Online Master’s in Special Education Programs

Special education professionals help students with disabilities learn, grow, and achieve success. These professionals can specialize in specific areas, such as serving students with low vision, autism, or multiple disabilities, or gifted and talented education. Special education teachers can work in preschools, K-12 settings, hospitals, residential facilities, and students’ homes.

A master’s degree can help current teachers move into special education or provide a pathway for non-teachers to achieve initial licensure.

This guide compares five popular special education master’s degrees and answers common questions about what these programs can do for you and your career.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

We chose to highlight the following schools based on several factors, including top position in organic or paid search results (as of March 2024), relevancy of program offerings, and categorization as a nonprofit. These programs are listed alphabetically by school and not weighed against each other in our methodology.

A master’s in special education is a graduate degree that equips graduates to provide instruction and assessment in common educational settings. Students learn tools and techniques to assess special needs students, instructional methods for students with disabilities, and technologies for assistive learning.

Special education degrees vary according to what they emphasize, whom they serve, and how their programs are structured. Common degree types associated with special education programs include:

A master’s in special education typically requires students to complete 30-36 credits and takes 1-2 years to complete. Students in accelerated programs and full-time learners may complete their programs more quickly.

Schools that require classroom-based teaching assessments may call for a longer time in the program to complete this requirement.

According to the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES), the average graduate program costs about $20,510 in annual tuition.

Online master’s in education programs cost an average of $8,155 per year in tuition and fees. In-state public institutions typically charge the lowest, followed by out-of-state public schools and private institutions.

Teachers often start their careers with initial teaching licensure, allowing them to teach in the public school system.

With their initial licensure, teachers can add endorsements or certifications in other areas. For example, a teacher may gain initial licensure as an elementary instructor and then add an endorsement in special education.

Some master’s programs prepare graduates for initial licensure, while others equip current teachers with the qualifications to add on a special education endorsement.

Yes. In the U.S., if a school or program is accredited, it meets certain quality standards set by third-party organizations. When a college or university holds institutional accreditation, it means an accreditor has reviewed the entire institution and asserts that it meets high educational standards. Students must attend an accredited school to access federal financial aid, transfer credits, and be taken seriously by employers.

Programmatic accreditation means that a specific program within a school is certified for its standards of education. This kind of accreditation is not essential, but it can provide an additional marker of quality.

The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) are the main accreditors for special education master’s programs.

When applying to any program, you have to meet the minimum requirements to be considered for admission.

For a master’s in special education program, most schools require that you hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75-3.0. Official transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose are commonly required as part of your application package.

Additionally, some schools may require or prefer that you hold a valid teaching license, have experience working with people with disabilities, or submit Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores.

A master’s degree in special education can open the door to more opportunities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for special is not projected to change over the next decade for special education teachers, who earned a median salary of $65,910 in 2023.

While a degree in special education can qualify you to work as a teacher, you may also work as a tutor, education consultant, or curriculum adaptation specialist. You may be able to find a job in a clinical setting.

Online learning can offer a chance to schedule school into your life instead of scheduling your life around school. The option appeals to busy professionals and active parents. It also allows people to get their degree sooner or take a bit longer to complete their courses.

Losing in-person contact with professors and classmates can have its drawbacks. But despite the sacrifices, students have found that meshing an online degree with life and career goals is worthwhile.

Note: The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by BestColleges. Page last reviewed April 8, 2024.