2023 Most Popular Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools
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.
2023 Most Popular Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools in the United States
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.
Top 25 Most Popular Schools for a Postbaccalaureate Certificates in Special Education
Our 2023 rankings named Ball State University the most popular school in the United States for special education students working on their graduate certificate. Located in the small city of Muncie, Ball State is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Of the 433 students majoring in special ed at Ball State, 8% are male and 92% are female.
Read full report on Special Education at Ball State University
Request Information
Out of the 314 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Lamar University landed the # 2 spot on the list. 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
Request Information
The in-demand graduate certificate programs at Minnesota State University - Mankato helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular special education schools in the United States. Located in the small city of Mankato, Minnesota State Mankato is a public college with a large student population.
About 94% of the students majoring in special ed at the school are women while 6% are male.
Read full report on Special Education at Minnesota State University - Mankato
Request Information
Out of the 314 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Southern California landed the # 4 spot on the list. USC is a very 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.
Full Special Education at University of Southern California Report
Request Information
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Liberty University is a great place for special education students working on their graduate certificate. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg.
Women make up 87% of the special ed majors at the school.
Read full report on Special Education at Liberty University
Request Information
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 large suburb of Fairfax.
About 87% of the students majoring in special ed at the school are women while 13% are male.
Read full report on Special Education at George Mason University
Request Information
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.
Request Information
Saint Mary’s College of California landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate special education programs. Located in the suburb of Moraga, SMC is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
About 86% of the students majoring in special ed at the school are women while 14% are male.
Request Information
With a ranking of #9, Appalachian State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for special education students working on their graduate certificate. 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.
Request Information
University of Central Florida came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. UCF is a very 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.
Full Special Education at University of Central Florida Report
Request Information
Montclair State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. Located in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State is a public school with a very 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
Request Information
University of Massachusetts - Boston 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 #11 on the list. Located in the city of Boston, UMass Boston is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Of the 44 students majoring in special ed at UMass Boston, 20% are male and 80% are female.
Request Information
University of Florida came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. Located in the medium-sized city of Gainesville, UF is a public school with a very large student population.
About 93% of the students majoring in special ed at the school are women while 7% are male.
Full Special Education at University of Florida Report
Request Information
Hunter College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. Located in the city of New York, Hunter is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Of the 40 students majoring in special ed at Hunter, 28% are male and 73% are female.
Request Information
University of Kansas ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools list. KU is a fairly 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
Request Information
Adelphi University ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools list. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Adelphi is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-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
Request Information
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 small city of Jonesboro.
Women make up 79% of the special ed majors at the school.
Full Special Education at Arkansas State University - Main Campus Report
Request Information
With a ranking of #18, San Francisco State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for special education students working on their graduate certificate. 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.
Request Information
Granite State College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate special education programs. 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.
Request Information
Northwestern State University of Louisiana landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate special education programs. 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.
Request Information
East Carolina University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. 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
Request Information
With a ranking of #21, Shenandoah University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for special education students working on their graduate certificate. Shenandoah is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winchester.
Women make up 90% of the special ed majors at the school.
Request Information
Johns Hopkins University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. Johns Hopkins is a very 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
Request Information
Worcester State University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools ranking. Worcester State is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Worcester.
Women make up 97% of the special ed majors at the school.
Full Special Education at Worcester State University Report
Request Information
Eastern Kentucky University landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular graduate certificate special education programs. Located in the town of Richmond, Eastern is a public school with a large student population.
Request InformationRest of the Top Most Popular Special Education Graduate Certificate Schools
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 Related Majors
Special Education is one of 14 different types of programs to choose from.
Most Popular Majors Related to Special Ed
| 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.
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.