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2024 Best Special Education Master's Degree Schools

454 Colleges in the United States
21,797 Master's Degrees
$49,761 Avg Early-Career Salary
Special Education is of the hottest master's degree programs in the United States, coming in as the #8 most popular major in the country. So, there are lots of possibilities to explore when you're trying to determine where you want to get your degree.

College Factual looked at 454 colleges and universities when compiling its 2024 Best Special Education Master's Degree Schools ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 21,797 master's degrees in special education during the 2020-2021 academic year.

What's on this page: * Our Methodology

Choosing a Great Special Education School for Your Master's Degree

Best Special Education Master's Degree Schools The special ed master's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality special ed program can vary widely even among the top schools. Below we explain some of the most important factors to consider before making your choice:

Overall Quality Is a Must

The overall quality of a master's degree school is important to ensure a good education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To take this into account we consider a college's overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking which itself looks at a collection of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.

Average Early-Career Salaries

Average early-career salary of those graduating with their master's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. After all, your master's degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.

Other Factors We Consider

The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.

Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for special education students working on their master's degree.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Special Ed Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best Special Education Master's Degree Schools list, to help you choose the best school for you.


 

Best Schools for Master’s Students to Study Special Education in the United States

Below you'll see a list of the best colleges and universities for pursuing a master's degree in special education. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

25 Top Schools for a Master's in Special Ed

1

Teachers College at Columbia University is a wonderful choice for individuals interested in a master's degree in special education. Teachers College is a small private not-for-profit university located in the city of New York.

Those special education students who get their master's degree from Teachers College at Columbia University make $14,544 more than the average special ed grad.

More information about a master’s in special education from Teachers College at Columbia University

2
Hunter crest
Hunter College
New York, NY

Hunter College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a master's degree in special education. Hunter is a very large public college located in the city of New York.

Those special education students who get their master's degree from Hunter College earn $19,553 more than the standard special ed grad.

More information about a master’s in special education from Hunter College

3
Vanderbilt crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN

Vanderbilt University is a wonderful decision for individuals interested in a master's degree in special education. Located in the large city of Nashville, Vanderbilt is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population.

After graduation, special ed master's recipients usually make an average of $47,195 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a master’s in special education from Vanderbilt University

4

It is hard to beat George Mason University if you want to pursue a master's degree in special education. Located in the large suburb of Fairfax, GMU is a public university with a very large student population.

Special Education master's degree recipients from George Mason University receive an earnings boost of approximately $8,580 over the average income of special education majors.

More information about a master’s in special education from George Mason University

5

Located in the large city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.

Master's recipients from the special education program at Johns Hopkins University get $7,079 more than the typical college graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

More information about a master’s in special education from Johns Hopkins University

6

Located in the city of Washington, GWU is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.

Special Education master's degree recipients from George Washington University get an earnings boost of about $8,988 over the average earnings of special education majors.

More information about a master’s in special education from George Washington University

7
1,369 Annual Graduates
$52,267 Median Starting Salary

Ball State is a large public university located in the small city of Muncie.

Special Education master's degree recipients from Ball State University receive an earnings boost of around $2,506 over the average income of special education majors.

More information about a master’s in special education from Ball State University

8

UST MN is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Saint Paul.

Students who graduate with their master's from the special ed program report average early career income of $49,481.

More information about a master’s in special education from University of St Thomas Minnesota

9

Fordham U is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Bronx.

Master's recipients from the special education major at Fordham University get $12,412 more than the average graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a master’s in special education from Fordham University

10
Touro crest
Touro College
New York, NY

Touro is a fairly large private not-for-profit college located in the large city of New York.

Special Education master's degree recipients from Touro College receive an earnings boost of approximately $11,166 over the typical earnings of special education graduates.

More information about a master’s in special education from Touro College

11
Brooklyn College crest
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, NY

Located in the large city of Brooklyn, Brooklyn College is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Those special education students who get their master's degree from Brooklyn College receive $18,237 more than the average special ed graduate.

More information about a master’s in special education from Brooklyn College

12

TCNJ is a medium-sized public college located in the large suburb of Ewing.

Special Education master's degree recipients from The College of New Jersey receive an earnings boost of around $7,393 above the typical income of special education majors.

More information about a master’s in special education from The College of New Jersey

13
Syracuse crest
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY

Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.

Special Education master's degree recipients from Syracuse University receive an earnings boost of approximately $7,997 above the average earnings of special education majors.

More information about a master’s in special education from Syracuse University

14

UMN Twin Cities is a very large public university located in the large city of Minneapolis.

Students who graduate with their master's from the special ed program report average early career income of $48,055.

More information about a master’s in special education from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

15
National University crest
National University
San Diego, CA

National University is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of San Diego.

Master's recipients from the special education major at National University make $13,059 more than the standard college grad with the same degree when they enter the workforce.

More information about a master’s in special education from National University

16
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL

UF is a very large public university located in the medium-sized city of Gainesville.

Students who graduate with their master's from the special ed program state that they receive average early career wages of $43,645.

More information about a master’s in special education from University of Florida

17
Lehman crest
Lehman College
Bronx, NY

Located in the city of Bronx, Lehman is a public college with a large student population.

