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Key takeaway: An online bachelor’s degree in special education prepares candidates to teach students with disabilities, and for public-school positions it is normally paired with a state-issued teaching license or certification. Special education teachers at the secondary level earned a median $74,260 a year, and those at the kindergarten and elementary level earned a median $65,120 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Licensure requirements vary by state, so verify the rules with your state department of education before you enroll. Compare accredited programs below.
An online special education degree covers how children develop and learn, how disabilities affect access to the general curriculum, and how teachers assess students, write and implement individualized education programs (IEPs), and adapt instruction so students can participate in inclusive classrooms. The federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is the legal framework that shapes much of this work, and most programs teach it directly. Accredited online programs deliver the same coursework and degree requirements as campus programs, though the supervised student-teaching component is completed in person at a school near where you live; browse the best accredited online colleges to compare schools that offer these programs. Teacher preparation programs are commonly reviewed by CAEP, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation; AAQEP is a second educator-preparation accreditor some programs work with.
These accredited schools offer special education programs. Request information to compare curriculum, licensure pathways, and format.
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:
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Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Browse the pages below to compare format, cost, admissions, and career fit.
Coursework typically spans child development, assessment and IEP development, behavior management, inclusive classroom methods, assistive technology, and reading intervention, followed by a supervised student-teaching or clinical practice placement in a real classroom.
For public-school teaching positions, yes. Special education teachers in public schools need a state-issued teaching license or certification. Requirements differ from state to state, and your state department of education is the authority on what yours expects. Confirm with them before choosing a program.
Student teaching is an in-person requirement even when the coursework is fully online. Programs that enroll students nationwide generally help arrange a placement with a partner school or cooperating teacher near where you live. Ask each school how placements are arranged in your area before you apply.
Verify that the institution holds accreditation from a recognized institutional accreditor – such as HLC, SACSCOC, or MSCHE – through the U.S. Department of Education database. For the teacher preparation program itself, look for review by CAEP or AAQEP, and confirm that your state recognizes the program for licensure purposes.
An elementary education degree prepares you to teach a general K-6 classroom. A special education degree adds training in disability law, individualized assessment, behavior support, and instructional adaptation, and prepares you to work with students who have IEPs across a range of grade levels and settings.
Most graduates work as classroom teachers, and the grade band you teach affects pay. The figures below come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
Median annual wages were $74,260 for special education teachers at the secondary level, $66,810 at the middle school level, $65,120 at the kindergarten and elementary level, and $64,830 at the preschool level (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Actual pay depends on the district, the state, your years of experience, and the salary schedule your employer uses. For job duties and typical entry requirements by occupation, see the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Online special education programs pair foundational coursework in how children develop and learn with the applied skills teachers use daily. Core topics commonly include:
Programs also cover the legal framework teachers work within, including IDEA and the procedural requirements that surround IEPs. See the Online Special Education Bachelor’s Degree page for how this coursework is sequenced across four years.
Special education or a related field? Choose special education if you want to work directly with students who have disabilities and their IEP teams. Consider elementary education for a general K-6 classroom, early childhood education for the preschool and early primary years, education for a broader view of the field, or psychology if you are more drawn to assessment, counseling, or research than classroom teaching.
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