Best colleges for Special Education and Teaching
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Special Education and Teaching by graduate earnings are Pace University ($62,346), Utah State University ($61,474) and University of Hawaii at Manoa ($60,396), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Pace University (New York, NY): $62,346, 88 graduates a year
- Utah State University (Logan, UT): $61,474, 107 graduates a year
- University of Hawaii at Manoa (Honolulu, HI): $60,396, 79 graduates a year
- Florida Atlantic University (Boca Raton, FL): $56,009, 20 graduates a year
- Syracuse University (Syracuse, NY): $55,881, 64 graduates a year
Compare 861 U.S. colleges offering Special Education and Teaching by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 54 states.
Special Education and Teaching programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,404 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 13.10 and the Special Education Teachers, Preschool occupation (BLS SOC).
About Special Education and Teaching programs
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 requiring additional support in their educational journey.
Students in this program will develop essential skills such as active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework typically covers topics in psychology, education, and specialized teaching strategies to address the needs of diverse learners.
Top 25 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. 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 | Pace University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $62,346 | 88 | 60% | $29,994 | $24,000 |
| 2 | Utah State University Logan, UT Public · Bachelor's degree | $61,474 | 107 | 59% | — | $18,125 |
| 3 | University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HI Public · Bachelor's degree | $60,396 | 79 | 64% | — | $16,500 |
| 4 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $56,009 | 20 | 63% | — | — |
| 5 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $55,881 | 64 | 84% | $28,851 | $27,000 |
| 6 | Miami Dade College Miami, FL Public · Bachelor's degree | $53,935 | 56 | 46% | — | $9,671 |
| 7 | Towson University Towson, MD Public · Bachelor's degree | $53,331 | 209 | 69% | — | $19,750 |
| 8 | Western Washington University Bellingham, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $52,912 | 78 | 65% | — | $29,284 |
| 9 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $51,922 | 42 | 85% | — | $18,925 |
| 10 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $51,664 | 63 | 58% | — | $29,737 |
| 11 | Salve Regina University Newport, RI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $51,308 | 23 | 77% | $31,899 | $27,000 |
| 12 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $51,306 | 33 | 80% | — | $19,500 |
| 13 | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $50,698 | 66 | 79% | $34,418 | $27,000 |
| 14 | Utah Valley University Orem, UT Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,647 | 26 | 45% | — | — |
| 15 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,645 | 53 | 54% | — | $27,000 |
| 16 | Southern Connecticut State University New Haven, CT Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,641 | 49 | 50% | — | $27,000 |
| 17 | Brigham Young University Provo, UT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $50,331 | 38 | 81% | $13,712 | — |
| 18 | East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania East Stroudsburg, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,327 | 41 | 43% | — | $27,000 |
| 19 | University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,174 | 72 | 90% | — | $22,863 |
| 20 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,159 | 84 | 54% | — | $27,000 |
| 21 | Bridgewater State University Bridgewater, MA Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,061 | 118 | 53% | — | $27,000 |
| 22 | Rhode Island College Providence, RI Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,060 | 51 | 48% | — | $29,851 |
| 23 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,882 | 141 | 68% | — | $19,375 |
| 24 | Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Shippensburg, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,835 | 28 | 56% | — | $28,500 |
| 25 | University of Nevada-Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,827 | 278 | 51% | — | $11,000 |
Top 2 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA Public · Graduate degree | $71,293 | 34 | 86% | — | $22,607 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania State University - World Campus University Park, PA Public · Graduate degree Online | $71,293 | 48 | 34% | — | $22,607 |
Specializations within Special Education and Teaching
18 of the 18 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 13.10 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- Special Education and TeachingCIP 13.100122,668 graduates / yr664 institutions54 states
- Education/CIP 13.1015
Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs 3,949 graduates / yr154 institutions32 states - Education/CIP 13.1017
Teaching of Individuals in Elementary Special Education Programs 1,718 graduates / yr70 institutions23 states - Education/CIP 13.1007
Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities 1,466 graduates / yr28 institutions17 states - Special Education and TeachingCIP 13.10991,365 graduates / yr82 institutions32 states
- Education/CIP 13.1013
Teaching of Individuals with Autism 1,077 graduates / yr74 institutions30 states - Education/CIP 13.1004
Teaching of the Gifted and Talented 506 graduates / yr54 institutions27 states - Education/CIP 13.1019
Teaching of Individuals in Secondary Special Education Programs 492 graduates / yr39 institutions15 states - Education/CIP 13.1011
Teaching of Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities 470 graduates / yr41 institutions22 states - Education/CIP 13.1012
Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments 344 graduates / yr13 institutions9 states - Education/CIP 13.1003
Teaching of Individuals with Hearing Impairments Including Deafness 251 graduates / yr32 institutions22 states - Education/CIP 13.1009
Teaching of Individuals with Vision Impairments Including Blindness 204 graduates / yr14 institutions13 states - Education/CIP 13.1005
Teaching of Individuals with Emotional Disturbances 147 graduates / yr22 institutions12 states - Education/CIP 13.1014
Teaching of Individuals Who are Developmentally Delayed partial data101 graduates / yr8 institutions7 states - Education/CIP 13.1006
Teaching of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities 62 graduates / yr12 institutions6 states - Education/CIP 13.1008
Teaching of Individuals with Orthopedic and Other Physical Health Impairments partial data55 graduates / yr4 institutions3 states - Education/CIP 13.1018
Teaching of Individuals in Junior High/ Middle School Special Education Programs partial data36 graduates / yr7 institutions6 states - Education/CIP 13.1016
Teaching of Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injuries limited data29 graduates / yr2 institutions2 states
Offered across 54 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-2051, Special Education Teachers, Preschool, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Special Education and Teaching program can pursue careers in various educational settings, focusing on supporting students with disabilities. The job outlook indicates a growth rate of 1.4%, with approximately 2,100 annual openings and a median wage of $62,190, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Special Education and Teaching
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 13.10.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 13.10 (Special Education and Teaching) maps to 9 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 25-1081 | Education Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 25-2051 | Special Education Teachers, Preschoolprimary |
| 25-2055 | Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten |
| 25-2056 | Special Education Teachers, Elementary School |
| 25-2057 | Special Education Teachers, Middle School |
| 25-2058 | Special Education Teachers, Secondary School |
| 25-2059 | Special Education Teachers, All Other |
| 25-9043 | Teaching Assistants, Special Education |
| 27-3091 | Interpreters and Translators |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Special Education and Teaching programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Employ special educational strategies or techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, or memory.
- Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification or positive reinforcement.
- Communicate nonverbally with children to provide them with comfort, encouragement, or positive reinforcement.
- Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, or social skills, to preschool students with special needs.
- Develop individual educational plans (IEPs) designed to promote students' educational, physical, or social development.
- Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, or other professionals to develop individual education plans (IEPs).
Common questions
What is the focus of the Special Education and Teaching program?+
The program focuses on equipping students with the skills to teach individuals with disabilities and special needs.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, and specialized teaching strategies.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook shows a growth rate of 1.4% with about 2,100 annual openings.
What level of education is typically required?+
A Bachelor's degree is typically required for careers in special education.
How much do Special Education and Teaching graduates earn?+
Special Education and Teaching graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,404, College Scorecard (2019); the Special Education Teachers, Preschool occupation pays about $76,380 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Special Education and Teaching?+
Special Education and Teaching maps to CIP 13.10 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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