Best Schools for Special Education and Teaching

Special Education and Teaching graduates earn a median of $37,724 within two years of graduation, ranking #127 out of 292 tracked majors — 6% above the median across all fields. There are 206 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 8,157 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: Syracuse University graduates earn $57,318 while University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon graduates earn $9,643 — a $47,675 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap.

Early career salary growth is modest: Special Education and Teaching graduates see an average -1% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

206
Schools
$37,724
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#127
of 292 Majors
8,157
Graduates

Public vs Private: Special Education and Teaching

Public (130 schools)
$37,841
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (64 schools)
$37,669
avg. 2yr earnings

Public schools produce comparable or higher early earnings for Special Education and Teaching, often at lower tuition — making them strong value options for this major.

Special Education and Teaching by State

Top Special Education and Teaching Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
S

Syracuse University

Syracuse, NY · Private

$57,318
2yr Earnings
1yr: $47,988
Grads: 35
Acceptance: 41.7%
#2
N

Northeastern Illinois University

Chicago, IL · Public

$52,107
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 70.4%
#3
B

Boston University

Boston, MA · Private

$50,606
2yr Earnings
1yr: $46,446
Grads: 22
Acceptance: 10.8%
#4
K

Kean University

Union, NJ · Public

$49,855
2yr Earnings
1yr: $49,445
Grads: 108
Acceptance: 76.9%
#5
C

Central Washington University

Ellensburg, WA · Public

$47,064
2yr Earnings
1yr: $47,108
Grads: 26
Acceptance: 90.2%
#6
T

Towson University

Towson, MD · Public

$46,991
2yr Earnings
1yr: $46,717
Grads: 124
Acceptance: 82.8%
#7
S

Southern Connecticut State University

New Haven, CT · Public

$46,738
2yr Earnings
1yr: $45,526
Grads: 51
Acceptance: 81.1%
#8
U

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Honolulu, HI · Public

$46,673
2yr Earnings
1yr: $45,781
Grads: 25
Acceptance: 69.7%
#9
S

State University of New York at Cortland

Cortland, NY · Public

$46,087
2yr Earnings
1yr: $43,864
Grads: 32
Acceptance: 50.7%
#10
H

Hood College

Frederick, MD · Private

$45,980
2yr Earnings
1yr: $41,433
Grads: 29
Acceptance: 78.1%
#11
W

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Chester, PA · Public

$45,867
2yr Earnings
1yr: $43,057
Grads: 58
Acceptance: 79.2%
#12
W

Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA · Public

$45,826
2yr Earnings
1yr: $49,253
Grads: 92
Acceptance: 91.3%
#13
G

Gonzaga University

Spokane, WA · Private

$45,618
2yr Earnings
1yr: $49,990
Grads: 22
Acceptance: 76.0%
#14
L

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, IL · Private

$45,500
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 81.4%
#15
B

Broward College

Fort Lauderdale, FL ·

$45,383
2yr Earnings
1yr: $43,993
Grads: 22
Acceptance: N/A
#16
F

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL · Public

$45,383
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 73.4%
#17
T

Texas A & M International University

Laredo, TX · Public

$44,747
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 46.0%
#18
U

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL · Public

$44,170
2yr Earnings
1yr: $44,023
Grads: 26
Acceptance: 43.7%
#19
A

Augsburg University

Minneapolis, MN · Private

$44,170
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 76.5%
#20
P

Providence College

Providence, RI · Private

$44,170
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,466
Grads: 28
Acceptance: 48.7%
#21
F

Florida Gulf Coast University

Fort Myers, FL · Public

$44,102
2yr Earnings
1yr: $43,114
Grads: 23
Acceptance: 76.8%
#22
U

University of St Francis

Joliet, IL · Private

$43,798
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 63.9%
#23
L

Lebanon Valley College

Annville, PA · Private

$43,798
2yr Earnings
1yr: $44,750
Grads: 41
Acceptance: 74.5%
#24
I

Illinois State University

Normal, IL · Public

$43,584
2yr Earnings
1yr: $43,480
Grads: 175
Acceptance: 89.0%
#25
S

Salve Regina University

Newport, RI · Private

$43,426
2yr Earnings
1yr: $44,791
Grads: 22
Acceptance: 69.9%
#26
N

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, IL · Public

$43,277
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,969
Grads: 68
Acceptance: 70.5%
#27
E

