Rhode Island · Special Education and Teaching

Best colleges for Special Education and Teaching in Rhode Island

Ranked by graduate earnings

Salve Regina University, Rhode Island College and Providence College are the top bachelor's Special Education and Teaching programs in Rhode Island by graduate earnings. Salve Regina University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $51,308, College Scorecard. Rhode Island College, Providence College and Roger Williams University award the most Special Education and Teaching degrees in Rhode Island: 51, 40 and 23 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 5 Rhode Island colleges offer Special Education and Teaching and award 145 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…

Institutions
5
offering CIP 13.10
States & territories
54
with a program page
Degrees / yr
145
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$50,060
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
3
College Scorecard
Median net price
$32,048
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
61%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Special Education Teachers, Preschool
$65,620
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 3 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Salve Regina University
Newport Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$51,3082377%$31,899$27,000
2Rhode Island College
Providence Public · Bachelor's degree
$50,0605148%—$29,851
3Providence College
Providence Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$49,6644086%$32,048$27,000

Colleges awarding the most Special Education and Teaching degrees in Rhode Island

Top 4 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.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Rhode Island College
Providence Public
51$50,060
2Providence College
Providence Private not-for-profit
40$49,664
3Roger Williams University
Bristol Private not-for-profit
23Not reported
4Salve Regina University
Newport Private not-for-profit
23$51,308
Show the other 1 Rhode Island colleges offering Special Education and Teaching
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Community College of Rhode IslandWarwickPublic8

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Special Education Teachers, Preschool (SOC 25-2051).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+1.4%
Little or no change
Openings / yr (US)
~2,100
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$62,190
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

SpeakingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingMonitoringWriting

What Special Education Teachers, Preschool earn in Rhode Island

Jobs in Rhode Island
120
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$65,620
median $59,310
Best-paying metro
$68,440
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA

Related careers

Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
$83,100 avg · 830 jobs
Special Education Teachers, Middle School
$83,910 avg · 380 jobs
Interpreters and Translators
$85,370 avg · 200 jobs
Education Teachers, Postsecondary
$87,490 avg · 190 jobs
Special Education Teachers, Preschool
$65,620 avg · 120 jobs
Special Education Teachers, All Other
$74,530 avg · 110 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Special Education and Teaching programs in Rhode Island.

Which Rhode Island colleges award the most Special Education and Teaching degrees?+

Rhode Island College (51 graduates a year), Providence College (40 graduates a year) and Roger Williams University (23 graduates a year) award the most Special Education and Teaching degrees in Rhode Island, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 5 Rhode Island colleges offer Special Education and Teaching.

What is the best college for Special Education and Teaching in Rhode Island?+

By graduate earnings, Salve Regina University leads among bachelor's Special Education and Teaching programs in Rhode Island, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $51,308, College Scorecard. Rhode Island College and Providence College follow. By degrees awarded, Rhode Island College is the largest, with 51 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Special Education and Teaching program in Rhode Island has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Salve Regina University tops the list at $51,308. 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 Rhode Island?+

The average annual wage for Special Education Teachers, Preschool in Rhode Island is $65,620 (median $59,310), across about 120 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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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