The need for special education continues to grow. For example, in the year 2000 roughly one in 150 children received an autism diagnosis. In 2020, that number was one in 36. In addition, about one in six children ages 3-17 face other developmental disorders. With one of the cheapest doctorate in special education online programs, you can help meet the need for well-informed and compassionate educators for special needs kids.
The education system needs advanced experts who deeply understand how these conditions impact children. They need people who can research special education practices and advocate for special education causes.
We have identified 20 special education doctorates from 14 accredited institutions that can help you become an expert in special education. These programs come with a wide range of prices.
ARTICLE NAVIGATION: Rankings Table | Career Guide
Average Cost (In-state): ~ $45,700
Least Expensive: National University ~ $31,200
Most Expensive: Nova Southeastern University ~ $82,775
We have created the most reliable database of online degrees. We use simple formulas to calculate the most accurate prices so that you can make an informed decision. If you need the most affordable online doctorate in special education, look at programs above the dividing line; they are all priced below the average, making them our “Best Buys” for online doctorates in special education.
The Cheapest Doctorate in Special Education Online Programs
Grand Canyon University 
| Rank | School / Degree | State | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |  National University | (CA) | $31,200.00 | All Students |
2 | The University of Alabama | (AL) | $32,400.00 | All Students |
3 |  Liberty University | (VA) | $33,724.00 $14,950.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
4 | Clemson University | (SC) | $35,989.00 | All Students |
5 | Southern Wesleyan University | (SC) | $37,200.00 | All Students |
6 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | (PA) | $37,284.00 $41,592.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
7 | Liberty University | (VA) | $37,543.00 | All Students |
8 | University of Toledo | (OH) | $38,122.00 $38,422.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
9 | National University | (CA) | $39,000.00 | All Students |
| School / Degree | State | Price | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Concordia University - Chicago | (IL) | $45,872.00 | All Students | |
University of the Southwest | (NM) | $47,940.00 | All Students | |
National Louis University | (IL) | $49,987.00 | All Students | |
Concordia University - Chicago | (IL) | $50,384.00 | All Students | |
University of Northern Colorado | (CO) | $51,744.00 | All Students | |
Brenau University | (GA) | $54,612.00 | All Students | |
Regent University | (VA) | $55,300.00 | All Students | |
Regent University | (VA) | $60,750.00 | All Students | |
Nova Southeastern University | (FL) | $82,775.00 | All Students |
Program Note: To qualify for a ranking, the doctorate in special education online must be regionally accredited. Additional programmatic accreditation is noted in the rank table. Degrees labeled with superscript 14 indicate that options for this program have changed since publication.
CAEP Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
AAQEP Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation
Rankings Note: These online college rankings are based on a GetEducated Winter/Spring 2023 review of regionally accredited doctorate in special education online programs. Total cost includes full-time tuition and fees and was valid at the time of collection and specific to the online learning program. School profiles for the online doctoral programs in special education in our directory may reflect a slightly different cost based on different editorial update schedules. The published costs are estimated sticker prices for the online doctorate in special education, including fees. Actual costs may vary by student. Factors such as transfer credits, prerequisite courses, professional licensing and financial aid availability will affect final cost.
Editorial Note: Online schools do NOT pay to be included in any GetEducated online degree ranking. These rankings are editorially independent, open to any regionally accredited or candidate college that offers a doctorate in special education online that is available at least 80 percent through online learning and that is open to enrollment by the public. If your online college is regionally accredited and not currently reviewed by GetEducated, please contact us for inclusion.
These rankings of the cheapest doctorate in special education online programs may NOT be re-posted online or reprinted in any format without a license from GetEducated ®. Consumer finance bloggers and writers can contact our editors for a free custom article on the cheapest doctorate in special education online programs for use on your website. Our mission: Help consumers GetEducated ® about the best online colleges for cost and credibility.
Why an Online Doctorate in Special Education?
Here are a few reasons why people choose these engaging, interesting, and challenging degrees:
- Earn a higher income: The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that the median salary for people with a doctorate is $2,083. (This includes doctorates in all fields.) With 52 weeks of pay per year, this translates to an annual salary of $108,316. The median weekly salary for a master’s holder, comparatively, is $1,661, or $86,732 a year.
- Meet a growing need: There has been a rise in the amount of children diagnosed with autism and other disorders. With a doctorate in special education, you can meet these new challenges head-on.
- Advance special education research: We still need to know more about special needs development and effective education. With these advanced degrees, you can uncover new ways to improve education and unlock future success for special needs students.
