30 Best Online Masters in Special Education Programs [2024 Guide]

An online masters in special education can help equip you with the tools for making a difference for students with special needs.

In your program, you can learn more about reaching diverse groups of students, advocating for their learning needs, and helping other staff and administrators understand best practices in special education.

Online Masters in Special Education Programs

Special education teachers work with students who have unique learning needs. Although challenging at times, this job can be quite rewarding as well. Most teachers find that helping struggling students find success at school can make even the hard days worth it.

Being patient, compassionate, and determined can help you succeed in this career. To improve your ability to reach students, you can consider earning a master’s degree in special education.

If you already work teaching children with special needs, this degree may be the next natural step in your professional development. Learning more about special needs can help you become a more effective teacher. You might focus your graduate studies on a particular area of special education programs, such as autism, behavioral disorders, or gifted education.

By developing an area of expertise, you might qualify for new teaching positions or headteacher roles in your department. It’s also possible that you could apply for a job as a special education director or shift your focus to an agency that supports or advises schools’ special education departments.

Special education master’s degrees can also be a good fit for current general education teachers. Adding special education certification to your teaching license can open up new job possibilities for you.

In schools where hiring special education graduates seems more difficult than filling other classroom positions, the administrators might be happy to move you to a special education role.

If you’ve been teaching for several years and are ready for a new challenge, becoming a special education instructor may renew your enthusiasm for the profession.

Getting a master’s in special education may also allow you to become a teacher for the first time. If you’re ready for a midlife career change, consider selecting a licensure track for your online master’s program.

Your coursework will probably include a semester of student teaching.

Whether you’re a long-time special education teacher or are entering this line of work for the first time, a master’s program can help you learn more about physical, mental, and behavioral disabilities. You’ll likely study interventions, laws, and instructional methods that can enhance your classroom practices.

Special Education Curriculum & Courses

Graduate programs in special education often require about 30 to 45 credit hours, which means that you may take around 12 to 17 classes. Your curriculum may include many of the courses listed below.

• Behavioral Interventions – This class can help equip you with classroom management strategies as well as tools for helping individual students modify their behavior.
• Curriculum and Instruction for Special Education – As you learn more about ways to help special education students learn, you can get better at picking out appropriate curriculum and delivering instruction in effective ways.
• Digital Technology for Special Education Programs – Students with special needs may benefit from adaptive technologies that can help them integrate with society or develop greater independence.
• English Language Learning – When students don’t have a firm grasp of the primary language used in your school, it can set back their learning, so you’ll need to explore ways to improve English literacy skills.
• Overview of Exceptionalities – A good understanding of giftedness and disabilities can serve as a strong foundation for the rest of your master’s studies.
• Physical Health for Special Populations – At home and school, students’ disabilities may require special physical considerations, which you can study in this course.
• Special Education Law – Federal regulations related to special education programs are covered in this course, and you may learn about state laws as well.
• Student Assessments – This class can help get you ready to evaluate students’ strengths and deficits and plan interventions accordingly.
• Supportive Learning Environments – You can learn to set up classrooms in ways that foster students’ learning and behavioral goals.
• Transitions in Special Education – This class addresses how to help students move from special education settings into mainstream classes.

In addition, practicum experiences are common requirements of special education master’s programs, and licensure tracks typically require student teaching.

Careers & Salaries for a Master’s in Special Education

If you’re like many students in special education master’s degree programs, teaching children with special needs is probably your passion in life. Such teachers are needed at every level of education, from preschool through high school, so you can select an age that appeals to you.

Keep in mind that your license may specify exactly which grade levels you are qualified to teach.

A master’s degree in special education may also give you opportunities to serve in school leadership positions. For example, you might take on the role of curriculum and instruction coordinator for your school’s special education department. You could also oversee all special education programs in your school as a director.

Childcare centers or preschools may also benefit from your leadership, especially if they operate in areas with a high number of at-risk students.

