Wisconsin · Special Education and Teaching

Best colleges for Special Education and Teaching in Wisconsin

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater are the top bachelor's Special Education and Teaching programs in Wisconsin by graduate earnings. University of Wisconsin-Madison leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $50,174, College Scorecard. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and University of Wisconsin-Madison award the most Special Education and Teaching degrees in Wisconsin: 102, 101 and 72 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 18 Wisconsin colleges offer Special Education and Teaching and award 532 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
18
offering CIP 13.10
States & territories
54
with a program page
Degrees / yr
532
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$46,661
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
10
College Scorecard
Median net price
$22,627
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
58%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Special Education Teachers, Preschool
$62,540
BLS OEWS May 2025

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.

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
1University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison Public · Bachelor's degree
$50,1747290%—$22,863
2University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee Public · Bachelor's degree
$48,3783149%—$26,000
3University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Whitewater Public · Bachelor's degree
$47,59210259%—$27,000
4Concordia University - Wisconsin
Mequon Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$47,2952668%$24,409—
5University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Eau Claire Public · Bachelor's degree
$46,50810164%—$27,000
6University of Wisconsin-Stout
Menomonie Public · Bachelor's degree
$45,1963155%—$30,000
7University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Oshkosh Public · Bachelor's degree
$44,9454746%—$27,000
8University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Stevens Point Public · Bachelor's degree
$43,8444151%—$23,607
9Carthage College
Kenosha Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$48,593564%$22,844$25,954
10Carroll University
Waukesha Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$46,6611471%$22,601—

Colleges awarding the most Special Education and Teaching degrees in Wisconsin

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.

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)
1University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Whitewater Public
102$47,592
2University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Eau Claire Public
101$46,508
3University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison Public
72$50,174
4University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Oshkosh Public
47$44,945
5University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Stevens Point Public
41$43,844
6University of Wisconsin-Stout
Menomonie Public
31$45,196
7University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee Public
31$48,378
8Concordia University - Wisconsin
Mequon Private not-for-profit
26$47,295
9University of Wisconsin-Superior
Superior Public
15Not reported
10Alverno College
Milwaukee Private not-for-profit
14Not reported
Show the other 8 Wisconsin colleges offering Special Education and Teaching
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Carroll UniversityWaukeshaPrivate not-for-profit14
Viterbo UniversityLa CrossePrivate not-for-profit12
Maranatha Baptist UniversityWatertownPrivate not-for-profit8
Carthage CollegeKenoshaPrivate not-for-profit5
Marian UniversityFond Du LacPrivate not-for-profit4
Chippewa Valley Technical CollegeEau ClairePublic4
University of Wisconsin-ParksideKenoshaPublic4
Wisconsin Lutheran CollegeMilwaukeePrivate not-for-profit1

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 Wisconsin

Jobs in Wisconsin
240
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$62,540
median $60,870
Best-paying metro
$65,280
Madison, WI

Related careers

Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
$66,440 avg · 3,350 jobs
Special Education Teachers, Middle School
$69,270 avg · 2,650 jobs
Education Teachers, Postsecondary
$76,440 avg · 1,540 jobs
Interpreters and Translators
$64,240 avg · 1,410 jobs
Special Education Teachers, Preschool
$62,540 avg · 240 jobs
Special Education Teachers, All Other
$67,230 avg · 160 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Special Education and Teaching programs in Wisconsin.

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

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (102 graduates a year), University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (101 graduates a year) and University of Wisconsin-Madison (72 graduates a year) award the most Special Education and Teaching degrees in Wisconsin, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 18 Wisconsin colleges offer Special Education and Teaching.

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

By graduate earnings, University of Wisconsin-Madison leads among bachelor's Special Education and Teaching programs in Wisconsin, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $50,174, College Scorecard. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater follow. By degrees awarded, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is the largest, with 102 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Wisconsin-Madison tops the list at $50,174. 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 Wisconsin?+

The average annual wage for Special Education Teachers, Preschool in Wisconsin is $62,540 (median $60,870), across about 240 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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