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

East Stroudsburg, PA · Public

$43,240
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,703
Grads: 54
Acceptance: 92.9%
#28
L

La Salle University

Philadelphia, PA · Private

$43,240
2yr Earnings
1yr: $43,095
Grads: 26
Acceptance: 86.2%
#29
C

Carroll University

Waukesha, WI · Private

$43,128
2yr Earnings
1yr: $41,360
Grads: 32
Acceptance: 58.4%
#30
M

Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Millersville, PA · Public

$42,961
2yr Earnings
1yr: $43,694
Grads: 107
Acceptance: 89.4%
#31
Y

York College of Pennsylvania

York, PA · Private

$42,905
2yr Earnings
1yr: $46,774
Grads: 33
Acceptance: 94.2%
#32
M

Monmouth University

West Long Branch, NJ · Private

$42,682
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 89.5%
#33
E

Eastern Washington University

Cheney, WA · Public

$42,682
2yr Earnings
1yr: $41,502
Grads: 23
Acceptance: 91.8%
#34
S

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, MN · Public

$42,458
2yr Earnings
1yr: $41,408
Grads: 43
Acceptance: 95.0%
#35
M

Metropolitan State University of Denver

Denver, CO · Public

$42,309
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,833
Grads: 32
Acceptance: 99.1%
#36
U

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public

$42,123
2yr Earnings
1yr: $41,945
Grads: 32
Acceptance: 43.4%
#37
I

Indiana University-Bloomington

Bloomington, IN · Public

$41,995
2yr Earnings
1yr: $41,896
Grads: 55
Acceptance: 80.4%
#38
S

Southwest Minnesota State University

Marshall, MN · Public

$41,937
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 68.9%
#39
U

University of Nevada-Las Vegas

Las Vegas, NV · Public

$41,789
2yr Earnings
1yr: $43,025
Grads: 19
Acceptance: 96.3%
#40
B

Black Hills State University

Spearfish, SD · Public

$41,725
2yr Earnings
1yr: $38,787
Grads: 34
Acceptance: 94.4%
#41
W

Winona State University

Winona, MN · Public

$41,667
2yr Earnings
1yr: $41,623
Grads: 57
Acceptance: 68.5%
#42
R

Rhode Island College

Providence, RI · Public

$41,565
2yr Earnings
1yr: $41,687
Grads: 36
Acceptance: 81.1%
#43
B

Ball State University

Muncie, IN · Public

$41,457
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,987
Grads: 95
Acceptance: 71.6%
#44
S

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Carbondale, IL · Public

$41,441
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 90.4%
#45
F

Fitchburg State University

Fitchburg, MA · Public

$41,087
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 89.9%
#46
I

Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus

Indiana, PA · Public

$41,087
2yr Earnings
1yr: $35,178
Grads: 91
Acceptance: 91.2%
#47
U

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

Oshkosh, WI · Public

$41,069
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,725
Grads: 76
Acceptance: 86.7%
#48
K

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown, PA · Public

$41,037
2yr Earnings
1yr: $42,033
Grads: 106
Acceptance: 94.8%
#49
U

University of Hartford

West Hartford, CT · Private

$41,007
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,947
Grads: 27
Acceptance: 83.0%
#50
U

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Eau Claire, WI · Public

$40,981
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,643
Grads: 102
Acceptance: 76.1%

Showing top 50 of 206 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Special Education and Teaching?
Syracuse University ranks #1 for Special Education and Teaching with median graduate earnings of $57,318 within two years. There are 206 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.
How much do Special Education and Teaching graduates earn?
Special Education and Teaching graduates earn an average of $37,724 within two years of graduation. This is near the median across all majors. Earnings range from $9,643 to $57,318 depending on the school.
How hard is it to get into a top Special Education and Teaching program?
The average acceptance rate across Special Education and Teaching programs is 78.1%. The most selective program is at Boston University with a 10.8% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.
Is a public or private school better for Special Education and Teaching?
Private Special Education and Teaching programs average $37,669 in early earnings vs $37,841 at public schools. Public schools offer competitive earnings at typically lower cost, making them strong value options.

Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders.

Get Special Education and Teaching Career Insights

We're building major-specific salary reports with ROI by school. Be the first to get yours.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.