by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in General Special Education covers Special Education And Teaching, General. A General Program That Focuses On The Design And Provision Of Teaching And Other Educational Services To Children Or Adults With Special Learning Needs Or Disabilities, And That May Prepare Individuals To Function As Special Education Teachers In A Collaborative Or Team Environment. Includes Instruction In Diagnosing Learning Disabilities, Developing Individual Education Plans, Teaching And Supervising Special Education Students, Special Education Counseling, And Applicable Laws And Policies. Examples: [Special Education Collaborative Teacher/teaching]. Continue reading for the essential details every general special education student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general special education programs.
In the U.S., general special education is a popular field of study, with 22,116 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Special Education Schools ranking analyzes these 682 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general special education students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general special education programs later in this article.
Coursework for General Special Education develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general special education graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a general special education program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a general special education major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general special education 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 | 28 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 81 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 5,803 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 15,971 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 233 |
People currently working in careers related to general special education tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 48.8% |
| Master’s degree | 23.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 15.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.5% |
| Some college courses | 3.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.8% |
| First professional degree | 1.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in general special education careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying general special education opens doors to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to general special education.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general special education.
| 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% |
| Teaching Assistants, Special Education | 656,798 | 9.5% |
| Special Education Teachers, Preschool | 636,033 | 6.1% |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | 570,170 | 8.8% |
| Special Education Teachers, Elementary School | 199,198 | -0.2% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of general special education graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow 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 general special education graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general special education grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Teaching Assistants, Special Education | $96,801 |
| 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 |
| Special Education Teachers, Elementary School | $50,045 |
| Special Education Teachers, Preschool | $35,173 |
With 682 different general special education programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general special education school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in general special education, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