What to Expect from A Doctorate in Special Education Online
An online doctorate in special education will prepare you to become a leader while creating expert knowledge in special education. Your learning will take many forms and cover a variety of topics, but it will largely cover two broad categories: 1) effective special education practices and 2) school leadership and administration.
By combining these two larger topics, the degrees prepare students for careers such as special education teacher, director of special education programs, school superintendent, or principal. You may also qualify for a position in school administration, such as a post-secondary school administrator role.
Graduates of these programs will qualify for work as teachers and researchers at the university level. After completing one of these programs, you can work as an assistant professor and ultimately become a full-time professor.
These programs give you skills that allow you to deal with a wide variety of challenges in school administration and special education. Many graduates work as special education program directors, helping schools provide enough resources to ensure proper levels of service for special needs children. In this type of position, you can work with teachers, parents, and principals to create learning plans that deliver lasting results for students.
EdD vs PhD in Education
As you search through these online doctoral programs in special education, you’ll find two broad types of degrees. There are doctorate of education (EdD) programs, as well as doctor of philosophy (PhD) programs in special education.
They sound similar, but are important differences between the two. The main difference is time. Although programs vary, an EdD is typically faster, requiring about three years. A PhD can take as much as seven years to complete.
The subject matter, while overlapping, is often different. A PhD will typically focus on research and theory within special education or the general education sector, while an EdD focuses on the administration and management of education. In some ways, an EdD is like a management degree in education, while a PhD is an academic research degree.
Courses in a Doctorate in Special Education Online
To better understand online doctoral programs in special education, let’s take a closer look at the structure and coursework from some of these programs:
The University of Alabama – Doctor of Education in Special Education
The EdD from The University of Alabama is a large program that requires 72 credit hours of study. This includes at least 60 hours of coursework and a dissertation that counts for 12 credit hours. The program is available with various tracks (all special education-related) that include subjects like autism, early childhood special education, gifted education, and collaborative special education.
General courses make up 24 credit hours in this program. They include “Consultation Process for Special Education Programs,” and “Advanced Professional Development.” The foundation courses include “Career Development,” “Educational Theory and Policy,” and “Philosophy of Research in Education.”
Clemson University – Doctor of Philosophy in Special Education
This program is designed for aspiring researchers, teachers, and leaders in education. Experienced educators who want to build their knowledge of special education will benefit from this program, which requires a minimum of 55 credit hours. The program consists of four sections: research courses, core coursework, electives, and a dissertation.
The research classes discuss methodology and quantitative methods in education, while the core coursework focuses on special needs and disability issues. Core classes include “Professional Writing in Special Education,” “Research in High Incidence Disabilities,” and “Preparing Highly Qualified Special Educators.”
Concordia University - Chicago – Doctor of Education in Leadership / Special Education
Concordia University in Chicago offers both an EdD and PhD in special education. The EdD, which we’ll examine here, has a program core and a section on research and statistics. There is also a comprehensive exam, a dissertation, and special education specialization classes.
The coursework includes topics that apply to all education. “Policy Analysis” and “Ethics for Educational Leaders” are two examples. In the special education section, students complete classes like “Research-Based Decision Making,” “Special Education Law and Policy,” and “Assistive Technology for Students with Disabilities.”
Accreditation for Doctorates in Special Education
These programs take time, effort, and money. Even the cheapest doctorate in special education online costs over $30,000, so you must enroll in a top-quality program that meets your needs and fits your career goals.
With so many options, how can you know that you have made the right choice? Start with accreditation.
Accreditation is like a quality review process for academics. Completed by independent groups, accreditation helps students find reliable degrees while keeping schools and programs at their very best.
The main type of accreditation is institutional. Institutional accreditation is completed by regional groups that cover specific sections of the country. These groups include the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
All the degrees in this database have institutional accreditation from regional groups approved by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Institutional accreditation is one of the requirements for being included on our site. (The other requirement is that the degree be entirely or primarily online.)
Another form of accreditation is programmatic. This type is granted by subject-specific groups and covers only the degree. A business degree, for instance, could be approved by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
The PhD in Curriculum & Instruction / Special Education from the University of Toledo has accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), while National University’s PhD in special education has approval from the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP).
Many programs do not hold programmatic accreditation. As long as they come from accredited institutions, they will still deliver high-quality learning.
Admission Requirements for a Doctorate in Special Education
A doctorate represents the highest level of academic achievement. Therefore, the admission requirements for these degrees are rigorous. You need numerous documents, a strong academic background, and professional experience before you can enroll in one of these elite programs.
