The 9 Best Online Schools for Special Education in 2023

If you’re looking to improve your teaching potential and help students with special needs, then you need to know about the best online schools for special education. Many of these universities offer stellar programs, good financial aid, and affordable prices. Read on to discover which schools you should attend for an online special education degree.

Article Navigation: Types of Special Education Online Degrees | Specializations | Accreditation | List of Top Special Education Schools | Career Information | Conclusion

Types of Special Education Online Degrees

There are various types of special education degrees. Depending on your teaching experience and what kinds of jobs you wish to pursue, one degree or another might be ideal.

Bachelor’s in Special Education

Online special education bachelor degree programs are the first degree types you need to teach special needs students. These degrees are similar to degrees in education, but come with special classes and modules. Therefore, you can acquire a special education teaching licensure right out of the gate.

Bachelor’s of the Arts (BA) degrees in special education focus more on the humanities and social side of things. This bachelor of special education online degree is ideal for students who like writing, psychology, and the humanities. Meanwhile, Bachelor’s of Science (BS) degrees in special education prioritize math and science. A science-focused bachelor of special education online degree is more logic-oriented and ideal for those kinds of students/thinkers. Either type of online special education bachelor degree program will qualify you for special education teaching licensure.

Master’s in Special Education

A master’s in special education online degree is a graduate-level degree. They’re ideal for those who already have a bachelor’s degree in education or a related subject who now wish to teach special ed students. You don’t need a master’s in special education online degree to teach special ed students. If you want to maximize your career prospects, then an online master’s degree in special education is worth it.

Some of the best online schools for special education want teachers with graduate degrees in this subject. Furthermore, taking a master’s degree in special education online allows you to choose a specialization or concentration. Hence, you can further focus your learning toward a specific type of teaching or topic. These degrees range in price from $8,000 – $66,000. However, the average cost is around $19,000.

Doctorate in Special Education

A doctorate in special education is a research-focused degree. It’s perfect for future administrators, or school principals. If you wish to work in a special ed curriculum development context, then an online doctoral degree in special education can also be ideal . Doctoral degrees aren’t necessary to become a special education teacher. If you already have a special education degree and want to further develop your skills and expertise in this area, then they’re good. Doctoral degrees in special education range in price from $24,000 – $75,000, with the average being $54,000.

Specializations in Special Education

Many of the best special education degrees online enable you to choose a specialization or concentration. These specializations will allow you to work more effectively with students with different needs. They can also help you earn endorsements and certificates to bolster your resume.

• Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

  Applied behavior analysis focuses on the skills needed to analyze and then develop lesson plans for students with special behaviors. It combines many aspects of special education teaching and child psychology.

• Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

  The autism spectrum disorders concentration prepares you to help special needs students with autism spectrum disorders of all kinds. Some special education degrees online include practical courses to prepare you for interacting with kids with ASD conditions.

• Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH)

  With the DHH concentration, you’ll be well-prepared to teach special needs students who are deaf or hard of hearing. This includes those who were born deaf or those who have lost or are in the process of losing their hearing.

• Dyslexia

  Many students struggle with dyslexia. Earn your online accredited special education degree with this concentration. With it, you’ll be well-equipped to teach students effective strategies to learn despite this disability.

• Early Childhood/PreK-12 Special Education

  The Early Childhood/PreK-12 Special Education concentration prepares you to teach students before kindergarten, specifically those special needs students in preschool.

• Emotional or Behavioral Disorders (EBD)

  The EBD concentration preps special education teachers to work with students who have various emotion-related disorders. These include anxiety, pervasive developmental (autism) disorders, or ADHD to name a few.

• High-Incidence Disabilities

  High-incidence disabilities are those that appear regularly or consistently affect a child’s life. With this concentration, you’ll learn how to teach and mentor students whose disabilities constantly affect their classroom experiences.

• Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD)

  Intellectual as well as developmental disabilities can impact children severely. It often prevents them from learning at the same level or rate as other students. The IDD special education specialization prepares teachers to help these students through special lesson plans and learning strategies.

• Low-Incidence Disabilities

  This concentration teaches the skills in specializations needed to educate students whose disabilities don’t appear that often, but which still have significant impacts on their learning abilities or school experiences.

• Secondary Special Education

  Secondary special education specializations enable aspiring teachers to teach special ed students at the secondary level. This typically means in junior high or high school.

• Visual Impairment/Low Vision and Blindness

  With this specialization, you’ll be prepared to assist students who have various visual impairments or disabilities, such as blindness.

