Master’s Degrees in Special Education
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Education Levels of Special Ed Majors
In 2020-2021, 21,797 master's degrees were awarded to special ed majors. This earns it the #8 spot on the list of the most popular master'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 Master’s Degrees
The median salary for graduates holding a master's degree in special ed is $48,941. However, this can depend on a number of factors, such as where you live and the number of years experience you have. A better approximation of salary is to look at the typical range of salaries. In this case the low is $45,291 and the high is $53,653.
Student Debt
We do not have the data to calculate the median and range of debt loads for special ed students who are master's degree holders.
Student Diversity
More women than men pursue their master's degree in special ed. About 85.3% of graduates with this degree are female.
| Gender | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Men | 3,195 |
| Women | 18,602 |
The racial-ethnic distribution of special ed master’s degree students is as follows:
| Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Asian | 620 |
| Black or African American | 2,185 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2,919 |
| White | 14,000 |
| International Students | 200 |
| Other Races/Ethnicities | 1,873 |
Most Popular Special Ed Programs for Master’s Degrees
There are 631 colleges that offer a master’s degree in special ed. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:
Grand Canyon University tops the list of the most popular school in the U.S. for special ed majors who are seeking their master's degree. 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 1,624 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. About 85% of this group were women, and 40% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Ball State University comes in at #2 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in special ed. 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. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 1,369 master's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at Ball State. Around 25% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 90% were women.
Arizona State University - Skysong is the 3rd most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in special ed. Each year, around 53,900 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 $9,774 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 1,272 people received their master's degree in special ed from ASU - Skysong. About 87% of this group were women, and 41% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Touro College comes in at #4 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in special ed. Roughly 11,600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $18,283 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,708 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 635 master's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at Touro. Around 32% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 85% were women.
The 5th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their master's degree is National University. Roughly 18,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $13,320 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $15,480 per year. The special ed program at National University awarded 431 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 72% were women and 48% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 6th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their master's degree is Western Governors University. 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, 420 master's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at WGU. Of these students, 86% were women and 9% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 7th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their master's degree is Lamar University. 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, 330 master's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at Lamar University. Around 43% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 93% were women.
George Mason University is the 8th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree 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. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 326 master's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at GMU. About 91% of this group were women, and 31% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Hunter College comes in at #9 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees 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. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 320 people received their master's degree in special ed from Hunter. About 80% of this group were women, and 53% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Liberty University comes in at #10 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master'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, 306 people received their master's degree in special ed from Liberty University. Of these students, 84% were women and 16% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
The 11th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their master's degree is The University of West Florida. Each year, around 13,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $3,735 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,088 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 243 master's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at UWF. About 86% of this group were women, and 34% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 12th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their master's degree is Brooklyn College. Each year, around 17,700 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. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 236 people received their master's degree in special ed from Brooklyn College. Of these students, 69% were women and 69% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
Endicott College is the 13th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in special ed. Each year, around 4,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $35,764 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,746 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 208 master's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at Endicott. About 86% of this group were women, and 15% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Pace University - New York comes in at #14 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in special ed. Each year, around 12,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $46,978 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $33,000 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 196 people received their master's degree in special ed from Pace University. About 69% of this group were women, and 49% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Daemen College is the 15th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in special ed. Each year, around 2,500 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $30,590 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $23,928 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 187 master's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at Daemen College. About 84% of this group were women, and 1% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
LIU Post is the 16th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in special ed. Each year, around 15,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $37,296 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $22,047 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 173 people received their master's degree in special ed from LIU Post. About 73% of this group were women, and 51% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
Arkansas State University - Main Campus comes in at #17 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees 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, 156 people received their master's degree in special ed from A-State. About 94% of this group were women, and 9% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The 18th most popular school in the country for special ed majors who are seeking their master's degree is University of Northern Colorado. Roughly 11,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $8,127 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,192 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 152 master's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at University of Northern Colorado. About 93% of this group were women, and 14% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
American International College is the 19th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in special ed. Each year, around 2,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $39,370 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,657 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 148 master's degrees were handed out to special ed majors at AIC. About 77% of this group were women, and 10% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is the 20th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in special ed. Each year, around 32,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,857 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $7,002 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 142 people received their master's degree in special ed from UT Rio Grande Valley. Of these students, 86% were women and 93% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.
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Related Majors
Below are some popular majors that are similar to special ed that offer master’s degrees.
| Major | Annual Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Teacher Education Grade Specific | 29,374 |
| Educational Administration | 28,511 |
| Teacher Education Subject Specific | 17,998 |
| General Education | 17,801 |
| Curriculum & Instruction | 16,825 |
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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