The base requirement is a master’s degree. To enroll in one of these programs, you’ll need a master’s in education, special education, school leadership, or a similar topic from an accredited school.
Some schools have GPA requirements as well. A 2.75 or 3.0 is often required for enrollment in a doctorate program. For example, the Doctor of Education in Special Education from the University of the Southwest requires a 3.0 for all incoming students.
Many of these programs require professional experience as well. These doctorate programs require applicants to hold teacher or school administrator certification and have at least a few years of professional experience.
You will also need to submit a variety of documents, starting with official transcripts. You’ll need to write a statement of purpose, which describes your motivation for seeking a doctorate degree. Schools also require multiple letters of recommendation, which must come from current leaders and education professionals. For example, a school superintendent who oversees your work could write a letter of recommendation.
The process is extensive, but if you have a master’s degree, job experience, a strong academic background, and a deep commitment to education, you can find a degree that accepts your application.
How Much Does an Online Doctorate in Special Education Cost?
For many students, the doctorate is the most expensive degree they complete. The high price is due to many factors, but one of the main reasons is time. Schools charge per credit hour; the more credits you take, the more you will pay. Doctorates can be as large as 70 credits or more, which means a higher total cost. For this reason, it’s critical that you research the programs and know the per credit and total cost.
Fortunately, there are many low-cost options. The cheapest doctorate in special education online comes from National University. Their Doctor of Education / Special Education program has a total cost of $31,200. The school says this program takes a little under three years to complete, so students are looking at an annual price of roughly $10,400.
The average cost for these online doctorate in special education programs is $45,700. Overall, there are nine programs priced below this total, including six options that are below $40,000.
The most expensive is the Doctor of Education / Special Education from Nova Southeastern University, which costs $82,775. This program is far and away the most expensive; the second-most expensive is more than $22,000 less, at $60,750.
Doctorate degrees can be costly, and there is no indication (at least from our data) that an EdD is less expensive than a PhD. (Or vice-versa.) The most expensive and the cheapest doctorate in special education online are both EdD programs, while PhDs and EdDs are scattered throughout the data.
Licensing Requirements for Special Education Professionals
These programs prepare you for numerous careers. Some of these careers may require a license or certificate. For example, some graduates will work as advanced special education teachers. These specialists have the same licensing requirements as school teachers. Most applicants to these programs, however, already have a teacher’s certificate.
Another possible career option is a school administrator, such as a principal or school superintendent. These positions also require a certificate approved by the state. You’ll need to meet specific requirements, which vary by state, to work in these careers.
Other possible positions will not require licensing. A university professor in special education will not need licensing. However, to work in these positions you often need experience in the field, which would mean a license could be necessary. You may need to maintain this license throughout your career.
Salary Expectations for Special Education Professionals
After graduating from one of these doctorate in special education online programs, you’ll qualify for a wide range of careers in special education and education leadership.
The most obvious and direct career is a special education teacher, a career that has a median salary of $62,950. The top 10% in this profession earn over $102,450. With a doctorate, you are more likely to reach this higher income.
These elite-level special education degrees focus on school leadership, so it’s possible that you could work as a principal or superintendent. Principals have some of the highest salaries in education. The median annual salary for this profession is $101,320. Also, the top 10% earn over $158,770, making this one of the most attractive options on the market.
Education can bring strong salaries, but the growth of the field may be slow. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, education, training, and library occupations will “grow about as fast” as the overall job market, estimated at 3% over the next 10 years.
On the bright side, education happens every day, all across the country. Even with seismic changes to the structure and delivery of curriculum, we still need teaching experts. This includes professionals who understand the nuances of special education. So while education won’t see rapid growth like other sectors (most notably tech and healthcare), it remains a steady, consistent career for those who are passionate about teaching.
The Next Step in Your Education
Learning never stops. As an education professional, you know this all too well. A doctorate may be the pinnacle of your academic career, but you’ll still need continuing education, especially if you work in a certified position, such as school administration or special education at a public school.
It’s also possible to add other classes, degrees, or certificates to your resume. A post-graduate or professional certificate can enhance your career and further increase your expertise in special education.
While a doctorate in special education online will turn you into an education expert, you still need an attitude of constant learning!
Make a Difference in the Lives of Students
With an online doctorate in special education, you’ll have the right skills to make a significant impact in the life of a child or young adult. Visit GetEducated.com to learn more about these engaging, interesting, and rewarding programs!