Special Education
Quick Facts: Special Education Training
Where it's offered
Special Education programs are offered at 2 schools across 2 states. Most students attend a school within driving distance of home — use the state picker below to see programs near you.
Earnings expectations
Graduates earn approximately $35,219/year on average one year after completion, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. Pay scales with experience, certifications, and regional cost-of-living.
Apprenticeship pathways
There are no Department of Labor registered apprenticeship pathways currently mapped to Special Education, but related trades may have programs — check apprenticeship.gov directly.
Program quality benchmark
Across the 2 schools we analyze, the average TradeSchoolOutlook Score is 35/100. Higher-scoring programs combine strong graduate earnings, manageable cost, and strong job-market demand — see the leaderboard further down for the highest-rated options.
What Special Education Graduates Do
Your career will likely begin in a secondary or middle school classroom, working directly with students who have a range of learning, mental, or physical disabilities. Your day-to-day work involves adapting standard lessons in subjects like math and reading, managing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and using specialized software or assistive technology to help students succeed. You’ll spend less time lecturing and more time in one-on-one or small-group settings, collaborating closely with general education teachers and parents.
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As you gain experience, you can specialize in areas like autism support or become a lead teacher, mentoring new educators. While entry-level and mid-career roles typically earn in the $60,000s, moving into a role training future teachers at a college can push your earnings past $72,000. Although some teaching fields show slow growth, the demand for special education is constant, with thousands of positions opening each year. AI may help streamline lesson planning, but the core of your job—providing empathetic, hands-on instruction and adapting to a child’s unique needs—remains a deeply human skill.
You may also want to compare Special Education with Teacher Education and Subject-Area Teaching on earnings and ROI.
Find Special Education Programs in Your State
Trade and community college programs are local decisions — most students pick a school within driving distance. Special Education is offered at 2 schools across 2 states. Click your state to see all trade programs offered locally.
Top Special Education Programs Nationally
For context, here are the highest-scoring Special Education programs in the country. Most students attend a school within 60 miles of home, so your state list above is usually more actionable — but these are the benchmarks others compete against.
2 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and career analysis.
| # | School | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chemeketa Community College Salem, OR |
44 39–46 |
| 2 | Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Saint Mary of the Woods, IN |
41 37–43 |
Highest Earning Special Education Programs
Schools where Special Education graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | $37,608/yr | 41 |
| Chemeketa Community College | $32,829/yr | 44 |
Best ROI for Special Education
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Special Education.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemeketa Community College | 31.7x | $32,829/yr | 44 |
| Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | 10.2x | $37,608/yr | 41 |
Related Majors
Explore similar fields of study.
Considering a 4-Year Degree?
Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Special Education degree programs stack up on earnings and ROI.