An on-campus or special education degree online may also prepare you to work with adults, such as those in a GED or adult literacy program. In some cases, the students enrolled in these programs may have dropped out of high school, in part, over frustration with diagnosed or undiagnosed learning disabilities.

Your expertise in special education may help these adults turn their lives around and increase their employability.

In some cases, you might be able to teach college classes. While four-year universities often require full-time faculty members to hold a PhD, your master’s degree may qualify you to teach in a part-time capacity or at a community college.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average job in the education, training, and library sector pays $52,380 per year. You might do one of the following jobs with your master’s degree in special education.

In many school districts, pay increases with education, so earning a master’s degree may qualify you for an automatic raise.

Special Education Specializations & Concentrations

While some special education students work with students who have all sorts of disabilities, others have classrooms dedicated to particular needs, such as developmental delays or behavioral interventions.

If there’s a particular area of special education programs that interests you, consider increasing your expertise by pursuing a degree concentration on that topic.

• Applied Behavior Analysis – Using ABA therapy techniques in the classroom may help some students, particularly those with autism, work on their social and academic skills. This concentration is designed to prepare students to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst examination, but additional requirements, such as earning practicum hours, may have to be met first.
• Behavioral Support – This program focuses on teaching students how to gather student data and use it to formulate plans for reinforcing positive behavior. After completing your studies, you may qualify for a Behavior Intervention Specialist endorsement for your teaching license, and you could potentially teach in the classroom or work as a behavior consultant.
• Developmental Disabilities – The focus of this concentration is the study of assessment methods and effective classroom strategies while working with students who have intellectual or cognitive disabilities. At some schools, this concentration is offered in conjunction with an autism specialization.
• Disabilities – Students’ disabilities may be physical, mental, or emotional, and many deal with a mix of multiple diagnoses. To prepare for working with many different students, you may want to pursue a concentration that covers all different types of disabilities.
• Trauma-Informed Education – Whether students experience short-term crises or chronic stress, the effects of trauma can impact every area of their lives, including education. Increasing your understanding of trauma can help you reach more of the kids in your care, and you may also learn to implement restorative justice practices.

The selection of concentration can vary considerably from one school to the next, and some schools offer generalist degrees that provide a broad overview of special education programs instead of focusing on any one area.

Admissions

The first step toward enrolling in a master’s degree program is submitting applications to master’s programs. Assembling a strong application packet increases your chances of meeting admission requirements to your top schools.

Although each school sets its own requirements, your checklist may include the items below.

• Application – There’s usually a form to fill out that asks for basic contact information and information about your school, work, and extracurricular activities.
• Essay – Writing a personal statement is often one of the admission requirements and allows you to introduce yourself to the admissions department.
• Fee – It’s common for schools to require a small payment to cover the cost of reviewing your application.
• References – When looking for people to write letters of recommendation for you, consider academic or professional supervisors who will speak highly of your strengths.
• Test Scores – Master’s programs may ask to see your GRE scores to help them learn whether you can handle graduate-level work. Not all schools depend on test scores and some that do offer waivers on a case-by-case basis.
• Transcripts – Records of your past coursework show what classes you have taken and the grades you have earned.

Pay careful attention to what sort of licensure a program offers. This will influence what prerequisites you must have before enrolling.

• Initial licensure tracks – for those who are new to the teaching profession
• Additional licensure tracks – for those who have a teaching license but need a special education endorsement
• Non-licensure tracks – for current special education teachers

For admission requirements to some programs, your application packet may need to include proof of your licensure and endorsements.

Choosing an Online Master’s in Special Education

Many schools offer online master’s degrees in special education, so consider the following characteristics as you decide where to apply.

