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Most Popular Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools

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2023 Most Popular Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools

314 Colleges
$49,862 Avg Salary
$22,246 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Special Education Graduate Certificate School for You

In 2020-2021, 36,792 people earned a degree or certificate in special education, making the major the #29 most popular in the United States.

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

The Most Popular Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 314 schools in the United States to see which graduate certificate programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Special Education program at each school on the list.

Check out the special ed graduate certificate programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in the United States.

#1

Ball State University

Muncie, IN

Our analysis found Ball State University to be the most popular school for special education students who want to pursue a graduate certificate in the United States. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State is a public college with a very large student population.

Of the 433 students majoring in special ed at Ball State, 8% are male and 92% are female.

Read More…

#2

Lamar University

Beaumont, TX

The in-demand graduate certificate programs at Lamar University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular special education schools in the United States. Located in the medium-sized city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a public college with a large student population.

Women make up 95% of the special ed majors at the school.

Full Special Education at Lamar University Report

Out of the 314 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the small city of Mankato, Minnesota State Mankato is a public college with a fairly large student population.

About 94% of the students majoring in special ed at the school are women while 6% are male.

Full Special Education at Minnesota State University - Mankato Report

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means University of Southern California is a great place for special education students working on their graduate certificate. USC is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles.

Women make up 89% of the special ed majors at the school.

Read More…

#5

Liberty University

Lynchburg, VA

Out of the 314 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Liberty University landed the # 5 spot on the list. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Lynchburg.

Women make up 87% of the special ed majors at the school.

Read More…

#6

George Mason University

Fairfax, VA

George Mason University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. GMU is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax.

About 87% of the students majoring in special ed at the school are women while 13% are male.

Read More…

#7

University of West Georgia

Carrollton, GA

University of West Georgia came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. University of West Georgia is a large public school located in the town of Carrollton.

Of the 63 students majoring in special ed at University of West Georgia, 6% are male and 94% are female.

Read full report on Special Education at University of West Georgia

Saint Mary’s College of California came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. Located in the large suburb of Moraga, SMC is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

About 86% of the students majoring in special ed at the school are women while 14% are male.

Read More…

Appalachian State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for special education students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #9 on the list. Appalachian State is a very large public school located in the town of Boone.

Women make up 96% of the special ed majors at the school.

Read More…

University of Central Florida did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for special education students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #10 on the list. UCF is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Orlando.

About 96% of the students majoring in special ed at the school are women while 4% are male.

Special Ed majors at UCF take out an average of $19,471 in student loans while working on their Graduate Certificate.

Read More…

#11

Montclair State University

Montclair, NJ

Montclair State University ranked #11 on this year’s Most Popular Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools list. Located in the large suburb of Montclair, Montclair State is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Women make up 98% of the special ed majors at the school.

Read full report on Special Education at Montclair State University

University of Massachusetts - Boston came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. Located in the city of Boston, UMass Boston is a public school with a large student population.

Of the 44 students majoring in special ed at UMass Boston, 20% are male and 80% are female.

Full Special Education at University of Massachusetts - Boston Report

#13

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL

University of Florida landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate special education programs. Located in the medium-sized city of Gainesville, UF is a public college with a fairly large student population.

About 93% of the students majoring in special ed at the school are women while 7% are male.

Read full report on Special Education at University of Florida

#14

Hunter College

New York, NY

Hunter College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for special education students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #14 on the list. Located in the city of New York, Hunter is a public college with a very large student population.

Of the 40 students majoring in special ed at Hunter, 28% are male and 73% are female.

Read full report on Special Education at Hunter College

#15

University of Kansas

Lawrence, KS

With a ranking of #15, University of Kansas did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for special education students working on their graduate certificate. KU is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence.

Of the 38 students majoring in special ed at KU, 8% are male and 92% are female.

Read full report on Special Education at University of Kansas

#15

Adelphi University

Garden City, NY

With a ranking of #15, Adelphi University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for special education students working on their graduate certificate. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Adelphi is a private not-for-profit school with a medium-sized student population.

About 89% of the students majoring in special ed at the school are women while 11% are male.

Read full report on Special Education at Adelphi University

Arkansas State University - Main Campus landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate special education programs. A-State is a fairly large public school located in the city of Jonesboro.

Women make up 79% of the special ed majors at the school.

Read More…

#18

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA

San Francisco State University landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate special education programs. SFSU is a very large public school located in the large city of San Francisco.

Women make up 97% of the special ed majors at the school.

Read full report on Special Education at San Francisco State University

#19

Granite State College

Concord, NH

Granite State College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. Located in the fringe town of Concord, GSC is a public college with a small student population.

Of the 35 students majoring in special ed at GSC, 20% are male and 80% are female.

Full Special Education at Granite State College Report

With a ranking of #20, Northwestern State University of Louisiana did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for special education students working on their graduate certificate. NSU is a large public school located in the remote town of Natchitoches.

Of the 32 students majoring in special ed at NSU, 13% are male and 88% are female.

Read full report on Special Education at Northwestern State University of Louisiana

#21

East Carolina University

Greenville, NC

East Carolina University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for special education students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #21 on the list. ECU is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville.

Women make up 97% of the special ed majors at the school.

Read full report on Special Education at East Carolina University

#21

Shenandoah University

Winchester, VA

Shenandoah University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for special education students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #21 on the list. Shenandoah is a small private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Winchester.

Women make up 90% of the special ed majors at the school.

Full Special Education at Shenandoah University Report

#23

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD

With a ranking of #23, Johns Hopkins University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for special education students working on their graduate certificate. Johns Hopkins is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Baltimore.

About 93% of the students majoring in special ed at the school are women while 7% are male.

Read full report on Special Education at Johns Hopkins University

#23

Worcester State University

Worcester, MA

Worcester State University ranked #23 on this year’s Most Popular Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools list. Worcester State is a moderately-sized public school located in the midsize city of Worcester.

Women make up 97% of the special ed majors at the school.

Read full report on Special Education at Worcester State University

Eastern Kentucky University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for special education students to get a graduate certificate. It came in at #23 on the list. Located in the distant town of Richmond, Eastern is a public school with a large student population.

Read More…

#26

Viterbo University

La Crosse, WI
#28

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, MN
#30

University of Maine

Orono, ME
#30

Quinnipiac University

Hamden, CT
#30

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, AZ
#30

Queens College

Queens, NY
#35

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, IL
#38

University of West Alabama

Livingston, AL
#40

Towson University

Towson, MD
#43

Augusta University

Augusta, GA
#44

Endicott College

Beverly, MA
#46

University of Arizona

Tucson, AZ
#46

University of Georgia

Athens, GA

Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools award.

Rank College Location
51 University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR
51 Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MO
51 Alverno College Milwaukee, WI
51 California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CA
51 Holy Names University Oakland, CA
56 University of Denver Denver, CO
56 Bayamon Central University Bayamón, PR
56 Winona State University Winona, MN
59 University of Central Arkansas Conway, AR
59 Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA
59 Hamline University Saint Paul, MN
59 William & Mary Williamsburg, VA

Special Education by Region

View the Most Popular Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Great Lakes

Special Education is one of 14 different types of programs to choose from.

Related Major Annual Graduates
Teacher Education Grade Specific 110,226
Educational Administration 46,469
Teacher Education Subject Specific 43,297
General Education 29,810
Curriculum & Instruction 19,832

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to woodleywonderworks.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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