If you want to earn a versatile teaching degree, consider an online master's in special education. Across the U.S., schools need special education teachers to fill vacancies. These professionals ensure students who need individualized education programs receive appropriate accommodations and equal access to education. Special education teachers work in inclusive or self-contained classrooms with students of various moderate-to-severe learning, emotional, physical, and mental disabilities. Special education teachers provide differentiated instruction across all subject areas: math, science, language arts, the arts, and history.
In addition to traditional classroom teacher roles, special education degree-holders can also work as behavior intervention specialists and education consultants.
Use this guide to learn about the best master's in special education and career outcomes, including jobs outside the classroom.
Popular Online Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Top 10 Online Special Education Master's Degrees
What Is a Master's in Special Education?
Special education master's programs equip educators with advanced, specialized tools for providing effective instruction to learners with specific needs. Examples include gifted students and students with physical, intellectual, developmental, or learning disabilities.
Master's programs in special education typically lead to one of two degree designations: a master of arts (MA) or a master of education (M.Ed.). Some schools may confer a master of arts in teaching (MAT) degree, though this is less common.
MA, MAT, and M.Ed. degrees feature similar curricula, but they differ subtly. MA programs generally provide the flexibility to move between classroom-based and educational policy-based careers. MAT programs focus more on classroom instruction, while M.Ed. degrees tend to concentrate on advanced practice standards.
Discover Courses and Specializations
Online master's in special education curricula usually cover methods for teaching K-12 students with disabilities. In addition to classroom-based instruction techniques, they also tend to emphasize:
Unique and differentiating characteristics of students with special needs
Specialized student assessment methods
Effective, compassionate approaches to behavioral management
Interfacing and collaborating with parents of students with special needs
Many programs in this field focus on students with disabilities that mildly or moderately impact their lives. Some schools also offer special education programs for teachers of students with disabilities that profoundly impact their lives.
Another variant covers gifted students. Special education master's programs in this subfield teach educators to develop enriched curricula and tailored instructional techniques for gifted learners.
Understand Licensure and Certification
Research each prospective online master's in special education degree to understand the pathways it offers for licensure and certification. Some programs lead directly to professional credentials and typically hold formal endorsements from state-level education boards or certifying bodies. These programs often include mandatory practice teaching requirements covering a specified number of instructional hours.
Special education master's programs may also help prepare graduates for other professional credentials, including board certified behavior analyst, certified adapted physical educator, and certified disability management specialist. These certifications can benefit professionals who plan to work in targeted areas of special education.
Ultimately, educator licensing is a state-controlled consideration, so research requirements and options relevant to the state where you plan to work.
What Can I Do With an Online Master's in Special Education?
A master's in special education commonly leads to classroom teaching positions. In both self-contained and inclusive learning environments, special education teachers instruct learners of various abilities, including students with moderate-to-severe disabilities and exceptional learners.
Nationwide, special education teachers earned a median wage of $65,910 in 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Wages depend on a variety of factors, including location and experience. In addition to expanding education expertise and sharpening classroom skills, professional credentials like certifications and endorsements can also help teachers increase their earning potential and qualify for roles outside the classroom.
Careers Beyond Teaching
Many people who pursue a master's in special education work as classroom-based special education teachers. However, advanced special education degrees may offer pathways to alternate careers, including:
Behavior Intervention Specialist
Behavior intervention specialists manage the behavior of students with special needs to help these learners maximize their educational attainment potential. Some employers may prefer or require these professionals to hold board certified behavior analyst credentials.
Average Salary: $48,070 (as of March 2024)
Education Consultant
Education consultants work with teachers, schools, school boards, and governments to develop special education curricula and teaching strategies. Some employers may prefer or require these professionals to hold credentials like certified educational planner.
Average Salary: $66,830 (as of April 2024)
Education Director
Education directors design and implement curricular plans for their institutions. They may work for one school or multiple institutions in a particular district. Some master's programs lead directly to special education director licensure, which can qualify professionals for jobs designing special education curricula specifically.
Average Salary: $75,510 (as of April 2024)
Instructional Coordinator
Instructional coordinators develop and integrate subject-specific content into school curricula. Employers may require certified curriculum coordinator certification or similar endorsements.
Median Salary: $74,620 (as of May 2023)
Speech Language Pathologists
Speech language pathologists address speech and language disorders, social communication disorders, and cognitive communication disorders. Working collaboratively with teachers and parents, speech language pathologists help students to use verbal and nonverbal communication in the classroom.
Median Salary: $89,290 (as of May 2023)
Should I Get a Master's in Special Education?
Graduate-level special education credentials can signal authority and commitment to continued learning. Consequently, holding a special education master's degree can help professionals stand out in the job search. A Pepperdine University analysis of BLS salary data also found that a master's degree can boost an educator's earnings by 10%-15%.
Why Get a Master's in Special Education Online
Online programs offer flexibility that allows degree-seekers to schedule learning around their existing commitments.
Students can achieve cost and time savings by avoiding the need to relocate or commute.
Online programs build familiarity with the digital learning platforms educators may later use in their own careers.
Learners gain access to a broader set of school and program options since they are not limited to institutions in their immediate geographic area.
How Can I Make My Special Education Master's Degree More Affordable?
Teaching degrees can provide a positive return on investment, especially as funding sources like scholarships, grants, and tuition reimbursement programs can reduce the financial burden of pursuing a program in this field. Consider the options below if you need help defraying the cost of your special education master's degree.
Access Teacher Loan Forgiveness
The Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program forgives up to $17,500 of student loan debt for "highly qualified" classroom teachers. Eligibility for this program requires a commitment to teach full time for five years in a school serving low-income students. If you have a bachelor's degree, a teaching license, and teach in a designated school, you meet the "highly qualified" criteria.
Get Federal Loans
Federal loans typically have lower interest rates than private lenders' loans. Nonetheless, borrow only what you require when it comes to federal loans. For example, if you qualify for $10,000 but your school costs $4,000 per semester, accepting only the amount you need for tuition, books, and expenses means you can reduce how much you must pay back after earning your degree. Graduate students qualify for direct unsubsidized loans and direct PLUS loans.
Secure TEACH Grants
The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) grant offers up to $4,000 annually to education majors who agree to teach in a high-need area for four years. If you cannot complete your commitment, the grant turns into a loan, which requires repayment.
Scholarships
Schools and organizations award teaching scholarships based on merit, financial need, or demographics. Scholarships do not require repayment. Strong personal essays and an impressive academic record can help you stand out in the application process for awards like:
Association of American Educators Scholarships
Price Check
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average tuition for graduate programs in the 2021-22 school year — $20,513 — is nearly five times higher than it was in the 1989-90 academic year.
Frequently Asked Questions About Special Education Master's Programs
Not necessarily. Most states offer teacher certification pathways to candidates with bachelor's degrees. However, a master's degree can lead to higher earning potential and expanded career opportunities.
