2020 Most Affordable Online Master's in Special Education
All 25 of these colleges and universities offer affordable online master's in special education programs. Ranked #1, Buena Vista University charges $3,500 per year for their Master of Education in Special Education. Available courses include Behavior Interventions and Supports with Field Experience, Methods for Teaching Students with Behavioral Disabilities, Special Education Law and Professional Practices, and Transitions and Self-Determination. Campbellsville University, ranked #2, offers an annual tuition rate of $4,485 for its master's in special education program.
You can read more about our ranked schools below or browse our rankings of the most affordable online master's programs. View our methodology or learn more about OnlineU.
All tuition numbers were manually collected and verified
| Rank | School | Annual Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| Buena Vista University | $3,500 | |
| Campbellsville University | $4,485 | |
| Wichita State University | $4,529 | |
| Northwestern College - IA | $5,025 | |
| Eastern Illinois University | $5,210 | |
| Valdosta State University | $5,274 | |
| Minot State University | $5,366 | |
| Albany State University | $5,400 | |
| Columbus State University | $5,418 | |
| Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus | $5,449 | |
| Texas Tech University | $5,454 | |
| Mississippi College | $5,475 | |
| Southeast Missouri State University | $5,475 | |
| West Texas A & M University | $5,667 | |
| Missouri State University | $5,784 | |
| University of Central Arkansas | $5,850 | |
| University of North Alabama | $5,950 | |
| William Carey University | $6,000 | |
| Stephen F. Austin State University | $6,060 | |
| Midwestern State University | $6,219 | |
| Drury University | $6,222 | |
| Fairmont State University | $6,270 | |
| American Public University System | $6,300 | |
| Texas A & M University-Kingsville | $6,333 | |
| Augustana University - SD | $6,375 |
- Annual Tuition: $3,500
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 227
- Example Classes: Behavior Interventions and Supports with Field Experience; Math Methods with Field Experience; Methods for Teaching Students with Behavioral Disabilities; Multidisciplinary Assessment and Evaluation; Special Education Law and Professional Practices; Transitions and Self-Determination
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Education in Special Education
- Master of Education in Special Education - Comprehensive Track
- Master of Education in Special Education - Mild to Moderate Disabilities K-8 or 5-12
- Master of Education in Special Education - Severe and Profound Cognitive Disabilities
- Master of Education in Special Education - Severe and profound learning and behavioral disabilities
- Master of Education in Teacher Leadership, Curriculum, and Instruction - Talented and Gifted Education
- Annual Tuition: $4,485
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: SACS COC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 7,450
- Example Classes: Designing and Assessing Effective Instruction in Mathematics; Effective Strategies for Improved Student’s Classroom Behavior; Empowerment for Teacher Leadership; Learning Disabilities: Foundations, Assessment and Strategies for Success for All Students; Reading Theories and Practice
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Arts in School Improvement - Rank I: Director of Special Education
- Master of Arts in School Improvement - Rank I: Gifted Education Endorsement
- Master of Arts in School Improvement - Rank I: Special Education
- Master of Arts in Special Education - Initial Certification
- Master of Arts in Special Education - Teacher Leader
- Annual Tuition: $4,529
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 2,772
- Example Classes: Assessments and Methods: K-3; Early Childhood Unified Assessment and Methods: Infants, Toddlers and Families (3); Family and Professional Collaboration; Qualitative Inquiry in Education
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Education in Special Education
- Master of Education in Special Education - Gifted (Non-Thesis)
- Master of Education in Special Education - Gifted (Thesis)
- Master of Education in Special Education - High Incidence (Non-Thesis)
- Master of Education in Special Education - High Incidence (Thesis)
- Master of Education in Special Education - Low Incidence (Non-Thesis)
- Annual Tuition: $5,025
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 275
- Example Classes: Behavior and Social Interventions of Learners; Communication and Collaborative Partnerships; Instructional Decision Making and Leadership in Special Education; Instructional Strategies for Diverse Students and Settings; Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues in Special Education; Trends and Issues in 21st Century Education
Online Master's Degrees
- M.Ed. in Special Education
- M.Ed. Special Education - Instructional Strategist I Mild/Moderate Endorsement (5-12)
- M.Ed. Special Education - Instructional Strategist I Mild/Moderate Endorsement (K-8)
- M.Ed. Special Education - Instructional Strategist II Behavior Disorders/Learning Disabilities Endorsement (K-12)
- M.Ed. Special Education - Instructional Strategist II Intellectual Disabilities Endorsement (K-12)
- Annual Tuition: $5,210
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 1,514
- Example Classes: A Family-focused Approach for Providing Services to Families With Children Identified as Exceptional; Assessment of Young Children (Birth to 8) With Exceptional Learning Needs; Curriculum and Methods for Infant/toddler Early Intervention; Diagnosis and Assessment of Learners With Exceptional Learning Needs; Instructional Strategies: Young Children (Birth Through 8) at Risk and With Exceptional Learning Needs; Typical and Atypical Development in Children Birth to Five
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Science in Education in Special Education
- Annual Tuition: $5,274
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: SACS COC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 2,511
