The economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark of all students with the same graduate degree, adjusting for the in-state / out-of-state composition of the student body.
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
Special education professionals work with children and adults who are atypically developing. A graduate degree in special education enhances their ability to work with special needs students by advancing their knowledge about the field. Check out the best special education graduate programs below. Read more about our ranking methodology here.
Our master’s in special education rankings cover 210 of the 424 universities available, accounting for 71% of total student conferrals. Three years after completing their degree, graduates earn a weighted average salary of $53,501.
The economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $1,731
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark of all students with the same graduate degree, adjusting for the in-state / out-of-state composition of the student body.
Debt:$6,300
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.12
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#2 in Special Education
California State University, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Economic score:0.20
The economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $17,890
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark of all students with the same graduate degree, adjusting for the in-state / out-of-state composition of the student body.
Debt:$20,500
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.25
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#3 in Special Education|#193 in Education
Rhode Island College
Providence, Rhode Island
Economic score:0.20
The economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $985
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark of all students with the same graduate degree, adjusting for the in-state / out-of-state composition of the student body.
Debt:$12,318
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.21
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#4 in Special Education|#283 in Education
College of Staten Island CUNY
Staten Island, New York
Economic score:0.22
The economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $6,510
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark of all students with the same graduate degree, adjusting for the in-state / out-of-state composition of the student body.
Debt:$17,000
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.25
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#5 in Special Education
Manhattan College
Riverdale, New York
Economic score:0.23
The economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $7,200
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark of all students with the same graduate degree, adjusting for the in-state / out-of-state composition of the student body.
Debt:$17,368
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.26
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#6 in Special Education|#86 in Education
Northeastern Illinois University
Chicago, Illinois
Economic score:0.23
The economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $3,049
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark of all students with the same graduate degree, adjusting for the in-state / out-of-state composition of the student body.
Debt:$13,905
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.24
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#7 in Special Education
California Lutheran University
Thousand Oaks, California
Economic score:0.23
The economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $999
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark of all students with the same graduate degree, adjusting for the in-state / out-of-state composition of the student body.
Debt:$14,600
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.24
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#8 in Special Education
California State University, Long Beach
Long Beach, California
Economic score:0.23
The economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $9,175
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark of all students with the same graduate degree, adjusting for the in-state / out-of-state composition of the student body.
Debt:$19,250
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.27
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#9 in Special Education|#49 in Education
CUNY City College
New York, New York
Economic score:0.26
The economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $8,100
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark of all students with the same graduate degree, adjusting for the in-state / out-of-state composition of the student body.
Debt:$20,500
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.29
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#10 in Special Education|#13 in Education
CUNY Queens College
Queens, New York
Economic score:0.26
The economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $7,889
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark of all students with the same graduate degree, adjusting for the in-state / out-of-state composition of the student body.
Debt:$20,500
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.29
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#11 in Special Education|#35 in Education
Concordia University, Chicago
River Forest, Illinois
Economic score:0.27
The economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $6,362
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark of all students with the same graduate degree, adjusting for the in-state / out-of-state composition of the student body.
Debt:$18,000
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.30
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#12 in Special Education
St. Thomas Aquinas College
Sparkill, New York
Economic score:0.29
The economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $7,009
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark of all students with the same graduate degree, adjusting for the in-state / out-of-state composition of the student body.
Debt:$22,062
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.33
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#13 in Special Education|#23 in Education
Towson University
Towson, Maryland
Economic score:0.30
The economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $1,889
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark of all students with the same graduate degree, adjusting for the in-state / out-of-state composition of the student body.
Debt:$17,426
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.31
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#14 in Special Education
California State University, Northridge
Northridge, California
Economic score:0.30
The economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $7,805
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark of all students with the same graduate degree, adjusting for the in-state / out-of-state composition of the student body.
Debt:$22,414
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.34
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#15 in Special Education
Grand Valley State University
Allendale, Michigan
Economic score:0.30
The economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $6,537
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark of all students with the same graduate degree, adjusting for the in-state / out-of-state composition of the student body.
Debt:$19,356
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.34
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#16 in Special Education|#27 in Education
CUNY Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, New York
Economic score:0.30
The economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $12,375
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark of all students with the same graduate degree, adjusting for the in-state / out-of-state composition of the student body.
Debt:$27,292
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.36
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#17 in Special Education|#91 in Education
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, Texas
Economic score:0.31
The economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: - $1,553
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark of all students with the same graduate degree, adjusting for the in-state / out-of-state composition of the student body.
Debt:$15,000
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.30
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#18 in Special Education
Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, California
Economic score:0.32
The economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $15,001
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark of all students with the same graduate degree, adjusting for the in-state / out-of-state composition of the student body.
Debt:$27,887
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.41
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#19 in Special Education|#57 in Education
Fitchburg State University
Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Economic score:0.32
The economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: - $1,939
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark of all students with the same graduate degree, adjusting for the in-state / out-of-state composition of the student body.
Debt:$16,655
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.31
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
#20 in Special Education
Touro College
New York, New York
Economic score:0.32
The economic Score is the combination of debt-to-earnings ratio and earningsplus. We use the economic score to determine a graduate program’s rank. The lower the economic score the better. For an analysis of how we arrive at the economic score, and a description of our data sources, please visit our methodology page.
Median earnings of all students 3 years after graduation.
EarningsPlus: + $6,713
EarningsPlus compares student earnings after college against a benchmark of all students with the same graduate degree, adjusting for the in-state / out-of-state composition of the student body.
Debt:$24,450
The total debt accrued by the median student at the time of graduation.
Debt to earnings:0.36
The debt-to-earnings ratio is calculated by dividing student debt upon graduation by the annual salary. A debt to earnings ratio of 1 means that annual educational debt is the same as annual earnings.
How long does it take to pay down debt in special education?
Years
Under a year
The average debt accrued from a master's degree in special education is covered by average graduate earnings in under a year.
How much do graduates with master's degree in special education earn?
Salary
$51,745
The median master's degree in special education graduate earns $51,745 3 years after graduating.
How much does a master's degree in special education cost?
Net cost
$18,218
The average annual cost of a master's degree in special education is $18,218. This is the net cost and considers only students that have received Title IV funds.
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