• Accreditation – Any college you choose for your on-campus or online special education degree should hold regional accreditation.
• Concentrations – If you’re interested in studying a particular topic within special education, such as developmental disabilities, behavior disorders, autism, gifted and talented, or curriculum and instruction, look for a school that offers a specialization track for your interest area.
• Course list – Many schools publish a list of required classes and electives that you can take during the program. To figure out where you belong, look over each school’s degree plan to see if the course selection interests you.
• Endorsements and licensure – Each special ed track is designed for people in a certain stage of professional life. If you’re brand-new to teaching, you’ll need a different program than someone who wants to add a special education endorsement.
• Online format – Not every school approaches digital education in the same way, so you’ll need to decide which format works best for your lifestyle. Options for an online special education degree may include self-paced studies, accelerated classes, asynchronous courses, set log-in times, and on-campus intensives.
• Project – Most master’s programs require a final project before graduation to synthesize your learning and demonstrate your academic growth. Some schools require students to write a thesis paper, and others suggest an alternative capstone project.

As you compare online special education degree programs, you may want to draw up a pros and cons list or a chart to help you keep track of features and benefits.

Accreditation

While colleges may differ in their approach to curriculum, online format, and class schedules, they should all adhere to certain academic standards. Those that do, receive accreditation — a stamp of approval for their educational offerings.

Earning accreditation requires a college to undergo a review process by an authorized organization that can evaluate the school’s strengths and weaknesses.

The best type of accreditation for any college is regional accreditation. To qualify for this distinction, schools must demonstrate a proven track record of supporting students and delivering quality academics.

Earning a degree from a regionally accredited school can help you secure a good job, transfer your credits to another university, or get into an online doctoral degree in special education program.

Six U.S. organizations can grant regional accreditation to colleges with graduate programs. Each has been approved by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

• Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

Keep in mind that regional accreditation is granted to the entire university. It doesn’t provide specific details about the strength of the college’s special education program.

Special Education Professional Organizations

Joining an organization of like-minded professionals can help you grow as an educator. You may learn new ideas, find out about the latest research, and grow your professional network.

• Council for Exceptional Children – As a member of CEC, you can get opportunities to network with around 29,000 colleagues, read professional journals, and connect with a local chapter. The organization’s special interest groups include Division on Career Development and Transition (DCDT) and the Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders (CCBD).
• Learning Disabilities Association of America – Membership in LDA is open to teachers, parents, and others who work with people who have learning disabilities. Joining this group can give you access to local affiliate representatives, ebooks, online discussion forums, and the latest news from the world of learning disabilities.
• National Association of Special Education Teachers – NASET’s mission is to support special education teachers and advocate for policies that benefit educators and the students in their programs. The group can connect you to professional development programs, classroom resources, online journals and newsletters, and personal and professional discounts.

Each group offers its own selection of benefits, so you may want to join more than one if you can afford to do so. Student membership rates may make it easier to try out several different groups while in school.

Special Education Licensing and Certification

Nearly every classroom teacher is required to have state teaching credentials; these vouch for your ability to teach certain grades or subjects. To set yourself apart from others in your profession, you might want to pursue additional special education certifications.

• Leadership in Special and Inclusive Education Certificate – This special education certification program from the University of Kansas focuses on the legal regulations surrounding special education, and it also introduces participants to educational strategies for supporting students with special needs.
• National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification – NASDTEC is a professional organization that represents state, provincial and territorial boards of education as well as various certification boards, and the group also offers a continuing education program called “Prevention and Correction – Overview.”
• Special Education Licensure – Being a classroom teacher requires that you hold a valid teaching license in your state, and your license will probably need to include at least one special education endorsement that shows you’ve received specialized training in working with exceptional students.

Aside from your license and endorsements, additional certification programs are usually optional.

Even still, pursuing these certifications may provide continuing education credits, lead to a higher salary or help you be among the top applicants for coveted teaching positions.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Whether you choose one of the cheaper master’s programs or one of the more expensive ones, you may need to rely on financial aid to help fund your tuition.

State and federal governments provide much of the financial aid that students rely on each year.

• Grants – Low-income students may receive free tuition assistance that doesn’t need to be repaid.
• Loans – Government student loans usually have lower interest rates than private ones.
• Work-study – This program can allow you to earn tuition money through a part-time job.

