Best Online Special Education Degree Programs of 2025

A career in special education can be rewarding and fulfilling. You’ll spend your days teaching skills to and educating children with disabilities. You’ll plan tailored lessons, create activities, and track students’ progress.

While there are special education jobs you can do without a bachelor’s or associate degree, you will likely earn more and be a more competitive job candidate with an undergraduate degree.

Fortunately, online degree programs allow you to learn at your own pace and may cost less. Read on to learn how to become a special education teacher and what an online degree in special education can offer you.

According to our 2024 Online Education Trends Report surveying online bachelor’s students and graduates:

When considering online special education programs, be sure to do your research first. Some important factors to consider include the program’s length, cost, and financial aid options, as well as what careers the program can help you qualify for.

The cost of an online bachelor’s in education depends on several factors. Your residency status, the amount of scholarship and grant money you’ve received, your program’s delivery method (online vs. in person), and your program’s pace (part time, full time, or accelerated) can all impact the net price.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the average tuition and fees for an online bachelor’s in education is $9,875 for in-state students. The average net price is $5,428. For an out-of-state student, the average tuition and fees add up to $9,303, and the average net price is $5,069.

A bachelor’s degree program in special education typically requires 120 credits and typically takes four years to complete.

Because online programs usually offer asynchronous or otherwise flexible course schedules, you may be able to earn an online degree faster or slower than in traditional programs. You can also look into accelerated degree programs, which allow you to graduate faster.

With a bachelor’s degree in special education, you can become a special education teacher at the preschool, elementary, middle, or high school level. You can also become a teacher assistant, behavior specialist, educational diagnostician, or tester.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects little to no change in job growth for special education teacher jobs between 2023 and 2033, which is lower than the national average of 4% growth.

As a special education teacher, you can earn a median annual salary of $64,910-$66,600 depending on what grade level you teach. According to the BLS, the lowest 10% of special education teacher earners made less than $47,520 in 2023, and the highest 10% made over $106,290.

Completing your online special education degree will likely take you four years, and the average net price for the degree is around $25,000 (or between $5,000 and $5,400 per year).

Comparing the cost of a program to the median annual salaries of special education teachers, it is financially worth it to pursue a SPED degree.

After earning your bachelor’s degree in special education, you can earn a master’s or doctorate in special education. Both programs can be completed online.

Advanced degrees in special education can make you eligible for more administrative and specialized jobs that pay higher salaries. For example, according to the BLS, education administrators earned a median of $88,460 in 2023. Other special-education-related jobs that require a master’s degree may pay even more.