- Example Classes: Characteristics of Students with Low Incidence Disabilities; Collaborative Roles in Education; Integrated Instruction: Individual Education Programs; Physical & Health Manage of Students with Disabilities; Positive Behavior Support; Systematic Instruction
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education - Adapted Curriculum
- Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education - Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education
- Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education - General Curriculum
- Annual Tuition: $5,366
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 274
- Example Classes: Classroom Management and Positive Behavior Support; Family and Community Systems in Early Intervention; Infant/Toddler Development; Methods of Teaching ECSE; Methods of Teaching the Learning Disabled; Physical and Medical Needs of Persons with Severe Disabilities
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Education in Special Education
- Master of Science in Special Education
- Master of Science in Special Education - Deaf/Hard of Hearing Education
- Master of Science in Special Education - Early Childhood Special Education
- Master of Science in Special Education - Special Education Strategist
- Master of Science in Special Education - Specific Learning Disabilities
- Annual Tuition: $5,400
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: SACS COC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 370
- Example Classes: Behavior Management of Exceptional Children; Behavior Modification for Special Education Students; Characteristics & Instructional Strategies for Teaching Mildly Disabled; Curriculum for Gifted Education; Exceptional Children; Instructional Methods in Gifted Education
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Education in Special Education
- Annual Tuition: $5,418
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: SACS COC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 1,436
- Example Classes: Acquisition and Analysis of Special Education Information; Advanced Assessment of Exceptional Child/Youth; Assistive Technology for Exceptional Learners; Practicum in Mild and Moderate Disabilities; Special Education Law for Educators; Special Educator as User and Disseminator of Information
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Education in Special Education - General Curriculum
- Annual Tuition: $5,449
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 1,305
- Example Classes: Communication and Collaboration Methods; Emotional Disturbance: Theory to Practice; Foundations of Early Child SPED; High Incidence Disabilities: Theory to Practice; Positive Behavior Supports of Learning; Special Education Law
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Education in Pedagogy and Learning - Gifted Pedagogy
- Master of Education in Pedagogy and Learning - Special Education Pedagogy
- Master of Education in Special Education Pedagogy
- Master of Special Education in General Special Education
- Annual Tuition: $5,454
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: SACS COC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 6,252
- Example Classes: Applied Behavior Analysis in Special Education; Children and Youth with High Incidence Disabilities; Educational Appraisal of Exceptional Children; Exceptional Children and Youth; Human Development in Education; Instructional Strategies for Teaching Students with Low Incidence Disabilities
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Education in Special Education
- Master of Education in Special Education - Applied Behavior Analysis
- Master of Education in Special Education - Autism
- Master of Education in Special Education - Deaf & Hard of Hearing
- Master of Education in Special Education - Deafblindness
- Master of Education in Special Education - Educational Diagnostician
- Annual Tuition: $5,475
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: SACS COC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 1,871
- Example Classes: Characteristics of Students with Mild/Moderate Learning Problems; Curriculum Development; Diagnostic/Prescriptive Reading; Organizational Procedures for Special Education; Psychology of Exceptional Children; Teaching Students with Moderate Learning Problems
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Education in Special Education
- Annual Tuition: $5,475
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 1,030
- Example Classes: Behavior Management Techniques; Curriculum Construction in a Multicultural Society; Educational Assessment; Language Acquisition of Exceptional Children; Techniques of Teaching the Mild/Moderate Cross-Categorical; Transition Planning for Individuals with Exceptional Learning Needs
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis
- Master of Arts in Exceptional Child Education
- Master of Arts in Exceptional Child Education - Autism
- Master of Arts in Exceptional Child Education - Early Childhood Special Education
- Master of Arts in Exceptional Child Education - Mild/Moderate Cross-Categorical
- Master of Arts in Teaching Exceptional Child
- Annual Tuition: $5,667
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: SACS COC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 2,653
- Example Classes: Advanced Remediation Techniques; Assistive Technology; Management of Classroom Behaviors-Exceptional Learners; Teaching Secondary Students with Mild Disabilities; Theories of Learning Disabilities and Emotional/Behavioral Disorders; Transition: From Schools to Adult Communities
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction - Special Education
- Annual Tuition: $5,784
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 3,559
- Example Classes: Advanced Assessment to Support Individuals with Developmental and Sensory Disabilities; Braille Reading and Writing; Impact of Contemporary Issues and Diversity in Special Education; Low Vision, Anatomy and Physiology of the Eye; Methods of Teaching Students with Visual Impairments and Multiple Disabilities; Services and Diversity in Blindness and Low Vision and Additional Disabilities
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Science in Education - Special Education/Blindness & Low Vision Emphasis