Accreditation of Online Schools for Special Education

You’ll only want to attend one of the best online schools for special education if it is accredited by the right organization. In this case, it’s the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Both of these organizations handle the programmatic accreditation of education programs across the country.

Accreditation means a given special education program is rigorous and competent enough to train future special educators successfully. If your online degree in special education comes from an accredited program, then most schools and teaching positions will only be available to you. You can find out if a given university is the best online school for special education by checking its accreditation status. If it’s really the best online school for special education, then it’ll be accredited by both the NCATE and the CAEP.

9 Best Online Schools for Special Education

With so many great online schools for online accredited special education degrees, you may not know which to choose. Let’s break down nine of the top online schools for special education. Each offers several distinct degrees and specializations.

1. Liberty University

   Total Cost (In-State & Out-of-State): $16,036 – $48,892

   Liberty University is known as one of the best online universities overall. That’s because it offers start dates for each of its special education degree programs throughout the year. Tuition is affordable. Additionally, you can oftentimes transfer up to half of each degree’s required credits from other universities. You can take both special education bachelor degrees online and online master’s in special education programs here.

   More specifically, the online degrees in special education here are 100% online. They are accessible, and perfect for aspiring special ed teachers. Most of these programs take 2 to 3 years to complete, offering fast and flexible pathways to graduation.

   Many of these special education online degrees offer distinct concentrations and specializations. For example, you can get a special ed degree in adapting curriculum for special education students. Or you can acquire a graduate degree in early childhood special education. Depending on your focuses and desires, there are many options to choose.

   Liberty University makes it easy for you to pursue the online special education degree you’ve always wanted. Because of this, it’s one of the best online schools for special education.

   Find Out More:
   Bachelor of Science in Special Education Interdisciplinary Studies
   Master of Arts in Teaching / Special Education: Adapted Curriculum
   Master of Arts in Teaching / Special Education: Early Childhood Special Education
   Master of Arts in Teaching / Special Education: General Curriculum
   Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction / Special Education (Non-Licensure)
   Master of Arts in Teaching / Special Education: Adapted Curriculum & Early Childhood Special Education
   Master of Arts in Teaching / Special Education: General Curriculum (45 hr.) with CTE: Transition
   Master of Arts in Teaching / Special Education: Early Childhood Special Education & General Curriculum
   Master of Arts in Teaching / Special Education: General Curriculum & Adapted Curriculum
   Doctor of Education in Curriculum & Instruction / Special Education
   Doctor of Philosophy in Advanced Educational Studies / Special Education
   Doctor of Philosophy in Education / Special Education

    

2. Grand Canyon University

   Total Cost (In-State & Out-of-State): $20,955 – $59,900

   Grand Canyon University is another top online school, particularly for degrees in education and special ed. At this school, you’ll find many 100% online degree programs taught by experienced teachers. It has some of the best special education bachelor degrees online. Additionally, it has several stellar online master’s in special education programs.

   Some of the programs listed below, however, do require full-time student teaching practice components. For instance, the Master of Education in Special Education qualifies all graduates to apply for teacher licensure. But you have to complete 99 hours of observation and fieldwork to graduate. Thus, Grand Canyon University is arguably one of the best online school for special education. If you want to acquire your online degree while also maximizing your practical skills, then check it out.

   Aside from this, Grand Canyon University’s special ed degrees are ideal because they are financially accessible. This school is connected to many sources of financial aid, including scholarships and student loans. Be sure to check out the below degree programs for more information.

   Find Out More:
   Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education & Early Childhood Special Education
   Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education & Special Education (Dual Major)
   Master of Arts in Autism Spectrum Disorders
   Master of Education in Early Childhood Education & Early Childhood Special Education (NITL)
   Master of Education in Special Education / Cross-Categorical
   Master of Education in Special Education / Moderate to Severe (NITL)
   Master of Education in Special Education / Cross-Categorical (Licensure)
   Master of Education in Special Education / Moderate to Severe (ITL)
   Master of Education in Early Childhood Education & Early Childhood Special Education (ITL)
   Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership / Special Education (Qualitative Research)
   Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership / Special Education (Quantitative Research)

    

3. University of Northern Colorado

   Total Cost (In-State & Out-of-State): $17,490 – $51,744

   At the University of Northern Colorado, you can take a wide variety of special education degrees at the bachelor’s and master’s levels. These special education online degrees are perfect for both aspiring teachers and experienced teachers who now wish to concentrate in special education.

