Best Online Bachelor’s in Special Education
Are you ready to discover your college program?
Many of the best online special education programs ready you for in-demand teaching positions, letting you complete your degree on your own time and with no on-campus requirements.
Online Bachelor’s in Special Education Overview
The United States faces a critical shortage of special education teachers. According to a 2022 report from the National Center for Education Statistics, 45% of schools nationwide with teaching vacancies reported a need for special education professionals. Earning an online special education degree can be an accessible, flexible way to earn the credentials necessary for work in this field.
Courses in these programs teach you about federal special education laws, behavior management, inclusive classroom planning, curriculum design for students with special needs, and assessments for diverse learners.
With a special education degree, you can work in preschool, elementary, middle, or high schools. Your degree also may offer specializations in subfields like math special education, deaf and hearing impairment, or assistive technology.
Featured Online Bachelor’s in Special Education Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
10 Best Online Bachelor’s in Special Education Programs
The University of Georgia
Athens, GA- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$9,790
- Out-of-state$28,830
- In-State$8,878
- Out-of-state$25,186
- Retention Rate96%
- Acceptance Rate45%
- Students Enrolled38,920
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment14%
- AccreditationYes
The University of West Florida
- Pensacola, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$3,735
- Out-of-state$16,004
- In-State$7,088
- Out-of-state$22,166
- Retention Rate81%
- Acceptance Rate31%
- Students Enrolled12,557
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment66%
- AccreditationYes
The University of Wisconsin-Stout
- Menomonie, WI
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$7,014
- Out-of-state$14,981
- In-State$7,155
- Out-of-state$15,465
- Retention Rate72%
- Acceptance Rate91%
- Students Enrolled8,413
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment46%
- AccreditationYes
East Carolina University
- Greenville, NC
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,452
- Out-of-state$20,729
- In-State$4,749
- Out-of-state$17,898
- Retention Rate82%
- Acceptance Rate79%
- Students Enrolled28,651
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment48%
- AccreditationYes
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
- Saint Mary of the Woods, IN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$29,950
- Out-of-state$29,950
- In-State$12,780
- Out-of-state$12,780
- Retention Rate66%
- Acceptance Rate67%
- Students Enrolled1,094
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment32%
- AccreditationYes
Western Governors University
- Salt Lake City, UT
- 4 year
- Online
- In-State$6,380
- Out-of-state$6,380
- In-State$7,500
- Out-of-state$7,500
- Retention Rate73%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled136,139
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
Chaminade University of Honolulu
- Honolulu, HI
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$26,020
- Out-of-state$26,020
- In-State$24,000
- Out-of-state$24,000
- Retention Rate86%
- Acceptance Rate95%
- Students Enrolled2,167
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment55%
- AccreditationYes
Central Methodist University
- Fayette, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$6,070
- Out-of-state$6,070
- In-State$5,940
- Out-of-state$5,940
- Retention Rate0%
- Acceptance Rate100%
- Students Enrolled3,821
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment57%
- AccreditationYes
Chadron State College
- Chadron, NE
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$5,082
- Out-of-state$5,110
- In-State$4,086
- Out-of-state$8,172
- Retention Rate71%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled2,407
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment75%
- AccreditationYes
Liberty University
- Lynchburg, VA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$15,417
- Out-of-state$15,417
- In-State$7,980
- Out-of-state$7,980
- Retention Rate81%
- Acceptance Rate51%
- Students Enrolled85,586
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment92%
- AccreditationYes
Online Bachelor’s in Special Education Programs Ranking Guidelines
We ranked these degree programs based on quality, curricula, school awards, rankings, and reputation.
Choosing an Online Special Education Degree Program
Choose your online degree in special education carefully. Every program differs in cost, transfer policies, and curricular requirements. Make sure prospective online special education degrees fit your financial, education, and career goals. Consider the following factors:
Program Cost: Though online students can save on commuting and relocation costs, they must still pay for expenses like tuition and books. Typically, in-state public institutions offer the most affordable tuition rates, though some online programs offer reduced tuition for distance education enrollees.- Transfer Policies: For learners who have completed coursework at other institutions, research prospective schools’ transfer policies to find out whether they will accept previous classes. If schools accept these transfer credits, it can shorten the degree completion timeline.
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: Investigate each institution’s student-to-faculty ratio. Lower ratios often correlate to increased opportunities for individual attention from instructors.
- Practicum Requirements: Special education degrees, even those offered online, require students to complete student-teaching to gain real-world classroom experience. Investigate potential programs’ stipulations about this component, as some may require students to partner with schools near the institution’s physical location, while others help learners coordinate an experience in the learner’s vicinity.
- Age Range: Some programs prepare students to teach special needs children up to fourth grade. Others produce graduates equipped to teach high school students. Choose a program that qualifies you for work with the age groups you want to teach.
Accreditation for Online Special Education Degrees
Institutional accreditation is a process whereby schools voluntarily submit to an evaluation from an accrediting agency. These organizations assess whether institutions meet standards of academic excellence, including student outcomes and faculty credentials.
