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Graduate Certificate in Special Education

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Graduate Certificates in Special Education

3,157 Yearly Graduations
$48,431 Median Salary
$22,552 Median Debt
There are 315 colleges and univerities across the nation that offer a graduate certificate in special ed. This degree is more popular with female students, and about 26% of recent graduates were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Also, 0.8% of special ed graduates were international students.

Education Levels of Special Ed Majors

In 2020-2021, 3,157 earned their graduate certificate in special ed. This makes it the 5th most popular graduate certificate program in the country.

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 Graduate Certificates

The median salary for graduates holding a graduate certificate in special ed is $48,431. However, this can depend on a number of factors, such as where you live and the number of years experience you have. To get a better picture, earnings for this category of people can range from a low of $45,368 to a high of $54,496.

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Student Debt

The median student debt for graduates holding a graduate certificate in special ed is $22,552. 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, $24,464 is the debt load, and the debt load on the low side is $22,156.

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Student Diversity

More women than men pursue their graduate certificate in special ed. About 89.4% of graduates with this degree are female.

Gender Number of Grads
Men 336
Women 2,821
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The racial-ethnic distribution of special ed graduate certificate students is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity Number of Grads
Asian 109
Black or African American 286
Hispanic or Latino 349
White 2,185
International Students 25
Other Races/Ethnicities 203
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There are 315 colleges that offer a graduate certificate in special ed. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:

#1

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
433 Yearly Graduations
92% Women
25% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Ball State University tops the list of the most popular school in the U.S. for special ed majors who are seeking their graduate certificate. Roughly 21,500 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,628 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,482 per year. The special ed program at Ball State University awarded 433 graduate certificates during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 25% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 92% were women.

#2

Lamar University

Beaumont, Texas
211 Yearly Graduations
95% Women
60% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Lamar University is the 2nd most popular school in the nation for students seeking a graduate certificate in special ed. Roughly 16,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,228 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $6,471 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 211 graduate certificates were handed out to special ed majors at Lamar University. Of these students, 95% were women and 60% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

128 Yearly Graduations
94% Women
2% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Minnesota State University - Mankato is the 3rd most popular school in the nation for students seeking a graduate certificate in special ed. Roughly 14,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,072 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,506 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 128 graduate certificates were handed out to special ed majors at Minnesota State Mankato. Around 2% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 94% were women.

#4

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
80 Yearly Graduations
89% Women
49% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 4th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their graduate certificate is University of Southern California. Each year, around 46,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $60,446 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $60,446 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 80 graduate certificates were handed out to special ed majors at USC. About 89% of this group were women, and 49% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#5

Liberty University

Lynchburg, Virginia
75 Yearly Graduations
87% Women
28% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Liberty University is the 5th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a graduate certificate 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, 75 people received their graduate certificate in special ed from Liberty University. About 87% of this group were women, and 28% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#6

George Mason University

Fairfax, Virginia
71 Yearly Graduations
87% Women
31% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

George Mason University is the 6th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a graduate certificate in special ed. Each year, around 38,500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,510 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $13,035 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 71 people received their graduate certificate in special ed from GMU. Of these students, 87% were women and 31% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#7

University of West Georgia

Carrollton, Georgia
63 Yearly Graduations
94% Women
33% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of West Georgia is the 7th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a graduate certificate in special ed. Each year, around 13,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $4,371 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $4,338 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 63 people received their graduate certificate in special ed from University of West Georgia. Around 33% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 94% were women.

56 Yearly Graduations
86% Women
48% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Saint Mary's College of California comes in at #8 on our list of the most popular colleges offering graduate certificates in special ed. Each year, around 3,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $51,568 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $33,357 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 56 graduate certificates were handed out to special ed majors at SMC. Around 48% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 86% were women.

