Best Online Special Education Degrees

People who pursue careers in education are taking on a worthwhile role, and those who choose to specialize in special education are truly one of a kind. You’re dedicating your career to helping students with mental, physical, and emotional disabilities navigate through their learning environment so they can grow and succeed.

With a degree in special education, you have the opportunity to change school environments, enhance educational programs, and drastically impact the lives of students with special needs. Read on to learn more about special education programs and find the best schools for earning your online special education degree.

What Is an Online Special Education Degree?

An online special education degree prepares students for a career teaching students with special needs. Once you’ve completed 120 credits in core and degree-specific courses and finished your student teaching assignment, you’ll be ready to graduate and find a job in your field.

Throughout your program, you’ll learn and adopt the following types of skills:

  • Heightened communication skills
  • Compassion
  • Assessment skills
  • Adaptability
  • Practical and theoretical knowledge
  • Empathy
  • Problem-solving
  • Patience
  • Trustworthiness

In most cases, employers no longer differentiate between an online or traditional degree when looking at job applicants. In fact, some employers prefer to hire online students due to their time management and organizational skills needed to complete an online special education program.

BS vs. BA in Special Education

When looking for online special education degree programs, you’ll need to decide if you want to earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree. Either option is acceptable in the education field, though they offer different features. For a BS degree, your core courses will focus more on STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) classes, while a BA degree will focus more on humanities courses.

Featured Online Programs for a Bachelor’s in Special Education

To find the right online special education program for your needs, you need an easy unbiased way to compare basic information about prospective schools. At Top Online College, we use a thorough methodology approach to help us find the best online special education degrees available based on specified criteria. Here are some of our school options you should consider for your online education.

1

University of Washington – Seattle Campus

BA in Early Care and Education

Location: Online (based in Seattle, WA)

Acceptance rate: 53.5%

Graduation rate: 82.8%

Cost of attendance: $4,026 quarterly

Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Admission requirements

  • Submit online application
  • Pay an $80 application fee
  • Submit a personal statement and resume
  • Send in official transcripts
2

Grand Canyon University

BS in Elementary Education and Special Education

Location: Online (based in Phoenix, AZ)

Fastest time to graduation: 18 Months

Acceptance rate: 73%

Graduation rate: 65%

Cost of attendance: $687.50

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission

Admission requirements

  • Submission form
  • High school GPA of 3.0+
  • Qualifying scores: 19 ACT, 1380/2400, or 1000/1600 SAT
  • Submit transcripts
3

Western Governors University

BA in Special Education and Elementary Education

Location: Online (based in Salt Lake City, UT)

Acceptance rate: 100%

Graduation rate: 64%

Cost of attendance: $3,575 per 6-month term

Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Admission requirements

  • Complete the application
  • Pay the $65 application fee
  • Send official transcripts by mail or email
  • Complete FAFSA application
  • Complete intake interview
  • Arrange for tuition payment
4

Liberty University Online

Bachelor of Education in Special Education

Location: Online (based in Lynchburg, VA)

Acceptance rate: 50%

Graduation rate: 29%

Cost of attendance: $390 per full-time credit hour, $455 per part-time credit hour

Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Admission requirements

  • Submit an application online or via phone
    • Submit admission documents
    • High school transcripts
5

Eastern Carolina University

BS in Special Education General Curriculum

Location: Online (Based in Greenville, NC)

Acceptance rate: 93.9%

Graduation rate: 64.4%

Cost of attendance: $204.79 per credit hour

Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Admission requirements

  • Completed online application – ECU Application, CFNC, or Common App
  • Pay a nonrefundable $75 application fee
  • Submit official high school transcript, including senior year courses in progress and current grade point average on a 4.0 scale
  • Send in transcripts from all postsecondary schools attended, including community college dual enrollment
6

University of Georgia

BS in Education — Special Education

Location: Online (based in Athens, GA)

Acceptance rate: 40%

Graduation rate: 85.1%

Cost of attendance: $14,063.00 per semester (full-time)

Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Admission requirements

  • Submit online application
  • Apply to the special education program
  • Overall minimum GPA of 2.80
7

University of Wisconsin Stout

BS in Special Education

Location: Online (based in Menomonie, WI)

Acceptance rate: 91.4%

Graduation rate: 57.3%

Cost of attendance: $9,663.00 per semester

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission

Admission requirements

  • Complete online application
  • Request ACT/SAT scores
  • Submit transcripts
8

University of West Florida

BA in Exceptional Student Education (Special Education)

Location: Online (based in Pensacola, FL)

Acceptance rate: 52.8%

Graduation rate: 48.5%

Cost of attendance: $341.67 per credit hour with a tuition waiver

Accreditation: Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)

Admission requirements

  • Complete admission application
  • Pay a $30 application fee
  • Submit official transcripts from all institutions previously attended whose accrediting agency is included on the list of UWF-approved accrediting agencies
  • Submit ACT or SAT scores
9