Special education programs can also hold programmatic accreditation, which evaluates how well a degree’s coursework prepares graduates for field-specific careers. Online special education programs may receive programmatic accreditation from organizations like the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education or the Teacher Education Accreditation Council.
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) and Council for Higher Educational Accreditation (CHEA) oversee accrediting agencies that grant accreditation to schools and programs. To find a list of accredited schools or accreditors, visit ED’s website or CHEA’s website.
Special Education Concentrations
Online schools for special education may offer curricular specializations in areas like early childhood, autism, gifted and talented, applied behavior analysis, and visual impairment. We explore some of these concentrations below.
This specialization prepares students to work with individuals who live with sensory impairment. The curriculum teaches students about nontraditional learning structures. It also explores ethical responsibilities of teaching sensory-impaired students.
Careers This Concentration Prepares For:
Earning a concentration in sensory impairment prepares graduates to work as teachers supporting students with visual, hearing, and other sensory impairments.
Classes offered in an autism spectrum disorder concentration explore teaching approaches, therapies, and techniques for students with autism. Classes in this specialization explore topics such as ethics, functional analysis, and social skills development and autism.
Careers This Concentration Prepares For:
Students who want to work as autism behavioral specialists or special education teachers helping individuals with autism can benefit from this concentration.
A concentration in early childhood studies prepares students to teach young children with special needs. The curriculum focuses on multicultural issues, children’s literature, and psychosocial disorders of childhood.
Careers This Concentration Prepares For:
Students who want to pursue a special education career working with children in preschool or elementary school can benefit from this concentration.
Special education teachers use assistive technology such as reading software, text-to-speech technology, sip-and-puff systems, and assistive listening systems. This specialization trains students to incorporate these technologies into the classroom.
Careers This Concentration Prepares For:
In addition to special education teacher jobs, this concentration can help prepare learners for careers as assistive technology specialists.
Classes in a gifted education concentration consider lesson plans and learning environments that challenge and foster positive learning outcomes for gifted students.
Careers This Concentration Prepares For:
Learners pursuing this concentration can work in gifted classrooms or as curriculum development professionals.
Courses in an Online Bachelor’s in Special Education Program
Earning a special education degree online helps prepare future educators to help children learn and succeed. Core courses provide skills necessary to mentor and guide children with disabilities. Most bachelor’s in special education programs include classes that explore how to assess learners with special needs. Enrollees in these programs also learn about teaching practices for children with learning, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities.
Students pursuing an online degree in special education typically complete a student teaching practicum. This practicum provides hands-on teaching experience observing and working with students. The number of required practicum hours varies by state and program.
We explore common courses in special education bachelor’s online programs below:
Survey to Special Education: This course gives students an overview of the field of special education. Learners explore special needs students’ educational patterns and examine various teaching approaches.
Counseling Techniques: This class explores how to apply counseling techniques and philosophies to communicating with students and their families. Coursework explores approaches to evaluating, diagnosing, and working with students.
Professional, Ethical, and Legal Practices for Special Education: This class covers ethical and legal frameworks for teachers in special education classrooms. Topics include education-related legal cases and their ramifications for teaching practices. Students may also explore the Council for Exceptional Children’s ethics and standards code.
Assessment in Special Education: Special education teachers assess students to determine the appropriate learning environment and education plan for each student according to their needs. This class covers the process of evaluating learners as well as strategies like positive behavior intervention and multi-tiered support systems to help address students’ needs.
Classroom Management, Engagement, and Motivation: This course teaches enrollees to create effective, safe learning environments by implementing rules and procedures. In addition to considering their own teaching philosophies, students may complete in-person observations of classrooms during this course.
Special Education Careers and Outlook
Most graduates with special education bachelor’s degrees pursue teaching careers in preschool, elementary, middle, or high school. Beyond teaching, a special education degree can lead to administrative and curricular planning jobs outside the classroom.
Below, we explore several career options for workers with bachelor’s degrees in special education.
| Special Education Career | 2023 Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Instructional Coordinator | $74,620 |
| High School Teacher | $65,220 |
| Kindergarten and Elementary School Teacher | $63,670 |
| Special Education Teachers | $65,910 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $64,340 |
The median salary for each of these occupations are similar to the national median salary for all workers, which was $65,470 according to 2023 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Frequently Asked Questions About Special Education Bachelor’s Degrees
How long does it take to get a bachelor’s degree in special education?
You should expect to spend at least 3-4 years earning your bachelor’s degree in special education. Most programs require 120 semester credits to graduate. Students with prior coursework or test credits may be able to graduate more quickly.
Is a degree in special education worth it?
The value of a special education degree depends on your career goals. In addition to earning higher-than-average salaries, these professionals are in demand nationwide as schools face continued teacher shortages. Though special education careers can be challenging, motivated teachers may find it rewarding to develop adaptive classroom environments and curricula to fit students’ needs.
What are the necessary qualifications to become a special education professional?
The educational credentials required for special education teaching jobs vary by state. All states require at least a bachelor’s degree, often in special education, though some jurisdictions hire workers who majored in education with a special education minor or curricular focus. Public school employees typically need a teaching license.
