Bachelor’s Degrees in Special Education
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Education Levels of Special Ed Majors
During the 2020-2021 academic year, 9,368 students earned their bachelor's degree in special ed. This earns it the #55 spot on the list of the most popular bachelor's degree programs in the nation.
The following table shows the number of diplomas awarded in special ed at each degree level.
| Education Level | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 21,797 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 9,368 |
| Graduate Certificate | 3,157 |
| Associate Degree | 1,328 |
| Basic Certificate | 713 |
| Undergraduate Certificate | 225 |
| Doctor’s Degree | 204 |
Earnings of Special Ed Majors With Bachelor’s Degrees
The median salary for graduates holding a bachelor's degree in special ed is $38,748. A lot of factors can contribute to this number, such as the location of your workplace and the availability of other perks and bonuses. To get a better picture, earnings for this category of people can range from a low of $35,725 to a high of $41,583.
Student Debt
The median student debt for graduates holding a bachelor's degree in special ed is $26,700. The length of time it takes you to graduate and what college you attend can affect this number quite a bit. The chart below shows the range of accumulated debt loads. On the high side of the range, $27,000 is the debt load, and the debt load on the low side is $22,500.
Those students who are paying back their debt on a 10-year repayment plan have a median monthly payment of $290.
Student Diversity
More women than men pursue their bachelor's degree in special ed. About 89.8% of graduates with this degree are female.
| Gender | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Men | 960 |
| Women | 8,408 |
The racial-ethnic distribution of special ed bachelor’s degree students is as follows:
| Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Asian | 116 |
| Black or African American | 401 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 987 |
| White | 7,315 |
| International Students | 36 |
| Other Races/Ethnicities | 513 |
Most Popular Special Ed Programs for Bachelor’s Degrees
There are 553 colleges that offer a bachelor’s degree in special ed. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:
Western Governors University tops the list of the most popular school in the U.S. for special ed majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree. Each year, around 147,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,162 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,500 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 836 bachelor's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at WGU. Around 15% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 88% were women.
The 2nd most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is Grand Canyon University. Each year, around 103,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $16,401 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,621 per year. The special ed program at Grand Canyon University awarded 471 bachelor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 37% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 93% were women.
Bowling Green State University - Main Campus is the 3rd most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in special ed. Each year, around 18,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,776 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,017 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 214 people received their bachelor's degree in special ed from BGSU. Around 8% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 93% were women.
Towson University is the 4th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in special ed. Each year, around 21,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,100 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,280 per year. The special ed program at Towson University awarded 165 bachelor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 92% were women and 30% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Illinois State University is the 5th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in special ed. Roughly 20,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,932 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,805 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 160 bachelor's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at Illinois State. Around 18% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 89% were women.
St. Joseph's College - New York comes in at #6 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in special ed. Each year, around 5,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $29,976 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $20,250 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 139 bachelor's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at SJC. Around 19% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 92% were women.
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is the 7th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in special ed. Roughly 8,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,716 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,288 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 131 bachelor's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at SRU. Of these students, 95% were women and 8% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Liberty University comes in at #8 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in special ed. Each year, around 93,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $15,409 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,847 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 113 people received their bachelor's degree in special ed from Liberty University. Of these students, 92% were women and 13% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 9th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is Arizona State University - Tempe. Each year, around 74,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,710 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,720 per year. The special ed program at Arizona State University - Tempe awarded 111 bachelor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 84% were women and 35% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 10th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Each year, around 17,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,716 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,288 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 105 people received their bachelor's degree in special ed from WCUPA. About 94% of this group were women, and 8% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Northern Arizona University is the 11th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in special ed. Roughly 29,500 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,381 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,724 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 98 people received their bachelor's degree in special ed from NAU. About 92% of this group were women, and 39% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Western Washington University comes in at #12 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in special ed. Each year, around 15,100 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,572 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,359 per year. The special ed program at Western Washington University awarded 93 bachelor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. About 94% of this group were women, and 17% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire comes in at #13 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in special ed. Roughly 11,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,361 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,027 per year. The special ed program at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire awarded 85 bachelor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 93% were women and 5% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
SUNY Cortland is the 14th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in special ed. Each year, around 6,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,070 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,310 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 82 people received their bachelor's degree in special ed from SUNY Cortland. Around 7% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 88% were women.
The 15th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is SUNY Geneseo. Each year, around 4,900 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,070 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,310 per year. The special ed program at SUNY Geneseo awarded 78 bachelor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. About 87% of this group were women, and 12% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 16th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is Youngstown State University. Each year, around 11,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,196 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $6,453 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 77 people received their bachelor's degree in special ed from Youngstown State University. Around 5% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 90% were women.
Auburn University is the 17th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in special ed. Each year, around 30,700 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,080 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,080 per year. The special ed program at Auburn University awarded 76 bachelor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 99% were women and 16% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
University of Akron Main Campus comes in at #18 on our list of the most popular colleges offering bachelor's degrees in special ed. Each year, around 16,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,595 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,610 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 75 people received their bachelor's degree in special ed from University of Akron Main Campus. About 87% of this group were women, and 8% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Utah State University is the 18th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a bachelor's degree in special ed. Roughly 27,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,042 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $6,534 per year. The special ed program at Utah State University awarded 75 bachelor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. About 93% of this group were women, and 11% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 20th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their bachelor's degree is Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. Roughly 7,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,716 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,288 per year. The special ed program at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania awarded 74 bachelor's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 8% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 93% were women.
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Related Majors
Below are some popular majors that are similar to special ed that offer bachelor’s degrees.
| Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Teacher Education Grade Specific | 53,664 |
| Teacher Education Subject Specific | 20,958 |
| General Education | 5,611 |
| Other Education | 1,728 |
| Educational Assessment | 1,336 |
References
*The racial-ethnic minority student count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the percentage of racial-ethnic minorities.
- College Factual
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Image Credit: By woodleywonderworks under License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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