Special Education · District of Columbia
Special Education colleges in District of Columbia
CampusPin lists 11 U.S. colleges in District of Columbia that offer Special Education programs. Compare tuition, acceptance rate, and enrollment in the table below, every figure links back to the institution's official IPEDS data.
Special Education prepares you to teach students with disabilities and diverse learning needs, designing individualized instruction and support across grade levels and settings.
Schools in District of Columbia that offer Special Education
American University
Washington, DC · University · Private
Tuition
$56,543
Acceptance
47%
Enrollment
12,795
Career Technical Institute
Washington, DC · Community College · Private
Tuition
$30,953
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
370
Gallaudet University
Washington, DC · University · Private
Tuition
$18,382
Acceptance
61%
Enrollment
1,324
Howard University
Washington, DC · University · Private
Tuition
$33,344
Acceptance
35%
Enrollment
12,830
Saint Michael College of Allied Health
Washington, DC · Community College · Private
Tuition
$19,405
Acceptance
64%
Enrollment
123
Strayer University-Global Region
Washington, DC · University · Private
Tuition
$13,920
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
12,776
The Catholic University of America
Washington, DC · University · Private
Tuition
$55,834
Acceptance
84%
Enrollment
5,095
Trinity Washington University
Washington, DC · University · Private
Tuition
$26,110
Acceptance
99%
Enrollment
1,417
University of the District of Columbia
Washington, DC · University · Public
Tuition
$6,152
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
3,638
University of the Potomac-Washington DC Campus
Washington, DC · University · Private
Tuition
$6,660
Acceptance
100%
Enrollment
593
Wesley Theological Seminary
Washington, DC · University · Private
Tuition
$30,953
Acceptance
74%
Enrollment
6,747
Special Education programs in District of Columbia: by the numbers
A quick comparison of the 11 schools listed above, drawn from each institution's published IPEDS data.
Schools listed
11
Public / private
1 / 10
Universities / 2-year
9 / 2
Cities represented
1
In-state tuition range
$6,152–$56,543
Median in-state tuition
$26,110
Lowest published in-state tuition
University of the District of Columbia
$6,152
Most selective
Howard University
35% acceptance
Largest by enrollment
Howard University
12,830 students
Figures reflect the schools currently listed and each institution's most recent reported data. Verify current tuition and admissions details with the school before applying.
What you'll study in a Special Education program
- Characteristics of learning, intellectual, and developmental disabilities
- Writing and managing individualized education plans
- Special education law, due process, and disability rights policy
- Assessment and progress monitoring of specific learning needs
- Behavior management and positive behavioral interventions
- Differentiated and explicit instruction in reading and math
- Assistive technology and accommodations for diverse learners
- Collaboration with families, general educators, and related-service staff
- Supervised practicum and student teaching in school settings
Where a Special Education degree can lead
- Special Education Teacher
- Resource Room Teacher
- Inclusion Specialist
- Early Intervention Specialist
- IEP Coordinator
- Behavior Interventionist
Typical pay: Early-career wages vary by employer, region, and experience (BLS, 2024 special education teachers, all other median $67,430).
Special Education focuses on teaching students whose learning differs from typical patterns because of disabilities, developmental delays, or other identified needs. Students learn how to assess where a learner is struggling, write and carry out individualized education plans, and adapt lessons in reading, math, and behavior so each student can make progress. Coursework covers how disabilities affect learning, evidence-based teaching methods, classroom and behavior management, assistive technology, and the federal and state laws that govern services for students with disabilities. Unlike a general elementary or secondary teaching major, which centers on grade-level content for a typical class, Special Education centers on differentiating instruction, collaborating with families and specialists, and serving students one-on-one, in small groups, or alongside general-education teachers in inclusive classrooms.
The typical path is a bachelor's degree, and most programs build in supervised student teaching, a practicum, or a culminating clinical placement in schools so candidates work directly with students before graduating. Teaching in public schools requires a state license or certification, and the specific tests, fieldwork hours, and endorsement areas vary by state and should be verified; some states also expect programmatic accreditation of the preparation program. Graduates work in elementary, middle, and high schools as well as early-intervention settings, resource rooms, self-contained classrooms, and inclusion programs, with related work in tutoring, transition planning, and early childhood services for young children with developmental needs.
In federal data for the closely related occupation of special education teachers, all other, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median wage of $67,430 and projects employment to grow about 1.1% from 2024 to 2034; a bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for that occupation. National figures are occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages or graduate outcomes.
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