   The range of concentrations available here is truly excellent. For example, the University of Northern Colorado offers an MA degree in special education with six distinct concentrations. These concentrations include early childhood emphasis and academic coaching.

   The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education accredits this university. As a result, you can rest assured that each of their degree programs will qualify you for special ed teaching positions. On top of that, the University of Northern Colorado is one of the most affordable online schools overall. It has many degrees that cost less than $30,000 in total. Therefore, it is considered to be one of the best online schools for special education for budget-minded students.

   Find Out More:
   Master of Arts in Special Education / Generalist
   Master of Arts in Special Education/Intervention Specialist / Applied Behavior Analysis
   Master of Arts in Special Education / Early Childhood Special Education
   Master of Arts in Special Education/Intervention Specialist / Academic Coaching & Leadership
   Master of Arts in Special Education / Deaf & Hard of Hearing
   Master of Arts in Special Education / Visual Impairment
   Doctor of Philosophy in Special Education

    

4. Colorado Christian University

   Total Cost (In-State & Out-of-State): $15,660 – $50,384

   Colorado Christian University offers online special education degree programs. These the online programs are particularly notable for their affordability and accessibility. The best programs, however, are graduate-level or doctoral level thanks to their comprehensiveness and teaching quality.

   Note that this school does approach everything from a Christian perspective and worldview. Therefore, it’s ideal for followers of the Christian faith. That said, there’s another big reason to consider attending this special education online school: eligibility for the TEACH grant. If you attend one of the below programs, then you could qualify for significant financial aid due to the higher-than-average need for special education teachers.

   This school offers both licensure and non-licensure track programs. Therefore, you can focus on what works best for you based on your prior schooling. Regardless, if you have teaching experience.

   Find Out More:
   Bachelor of Arts in Special Education / K-12 Generalist (Licensure)
   Bachelor of Arts in Special Education / K-12 Generalist (Non-Licensure)
   Master of Education in Special Education (Non-licensure)
   Master of Education in Special Education (Generalist Endorsement)
   Master of Education in Special Education (Licensure)

    

5. Walden University

   Total Cost (In-State & Out-of-State): $12,483 – $22,594

   Walden University is another great online school for special education teachers. That’s because it offers not just graduate-level teaching programs, but also non-licensure programs for administrators.

   If you do choose to attend a full degree program, then you’ll benefit from multiple start dates throughout the year. In addition, you can transfer up to 12 credits toward most of these programs. Furthermore, Walden’s special education teaching programs can frequently be completed at accelerated paces. That makes them ideal for teachers who have the time to commit to full-time schooling. Affordability and accessibility round out this school’s offerings, making it a great university for students who need budget-friendly choices.

   Find Out More:
   Master of Arts in Teaching / Special Education (K-Age 21; Licensure)
   Master of Science in Education / Special Education (Grades K-12 / Non-Licensure, Accelerated)
   Master of Science in Education / Special Education (Grades K-12 / Non-Licensure)
   Doctor of Education / Special Education
   Doctor of Philosophy in Education / Early Childhood Special Education

    

6. Concordia University – Chicago

   Total Cost (In-State & Out-of-State): $9,750 – $55,760

   Concordia University in Chicago offers various graduate-level and bachelor’s level degrees in special education. Most of these programs are for certified educators. For instance, they are a great choice for teachers who wish to improve their career prospects and salary levels.

   However, Concordia University is well worth your time. The quality of its teachers, its accessibility, and robust student services make it a great choice. Study materials, financial aid assistance, and a variety of career path advising tools are also available to students.

   Many of this school’s programs focus on practical lesson development and teaching principles. So expect to have some practical classes to complete rather than each program being 100% online. That said, this could be an excellent option for teachers who want to be ready for licensure or certification in their states of residence upon graduation.

   Find Out More:
   Master of Arts in Special Education
   Master of Arts in Special Education Leadership
   Doctor of Education in Leadership / Special Education
   Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership / Special Education

    

7. Eastern Kentucky University

   Total Cost (In-State & Out-of-State): $11,970 – $26,780

   Eastern Kentucky University offers many master’s degrees in special education online. Because of this, it’s not ideal if you need a bachelor’s degree. However, if you are after graduate level education, then these 100% online programs are perfect choices due to their affordability. Indeed, even the most expensive program here costs less than $30,000. Each of the programs is taught by experienced faculty members.

   Many of these online master’s degrees in special education with certification also include endorsement opportunities for currently practicing teachers. For example, if you already have a degree in education, then you can complete the MA in Special Education. Consequently, you can earn an endorsement for teaching deaf or hard-of-hearing students.

