 institutions
- International School Administration/CIP 13.0412
Leadership partial data22 graduates / yr4 institutions - Education EntrepreneurshipCIP 13.0413limited data5 graduates / yr2 institutions
See all Educational Administration and Supervision programs →
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Post-master's certificate, Master's degree, Postbaccalaureate certificate, or a Doctor's degree.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 30 colleges offering the Administration of Special Education program across the United States.
What is the average number of graduates per year?+
Approximately 253 graduates complete this program each year in the U.S.
What is the job outlook for careers in this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 2.5%.
What is the CIP code for Administration of Special Education?+
Administration of Special Education is CIP 13.0402 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Educational Administration and Supervision (CIP 13.04). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to plan, supervise, and manage programs for exceptional students and their parents. Includes instruction in special education theory and practice, special education program development, evaluation and assessment in special education, state and federal law and regulations, managing individual education plans, problems of low- and high- disability students, mainstreaming, special education curricula, staff management, parent education, communications and community relations, budgeting, and professional standards and ethics.
How many institutions offer Administration of Special Education programs?+
30 U.S. institutions reported Administration of Special Education graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 13 states, awarding 253 credentials in the year. That is 0.6% of all Educational Administration and Supervision graduates.
How much do Administration of Special Education graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Education Administrators, All Other occupation, which Administration of Special Education most directly leads to, pays a median of $95,200 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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