by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Education of the Deaf explores Education/teaching Of Individuals With Hearing Impairments Including Deafness. A Program That Focuses On The Design Of Educational Services For Children Or Adults With Hearing Impairments Including Deafness Which Adversely Affect Their Educational Performance, And That May Prepare Individuals To Teach Such Students. Includes Instruction In Identifying Students With Hearing Impairments, Including Deafness, Developing Individual Education Plans, Teaching And Supervising Hearing-Impaired Students, Counseling, And Applicable Laws And Policies. Read on to learn the important information every education of the deaf major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering education of the deaf programs.
In the U.S., education of the deaf is a widely-pursued major, with 304 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Education of the Deaf Schools ranking analyzes these 30 schools to determine the best overall colleges for education of the deaf students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of education of the deaf programs later in this article.
Coursework for Education of the Deaf develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations education of the deaf graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a education of the deaf program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a education of the deaf major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several education of the deaf degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 73 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 32 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 51 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 142 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 6 |
People currently working in careers related to education of the deaf tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 51.0% |
| Master’s degree | 27.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 16.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.4% |
| First professional degree | 1.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.4% |
| Some college courses | 0.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in education of the deaf careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in education of the deaf opens doors to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to education of the deaf.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to education of the deaf.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education Teachers, All Other | 1,501,521 | 9.2% |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten | 1,257,499 | 14.0% |
| Adapted Physical Education Specialists | 1,064,121 | 10.9% |
| Special Education Teachers, Middle School | 913,965 | 4.8% |
| Special Education Teachers, Preschool | 636,033 | 6.1% |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | 570,170 | 8.8% |
| Interpreters and Translators | 424,722 | 12.2% |
| Special Education Teachers, Elementary School | 199,198 | -0.2% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of education of the deaf graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $54,981 |
| 4 years | $54,220 |
| 5 years | $59,983 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for education of the deaf graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers education of the deaf grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Special Education Teachers, All Other | $86,208 |
| Special Education Teachers, Middle School | $80,694 |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | $79,680 |
| Adapted Physical Education Specialists | $77,976 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten | $73,597 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $52,627 |
| Special Education Teachers, Elementary School | $50,045 |
| Special Education Teachers, Preschool | $35,173 |
With 30 different education of the deaf programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased education of the deaf school rankings to help you.
Students interested in education of the deaf, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