   Find Out More:
   Master of Arts in Education / Special Education, Deaf & Hard of Hearing
   Master of Arts in Education / Special Education, Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education
   Master of Arts in Education / Special Education, Learning & Behavior Disorders
   Master of Arts in Teaching / Deaf & Hard of Hearing

    

8. Campbellsville University

   Total Cost (In-State & Out-of-State): $15,315 – $16,847

   Campbellsville University offers several graduate-level special education programs. Many of which are quite affordable. The most expensive is less than $20,000. Additionally, Campbellsville University staff members are prepared to assist each student in making the most of financial aid opportunities, like scholarships.

   You can transfer up to 12 credits to most of the programs on this list, and each is 100% online. However, some Master of Education programs, which require prior or future teaching experience.

   As online master’s degrees in special education with certification opportunities, each program enables you to jump into special education teacher jobs post-graduation. If you want a thorough online learning experience that prepares you for your future career options, then consider this special education online school.

   Find Out More:
   Bachelor of Science in Special Education / Learning Behavior Disorders Certification (P-12)
   Bachelor of Science in Learning & Behavior Disorders (P-12) / Elementary Education (P-5) Initial Certification
   Master of Arts in Special Education / Teacher Leader
   Master of Arts in Special Education / Initial Certification

    

9. University of Missouri-Columbia

   Total Cost (In-State & Out-of-State): $22,385 – $65,040

   The University of Missouri-Columbia has various special-education top-ranked programs. Many of which are quite affordable. At this school, the department of special education is ranked highly for online graduate-level programs because of its quality and the different licensure and non-licensure paths available.

   Not only can you acquire degrees preparing you for teaching licensure, but you can also acquire degrees that are 100% online and don’t require you to complete any in-person components. These are better for currently practicing teachers who wish to advance their academic knowledge in special education, then complete the practice hours later on at their own pace.

   You can alternatively pursue various certificates and endorsements: key elements if you wish to secure high-paying teaching positions at private schools. The MA in Special Education generalist endorsement pathway is a excellent choice for administrators or teachers looking for promotion opportunities.

   Find Out More:
   Master of Arts in Special Education
   Master of Education in Special Education / Autism
   Master of Education in Special Education / Early Childhood Special Education
   Master of Education in Special Education / Early Childhood Special Education & Autism

Careers in Special Education

Career Opportunities in Special Education & Salary

Naturally, with a special education degree, you can become a special education teacher and earn about $61,820 per year. Many individuals with special education degrees go on to become school and career counselors instead. These individuals earn about $60,510 per year and help students make the best decisions for their education and future.

If you don’t have a teaching license, then you’ll need an online master’s in special education with licensure. An online master’s in special education with licensure will require you to complete some practice courses “in the field” or in a real classroom before you earn teaching licensure in your state of residence.

With extensive teaching experience from one of the best online colleges for special education, you could even go into the private sector and become a tutor. A tutor earns an average annual wage of $44,820. If you are seeking more flexible freelance work and want to escape the traditional learning environment, then this perfect.

In the long run, you can also leverage your experience to become a principal at your high school. Principals earn on average $98,420 per year. This is perfect for teachers who want to lean more into the administrative side of things rather than teaching students directly.

Who Should Enroll in an Online School for Special Education?

Special education teaching requires empathy, strong communication skills, as well as a desire to help students with learning challenges. The best students to enroll in one of the best online colleges for special education include:

• People who love teaching and spending time with students
• Teachers who are patient and willing to help students achieve educational benchmarks through extra effort and time
• Creative thinkers who want to learn new ways to teach students school subjects

Many teachers who are seeking additional challenges opt for special education positions, as they’re highly in demand. In certain schools, these positions also pay more than average.

Is Getting Your Degree from an Online School for Special Education Worth It?

Absolutely! If you have a desire to help students with special needs enjoy school and learn just like their peers, then this could be the perfect path for you. A degree from an online school for special education – provided it is accredited – is the best way to qualify for available opportunities.

Enroll in a School for Special Education Today!

In summary, you can attend any of these top schools for online special-education degrees and see your career thrive. Use GetEducated’s online school catalog and resources to determine the best school and degree program for your needs today!

Sources: 

• https://www.chea.org/directories
• https://caepnet.org/
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/special-education-teachers.htm
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/school-and-career-counselors.htm
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/elementary-middle-and-high-school-principals.htm