Best Online Master’s in Special Education Programs of 2025

This scholarship program awards $1,000 to master’s students studying special education with a minimum 3.5 GPA.

You must be near the completion of your degree program to apply. Your application should include an essay and a thank-you note to the family who established the Moy-Agness Special Education Graduate Scholarship program.

To apply to the NAJA Graduate Scholarship Program, you should be pursuing a one-year master’s degree in special education. You must also be a permanent resident of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida, Tennessee, Missouri, or Mississippi with plans to attend a U.S. college or university and work directly with children.

The Inclusive Excellence Graduate Scholarship program awards financial support to graduate students from underrepresented backgrounds. The scholarship aims to increase diversity in leadership in special education.

You must be a master’s student studying special education to apply. You must also be part of an underrepresented population and have a GPA of at least 3.25.

Regis’s Tuition-Free Fellowship pays full tuition toward your special education degree from Regis University. To apply to this fellowship, you’ll need to submit an online application. You’ll also need to submit your official transcripts, a resume, a statement of purpose, and two letters of recommendation.

The selection process involves two interviews, one with the M.Ed. program director and another with the school district. If selected, you’d complete a year-long residency at this school district. You’d work the same hours as professional educators who teach pre-kindergarten through high school.

The difficulty of getting into an online special education master’s program depends on the school, although these programs can have challenging admission requirements.

Applicants should hold a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and must submit transcripts and letters of recommendation. A personal statement is also typically required.

Many online master’s in special education programs require a 3.0 GPA, though some programs accept GPAs as low as 2.75. Some schools may require GRE scores, especially for if you have a lower GPA. High GRE scores can improve your application.

Online master’s in special education programs tend to take 1-3 years to complete. So there’s a range, depending on whether you want to study full time or part time, and whether you pursue an accelerated online master’s program.

An online master’s in special education provides new career opportunities that lead to higher earning potential. You can also improve your teaching skills in a master’s program or prepare for leadership roles in special education.

An online master’s in special education ultimately allows you to improve the lives of students with disabilities. You can specialize in learning disabilities or the education of autistic students, working in roles such as special education teacher, educational consultant, behavior analyst, and educational diagnostician.