Special Education master's degree recipients from Lehman College receive an earnings boost of about $17,193 over the average earnings of special education majors.

More information about a master’s in special education from Lehman College

18

UND is a fairly large public university located in the small city of Grand Forks.

Students who graduate with their master's from the special ed program state that they receive average early career wages of $48,438.

More information about a master’s in special education from University of North Dakota

19
Boston U crest
Boston University
Boston, MA

Located in the large city of Boston, Boston U is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.

After graduation, special ed master's recipients generally make around $51,344 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a master’s in special education from Boston University

20
15 Annual Graduates

UW - Madison is a very large public university located in the city of Madison.More information about a master’s in special education from University of Wisconsin - Madison

21

Bank Street College of Education is a fairly small private not-for-profit college located in the city of New York.

Those special education students who get their master's degree from Bank Street College of Education receive $12,191 more than the typical special ed grad.

More information about a master’s in special education from Bank Street College of Education

22
St. Joe's crest
Saint Joseph's University
Philadelphia, PA

Located in the large city of Philadelphia, St. Joe's is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population.

Master's graduates who receive their degree from the special ed program make an average of $51,439 in their early career salary.

More information about a master’s in special education from Saint Joseph’s University

23

CCNY is a large public college located in the large city of New York.

Those special education students who get their master's degree from The City College of New York make $21,288 more than the average special ed grad.

More information about a master’s in special education from The City College of New York

24

UW Seattle is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Seattle.

Those special education students who get their master's degree from University of Washington - Seattle Campus receive $15,523 more than the standard special ed grad.

More information about a master’s in special education from University of Washington - Seattle Campus

25

Located in the large city of Los Angeles, Cal State LA is a public university with a very large student population.

Those special education students who get their master's degree from California State University - Los Angeles receive $31,243 more than the standard special ed student.

More information about a master’s in special education from California State University - Los Angeles

Rest of the Top Best Special Education Master's Degree Schools

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27
28
LIU Post crest
LIU Post
Brookville, NY
29
Endicott crest
Endicott College
Beverly, MA
30
Towson crest
Towson University
Towson, MD
31
32

33

34
Lamar University crest
Lamar University
Beaumont, TX
35
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37
38
Morningside crest
Morningside College
Sioux City, IA
39
40
41
Hofstra crest
Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY

42

42
43
Augustana Sioux Falls crest
Augustana University
Sioux Falls, SD
44
Gonzaga crest
Gonzaga University
Spokane, WA
44
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS
45
NYU crest
New York University
New York, NY
46
47
Rowan crest
Rowan University
Glassboro, NJ
48

Additional Award Winners

This list represents the remainder of the colleges awarded a Best Special Education Master's Degree Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 454 different United States special education schools we analyzed.

Rank College Location
49 Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ
50 West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester, PA
51 Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI
52 University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HI
53 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL
54 Simmons University Boston, MA
55 Queens College Queens, NY
56 Michigan State University East Lansing, MI
57 Liberty University Lynchburg, VA
58 Pace University - New York New York, NY
59 Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ
59 University of Mary Bismarck, ND
61 Minot State University Minot, ND
62 Seattle University Seattle, WA
63 California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CA
64 University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MO
65 Arizona State University - Skysong Scottsdale, AZ
66 University of Kentucky Lexington, KY
67 Lipscomb University Nashville, TN
68 Utah State University Logan, UT

Honorable Mentions

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Special Education Master's Degree Schools award.

Rank College Location
69 Georgia College & State University Milledgeville, GA
70 University of Nevada - Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV
71 Saint Mary’s College of California Moraga, CA
72 Molloy College Rockville Centre, NY
73 Miami University - Oxford Oxford, OH
74 Kean University Union, NJ
75 Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX
76 DePaul University Chicago, IL
77 University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR
78 Ashland University Ashland, OH
78 Brigham Young University - Provo Provo, UT
79 Manhattan College Riverdale, NY
80 Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego, CA
81 Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZ
82 University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Norman, OK
83 Fresno Pacific University Fresno, CA
84 University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OH
85 Rider University Lawrenceville, NJ
86 Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud, MN
87 University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago, IL
88 Bethel University Minnesota Saint Paul, MN
89 The University of West Florida Pensacola, FL
90 Kent State University at Kent Kent, OH
93 University of Rochester Rochester, NY

Special Education by Region

View the Best Special Education Master's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Other U.S. Territories
Great Lakes

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One of 14 majors within the Education area of study, Special Education has other similar majors worth exploring.

Special Ed Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
General Special Education 15,631
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities 1,580
Elementary Special Education 1,006
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Early Childhood Special Education Programs 685
Other Special Education & Teaching 645
Education/Teaching of Individuals in Secondary Special Education Programs 535
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism 456
Education/Teaching of the Gifted & Talented 242
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Speech or Language Impairments 231
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities 225

Related Major Annual Graduates
Teacher Education Grade Specific 29,374
Educational Administration 28,511
Teacher Education Subject Specific 17,998
General Education 17,801
Curriculum & Instruction 16,825
Student Counseling 12,244
Instructional Media Design 6,799
Teaching English or French 3,450
Other Education 1,705
Multilingual Education 849

Notes and References

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