- Annual Tuition: $5,850
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 1,752
- Example Classes: Behavior Management and Analysis in Special Education; Diagnosis and Intervention of Reading Difficulties; Educational Programming for Students with Significant Disabilities K-12; Math and Science for Diverse Learners; Multisensory Approach to Language; Philosophical, Historical, and Legal Aspects of Special Education
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education
- Master of Science in Education in Advanced Studies in Teacher Leadership (ASTL) - Dyslexia
- Master of Science in Education in Advanced Studies in Teacher Leadership (ASTL) - Gifted and Talented
- Master of Science in Education in Special Education
- Annual Tuition: $5,950
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: SACS COC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 1,335
- Example Classes: Applied Action Research for Educators; Dyslexia and Related Learning Disabilities; Emotional and Behavioral Disorders; Low-Incidence Exceptional Learning Needs; Special Education Assessment; Survey of Students with Exceptional Learning Needs
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Arts in Education - Collaborative Special Education (6-12)
- Master of Arts in Education - Collaborative Special Education (K-6)
- Annual Tuition: $6,000
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: SACS COC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 1,793
- Example Classes: Behavior Management; Intellectual Disabilities; Learning Disabilities; Organizational Procedures for Special Education; Teaching Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities; Teaching Individuals with Learning Disabilities
Online Master's Degrees
- MEd - Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
- MEd - Mild to Moderate Disabilities
- Annual Tuition: $6,060
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: SACS COC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 1,746
- Example Classes: Children with Behavioral Disorders; Early Childhood Special Education; Educational Programming for Students with Autism; Individual Intelligence Testing; Instructional Strategies for Exceptional Learners; Trends in Educating Exceptional Children
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Education in Special Education
- Master of Education in Special Education - Educational Diagnostician Certification
- Master of Education in Special Education - Initial Teacher Certification
- Master of Education in Special Education - Non-Teacher Certification
- Master of Education in Teaching & Learning - Gifted and Talented
- Annual Tuition: $6,219
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: SACS COC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 730
- Example Classes: Human Relations; Individualized Diagnostic Assessment; Introduction to Educational Research; Practicum in Special Education; Special Education Law; Vocational, Motor Skills, and Assistive Technology Assessment
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Education in Special Education
#21 Drury University
- Annual Tuition: $6,222
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 240
- Example Classes: Behavior Analysis and Intervention; Correction of Mathematical Difficulties; Counseling Parents of Exceptional Children; Evaluation of Abilities & Achievements; Language Development of the Exceptional Child; Methods of Teaching Students Mild/Moderate Disabilities; Methods of Teaching Students/ Cross Categorical Disabilities
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Education in Special Education
- Master of Education in Special Education - Drury Alternative Track in Special Education
- Annual Tuition: $6,270
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 273
- Example Classes: Behavioral Support for Special Students; Introduction to Learning Exceptionalities and Behavior Disorders; Methods and Strategies for Autism; Survey of Literacy Instruction and Assessment for Individuals with Exceptionalities; Teaching Content Area Reading; Teaching Reading to Special and At- Risk Learners
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Education in Multi-Categorical Special Education with Autism - Licensed Candidates (With K-6 & 5-Adult Endorsements)
- Master of Education in Multi-Categorical Special Education with Autism - Non-Licensed Candidates (With K-6 & 5-Adult Endorsements)
- Master of Education in Professional Studies - Special Education
- Annual Tuition: $6,300
- School Type: For-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 8,342
- Example Classes: Classroom Management for the 21st Century; Critical Perspectives on Diversity and Culture; Education Law, Ethics, and Politics; Living and Learning with Exceptional Students; Maximizing Student Achievement Through Effective Assessment; Meaningful Inclusive Instruction and Co-Teaching; Powerful Technology Applications for the Active Learning Environments
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Education in Teaching - Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Master of Education in Teaching - Special Education
- Annual Tuition: $6,333
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: SACS COC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 1,565
- Example Classes: Assessment of Individuals with Severe Disabilities; Designing Instructional & Behavioral Programs; Development & Disability; Educational Psychological Measurement; Indentifcation of the Young Child with Special Needs; Legislative, Litigation & Advocacy
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Education in Special Education
- Master of Education in Special Education with Educational Diagnostician Certification
- Annual Tuition: $6,375
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Total Graduate Enrollment: 326
- Example Classes: Autism Spectrum Pedagogy; Differentiation and Diversity; Issues in Education; RTI: Response to Intervention; Teaching Students At Risk; Technology in Education
Online Master's Degrees
- Master of Arts in Education - Special Populations
- Master of Arts in Special Education
- Master of Arts in Special Education - Early Childhood
- Master of Arts in Special Education - K-12