Best Online Special Education Degree Programs of 2026

Why We Chose It: Campbell University provides the lowest tuition for active-duty military members, their spouses, and veterans.

Campbell University’s online bachelor’s in education studies offers active-duty service members, veterans, and their spouses substantial tuition support. 

The school offers a discount that brings tuition down to $250 per credit hour. Additionally, Campbell participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which helps cover tuition and fees not paid by the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The GI Bill provides education benefits to military members and their families, but it has annual limits. Through Yellow Ribbon, Campbell contributes up to $6,500 toward any remaining balance per eligible student, for up to 100 students each year.

Beyond its generous military tuition benefits, Campbell’s program provides students with a solid foundation for working with K-12 students with disabilities. The courses cover everything from curriculum design and classroom management to communication with families and colleagues.

What We Like About Campbell

• Courses are taught in accelerated eight-week terms, which allow you to complete your degree sooner compared to the traditional 16-week format of most bachelor’s programs.
• Online students can join virtual meetings with on-campus students who are completing their teaching practicums, participating in group discussions and sharing their classroom experiences.

What We Don't Like

• At $465 per credit hour, this is one of the pricier program options on our list — even for in-state students.

Why We Chose It: This program focuses on how educational systems and policies impact people with special needs, preparing students to advocate for meaningful change.

Florida International University’s bachelor’s in exceptional student education focuses on special education, educational foundations, and policy. The program helps students explore how laws, regulations, and institutional practices shape the experiences of learners with special needs.

In addition to core courses on disability, inclusive classrooms, behavior, and assistive technology, the program examines the policies that influence schools. You'll take classes such as "Cultural and Social Foundations of Education" and "Teacher and the Law." They explore how legislation shapes the educational system and how rights are interpreted when it comes to students with disabilities.

Overall, the program shows how the experiences of students with disabilities are shaped not only in classrooms but also by the policies and systems that guide schools, agencies, and communities. It’s a strong option for students interested in fields connected to education — advocacy, law, health services, and public administration.

What We Like About FIU

• FIU offers several student support services, including a personal success coach who can help you schedule tutoring sessions, plan your coursework, and map out your path to graduation.

What We Don't Like

• This program doesn't lead to teacher certification, so students should check their state's requirements to determine whether additional coursework or credentials are needed to become a teacher.
• Since this is a degree completion program, you’ll need at least 60 transferable credits to apply.

Why We Chose It: This program features more coursework focused on development and behavior than other programs on this list.

The online bachelor’s in exceptional student education from the University of Central Florida is a strong option for students interested in a learning-and-development focus.

The program’s learning and development track includes four courses dedicated to this area — more than the other programs we reviewed. Classes such as "Child Development" and "Early Childhood Education Theory and Practice" cover developmental milestones, communication, and early childhood behavior. 

That foundation continues in the "Planning Creative Activities in Early Childhood Education" and "Cultural and Family Systems" courses. They examine classroom practices and the family and community factors that shape development.

Outside the specialization track, core courses such as "Introduction to Behavior Management" and "Assessment of Exceptional Students" also reinforce the program's emphasis on learning and development. 

With this in mind, UCF offers a more detailed approach to development than other special education programs on this list.

What We Like About UCF

• At just $179 per credit hour for Florida residents, this program is the most affordable option for Florida residents in this list. Florida International University charges $236 per credit hour for in-state students.
• UCF reports that 62% of its first-time students graduate with zero educational debt.

What We Don't Like

• This is an online program, but not all electives are offered online.

Why We Chose It: UWF provides the lowest out-of-state tuition rate of any school on our list.

The University of West Florida's online bachelor's in exceptional student and elementary education offers a nonresident tuition waiver for students living outside Florida, including international students, that brings down tuition to $342 per credit instead of the usual $648.

Other Florida universities in this ranking, like the University of Central Florida and Florida International University, don’t offer tuition waivers and charge out-of-state students $769 and $649 per credit, respectively.

To qualify for the waiver, you just need to be admitted to the online program, enroll in courses that count toward your degree, and submit the required form. Just note that the waiver isn’t automatic — you’ll need to request it each semester. And it can’t be applied retroactively. You’re also still responsible for all other standard tuition and fees.

What We Like About UWF

• Once you graduate, you'll be eligible for a Professional Florida Educator’s Certificate in Exceptional Student Education (K-12) and Elementary Education (K-6), with endorsements in Reading and English for Speakers of Other Languages.
• While all programs include practicum experience, this one offers two options: the "Senior Seminar and Clinical Practicum in Reading" with a single student-teaching placement, or a more extensive route involving two teaching internships plus the same capstone senior practicum.

What We Don't Like

• This four-year program runs a bit longer than others, with 132 semester hours rather than the usual 120 for most bachelor’s degrees.