To learn more about your federal financial aid opportunities, fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

In addition to state or federal financial aid, you can also look for scholarships and fellowships for graduate students. Scholarships are financial that gifts may cover part or all of your tuition costs.

Fellowships are similar but are often focused on helping you afford extra experiences, such as conferences or research projects, that can enhance your graduate education.

Scholarships and fellowships are often distributed on a merit basis. The more that you apply for, the greater your chances of securing a few. Look for scholarships from a variety of organizations, such as civic clubs, professional associations, and corporations. Your college may offer scholarship opportunities as well.

If you are currently employed by a school, you may qualify for tuition assistance from your district.

The lessons that you learn during grad school can benefit your students and your school, so the district may have a vested interest in helping you afford classes.

What Can I Do with a Masters Degree in Special Education?

With a master’s in special education, you can be a classroom teacher who provides individualized education for students with exceptionalities.

This can include students who have cognitive, behavioral, and physical disabilities and those who require gifted and talented interventions. Your students may be as young as preschool age or up to 21 years old.

A graduate education could also prepare you to become an administrator or a director in a school, a community agency, or an education association.

How Much Can You Make with a Masters in Special Education?

According to the Center on Education and the Workforce, the median salary for people with graduate degrees in special needs education is $61,000. Those in the bottom 25% make less than $49,000 per year, and the top 25% make over $78,000 annually.

Public school teachers usually make more than private school teachers, and those who take administrative roles may earn some of the highest salaries in special education programs.

Should I Get a Masters in Special Education?

By earning a master’s degree, you can get a teaching license, add endorsements to your special education certification, or become a more accomplished special education teacher without needing to complete another 120-credit traditional or online bachelor’s educational degree program.

Plus, holding a master’s leads to an automatic salary hike in many districts, so the work that you put into a graduate program may start to pay off right away.

So ultimately, if you enjoy helping students with special needs, then a master’s in special education is a perfect fit for you. However, if you’d rather pursue a different specialization like a master’s in adult education, then you may want to take a step back and re-evaluate your goals and interests.

How Long Does it Take to Get a Masters in Special Education?

Most special education master’s degrees require between 30 and 45 credit hours of courses. You can probably finish the work within 12 to 18 months, especially if you enroll in a school that has a year-round accelerated course schedule. Transferring in credits can shorten the program length as well.

Keep in mind that, to qualify for an initial teaching license, you’ll probably need to work for a semester as a student teacher before you can graduate.

What Can You Do with a Master’s in Special Education Degree?

There’s a good chance that you will teach in public or private schools after finishing this degree. Depending on your license, you might work in a preschool or an elementary, middle, or high school.

Other career options include being a school special education director or partnering with schools as a consultant. You could also write a curriculum for special education classes, teach at a community college, or help adults improve their literacy skills.

How Much Can You Make with an Online Special Education Masters?

Teaching special education in a private elementary or secondary school pays an average annual salary of $56,290, and working in a public school may pay around $61,920 each year (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

In general, preschool special education teachers receive lower salaries, and high school teachers earn higher ones. You may make even more in an administrative position, such as being a curriculum and instruction coordinator or a special education director.

What Can I Expect to Learn From an Online Master’s in Special Education Program?

In a graduate program, you can learn about a variety of exceptionalities, including behavioral, intellectual, and emotional disabilities, and acquire strategies for providing a personalized education for each student in your class. You may also study special education law, adaptive technologies, leadership skills, and assessment measures.

Not only can you expand your knowledge in your online college classrooms, but you may also have opportunities to gain ideas from seasoned educators during practicum or student teaching experiences.

What is the Cost of an Online Master’s in Special Education Program?

The overall cost of your graduate degree will depend on the tuition rate at your school and how much financial aid you receive. In general, you may find programs that are around $400 to $700 per credit hour, but some schools may be well outside of that range.

For an affordable online master’s in special education, look into what programs are available from public universities in your state.

Universities Offering Special Education Online Master’s Degree Programs

Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format.