Chadron State College

BS in Education with a Field Endorsement in Special Education (K-12)

Location: Online (Based in Chadron, NE)

Acceptance rate: 100%

Graduation rate: 42.9%

Cost of attendance: $299.00 per credit hour

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission

Admission requirements

  • Complete admission application
  • Submit official transcripts and scores
10

Old Dominion University

BS in Special Education

Location: Online (Based in Norfolk, VA)

Acceptance rate: 96.2%

Graduation rate: 50.9%

Cost of attendance: $407.00 per credit hour

Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Admission requirements

  • Complete online application
  • Pay a $50 application fee (non-refundable)
  • Submit your official High School Transcript (or GED Transcript)
  • Submit SAT/ACT Scores, Self-reported Scores, or Test Optional
  • Optional Items: Activity Resume, Letter(s) of Recommendation, and/or Personal Statement

Earn an Affordable Degree in Special Education

Are you concerned about the price of earning a special education degree online? Don’t worry; you’re not alone! The cost is one of the top concerns for students considering higher education opportunities, and it can directly affect which school you choose. Here are a few more affordable options for schools offering a degree in special education.

1

Chadron State College

BS in Education with a Field Endorsement in Special Education (K-12)

Location: Online (Based in Chadron, NE)

Acceptance rate: 100%

Graduation rate: 42.9%

Cost of attendance: $299.00 per credit hour

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission

Admission requirements

  • Complete admission application
  • Submit official transcripts and scores
2

Central Methodist University

BS in Education — Special Education, Mild to Moderate Disabilities K-12

Location: Online (Based in Fayette, MO)

Acceptance rate: 99%

Cost of attendance: $260.00 per credit hour

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission

3

Western Governors University

BA in Special Education and Elementary Education

Location: Online (based in Salt Lake City, UT)

Acceptance rate: 100%

Graduation rate: 64%

Cost of attendance: $3,575 per 6-month term

Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Admission requirements

  • Complete the application
  • Pay the $65 application fee
  • Send official transcripts by mail or email
  • Complete FAFSA application
  • Complete intake interview
  • Arrange for tuition payment

Online Special Education Degree FAQ

Is it worthwhile to get a special education degree?

If you love working with children, specifically children with special needs, and are passionate about making a lasting impact through teaching, you’ll find a lot of fulfillment in earning and using a degree in special education. There is always a high demand for teachers, especially special education teachers, so you’ll also be able to start working in this field sooner after graduation.

How long will it take me to earn a bachelor's in special education?

A degree in special education requires 120 credit hours in school with an additional student teaching period. It typically takes students four years to complete their bachelor’s degree if they attend school full-time. However, you may be able to find an accelerated special education program where you can graduate sooner. Your student teaching times will vary by state, but it usually won’t be longer than 20 weeks.

What skills should I have so I can succeed in special education?

First, you should love teaching and being in a classroom. You also need to be extremely compassionate toward your students in the special education program, as these kids need extra help and loving guidance to help them succeed in school.

There are additional skills you should have as a special educator, including:

  • Communication
  • Adaptability
  • Assessment skills
  • Exceptional listening skills
  • Patience
  • Perseverance
  • Organization

What classes will I need to take in a special education program?

Courses in a special education program will be similar to any other teaching degree, though there are specific classes that focus on the intricacies of special education. Some of the courses you might take include:

  • Behavior disorders in children
  • Teaching special needs students
  • Assessments in special education
  • Professional, ethical, and legal practices for special education
  • Collaborating with partners for student success

How can I use my online special education degree?

While many people earn a degree in special education so they can teach, not everyone wants to be front and center in a classroom every day. If you don’t intend to be a teacher, here are a few other ways you can use your special education degree.

  • Reading specialist
  • Education coordinator
  • Corporate trainer
  • Writer
  • Fundraising manager
  • Curriculum manager
  • Advocacy manager
  • Instructional designer
  • Educational consultant
  • Recreation coordinator

What to Look for in an Online Degree Program

Choosing to get an online special education degree is a big decision, and you want to make sure you pick the right online school to help you get to graduation. To assist you in finding the right special education program for your needs, here are some tips for what to look for from an online school.

Perhaps the most important consideration for any school is if they offer the specific degree program you’re looking for. If they do, you should start looking at other factors, including cost, reputation, accreditation, and academic quality, for each potential school. Another essential consideration is transferability. If you earned any credits toward your degree from a different school, you want to ensure your new school accepts them so you won’t lose the progress you’ve already made.

Once you’ve narrowed your school options, start researching the teachers in each special education program. Earning a special education degree online can be challenging if you end up with poor professors, so look them up on sites like Rate My Professor to ensure you’re getting teachers who will help you succeed.

Finally, online schooling is done through a learning management system. If you can find information about what type of program a prospective school uses, you can determine if it will be easy for you to use or too complicated. You want a relatively simple and intuitive system to help make learning easier.