#9

Appalachian State University

Boone, North Carolina
49 Yearly Graduations
96% Women
12% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Appalachian State University is the 9th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a graduate certificate in special ed. Each year, around 20,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $4,242 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $4,839 per year. The special ed program at Appalachian State University awarded 49 graduate certificates during the 2020-2021 school year. About 96% of this group were women, and 12% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#10

University of Central Florida

Orlando, Florida
47 Yearly Graduations
96% Women
34% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 10th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their graduate certificate is University of Central Florida. Roughly 71,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $4,478 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $6,916 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 47 graduate certificates were handed out to special ed majors at UCF. Around 34% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 96% were women.

#11

Montclair State University

Montclair, New Jersey
44 Yearly Graduations
98% Women
20% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 11th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their graduate certificate is Montclair State University. Roughly 21,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $12,323 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,978 per year. The special ed program at Montclair State University awarded 44 graduate certificates during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 20% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 98% were women.

#11

University of Massachusetts - Boston

Boston, Massachusetts
44 Yearly Graduations
80% Women
14% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of Massachusetts - Boston comes in at #11 on our list of the most popular colleges offering graduate certificates in special ed. Each year, around 16,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $14,187 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $18,433 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 44 graduate certificates were handed out to special ed majors at UMass Boston. Around 14% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 80% were women.

#13

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida
42 Yearly Graduations
93% Women
21% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of Florida comes in at #13 on our list of the most popular colleges offering graduate certificates in special ed. Each year, around 53,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $4,477 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,770 per year. The special ed program at University of Florida awarded 42 graduate certificates during the 2020-2021 school year. About 93% of this group were women, and 21% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#14

Hunter College

New York, New York
40 Yearly Graduations
73% Women
25% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Hunter College comes in at #14 on our list of the most popular colleges offering graduate certificates in special ed. Each year, around 24,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,930 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,090 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 40 graduate certificates were handed out to special ed majors at Hunter. About 73% of this group were women, and 25% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#15

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
38 Yearly Graduations
92% Women
18% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 15th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their graduate certificate is University of Kansas. Roughly 26,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $10,092 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,989 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 38 graduate certificates were handed out to special ed majors at KU. About 92% of this group were women, and 18% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#15

Adelphi University

Garden City, New York
38 Yearly Graduations
89% Women
34% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Adelphi University is the 15th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a graduate certificate in special ed. Each year, around 7,500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $40,860 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $43,040 per year. The special ed program at Adelphi University awarded 38 graduate certificates during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 34% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 89% were women.

38 Yearly Graduations
79% Women
5% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Arkansas State University - Main Campus comes in at #15 on our list of the most popular colleges offering graduate certificates in special ed. Roughly 13,100 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $5,232 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $4,986 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 38 people received their graduate certificate in special ed from A-State. About 79% of this group were women, and 5% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#18

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
37 Yearly Graduations
97% Women
54% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

San Francisco State University comes in at #18 on our list of the most popular colleges offering graduate certificates in special ed. Each year, around 27,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $5,742 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,176 per year. The special ed program at San Francisco State University awarded 37 graduate certificates during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 97% were women and 54% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#19

Granite State College

Concord, New Hampshire
35 Yearly Graduations
80% Women
9% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Granite State College comes in at #19 on our list of the most popular colleges offering graduate certificates in special ed. Each year, around 1,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,536 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $9,684 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 35 graduate certificates were handed out to special ed majors at GSC. Of these students, 80% were women and 9% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#20

Northwestern State University of Louisiana

Natchitoches, Louisiana
32 Yearly Graduations
88% Women
16% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 20th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their graduate certificate is Northwestern State University of Louisiana. Roughly 11,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $5,180 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $5,738 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 32 graduate certificates were handed out to special ed majors at NSU. About 88% of this group were women, and 16% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

Below are some popular majors that are similar to special ed that offer graduate certificates.

Major Annual Degrees Awarded
Educational Administration 9,263
Teacher Education Grade Specific 4,646
Teacher Education Subject Specific 2,123
Curriculum & Instruction 1,525
Instructional Media Design 1,383

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.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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