10 Easiest Online Special Education Degrees

For educators who feel a calling to support students with diverse learning needs, the path to licensure shouldn't be a bureaucratic maze. Maintaining a career in the classroom while facing the challenges of a degree program can seem difficult, but identifying easier online degrees can make the transition manageable. Modern online platforms are built for the working professional, offering asynchronous modules that let you study high-leverage practices and behavioral interventions on your own terms.

Specialized instruction is one of the highest-demand areas in the school system, and many universities have responded by creating easier education degrees tailored for special education. These programs often let you move quickly through material you already understand from your work experience, whether through accelerated terms, generous transfer credit, or competency-based pacing. The institutions below are recognized for their flexible admissions and streamlined paths toward helping you make a difference in the lives of exceptional learners.

What Makes an Online Special Education Degree Easy?

Going to college can prove challenging for both online students and those who study on campus. Few students would consider any special education degree offered by a legitimate, accredited school “easy.”

That said, some programs may be considered easier than other programs depending on an array of factors. Some of the factors to consider when looking for an easy online college include:

• Flexible scheduling: Many online degree programs offer flexible scheduling. This makes it easier for some students to fit their studies around other life commitments like caring for children or working full-time.
• Accelerated programs: Those hoping to get started in their new career path quickly often prefer accelerated online programs. These programs may require a larger time commitment but can help you graduate and earn the credentials you need more quickly than normal.
• Having an associate degree: If you already have an associate degree, you're halfway to earning a bachelor's degree. This means that, with the appropriate transfer credit hours, you could begin attending a four-year school and graduate from a bachelor's degree program in as little as two years.
• Transfer credits: If you don't have an associate degree but have attended college in the past, you may be able to transfer some or all of your general education credits to a new bachelor's degree program. Depending on how many credits you have to transfer, this can help you save time and money on getting your degree, making it easier to start your career as a special education teacher.
• Simplified admissions process: Some schools make it easier to get started with your education than others by having a simple enrollment process, relaxed admission requirements, and a high acceptance rate. Choosing a school with a simplified admissions process can help you get your degree easier.
• Supportive learning environment: Having a supportive learning environment can make higher education easier for any student, regardless of their chosen program. If you plan to study online, look for a school that offers plenty of student resources and opportunities for learners to interact with professors and peers through virtual classrooms and forums.
• User-friendly technology: Many schools offer online courses through Canvas or similar programs, while others provide their own online learning formats. Look for an online school that’s known for having user-friendly technological programs to ensure your learning experience goes as smoothly as possible.
• Part-time study options: Since many nontraditional students have to fit their online education into their busy lives, schools that offer part-time study options can be highly beneficial. Though these programs may take longer to complete, they can allow you to complete the training necessary to meet licensure requirements without sacrificing the other parts of your life that are important to you.

Easiest Special Education Degrees Online

Various schools offer online special education degrees that can easily be completed. Before comparing them, note two distinctions that shape everything else. First, some of these degrees lead to teacher licensure and others are non-licensure programs built for paraprofessional, private school, and support roles. Second, licensure programs qualify you for a specific state’s license, so if you plan to teach somewhere other than where the school is based, confirm reciprocity with your own state’s licensing board before you enroll.

1. Arkansas State University

Arkansas State University offers a highly flexible and affordable special education degree. The online Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) in special education K-12 leads to an Arkansas teaching license, and it carries one of the lower per-credit rates among regional special education programs.

The program runs 120 credit hours with the option to transfer up to 90 hours from another school, and transfer credits need only a 2.0 GPA. Coursework is delivered online with accelerated terms and several start dates each year, though the degree plan includes two residency terms and a secondary practicum you’ll complete in a classroom.

2. Drexel University

Drexel University's special education program prepares students for teaching careers, according to the standards set by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Council for Exceptional Children. The Bachelor of Science in special education is available online and enables both in-state and out-of-state students to pursue teaching certifications.

This part-time program allows students to transfer up to 90 quarter credits or 60 semester credits from another school. It features small classes and student support services to help online students succeed.

3. Concordia University Wisconsin

Concordia University Wisconsin, based in Mequon, offers an accelerated online Bachelor of Arts in cross categorical special education through the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod’s Concordia University System. The program is available in both licensure and non-licensure versions, which gives you room to choose based on whether you need a classroom credential.

The licensure track can be completed in as little as three years and leads to a Wisconsin K-12 cross-categorical license, with student teaching arranged near you. Students work through eight-week course sessions on a schedule that fits their lives, and the school accepts a generous number of transfer credits.

4. Colorado Christian University

Colorado Christian University provides various flexible online degree programs for busy adult students. One of the programs available is a Bachelor of Arts in special education, K-12 generalist. Students can pursue either the licensure or non-licensure option.

Students complete five-week courses one at a time, allowing them to progress through the program in a way that fits their schedule. The program requires 120 credit hours and student teaching experience to graduate.

5. East Carolina University

East Carolina University is a public school in North Carolina that offers an online special education degree. The Bachelor of Science in special education offers both general curriculum and adapted curriculum tracks, preparing students to work with students facing mild to moderate disabilities or more serious learning disabilities.

Both tracks are online degree completion programs. Students from North Carolina community colleges enjoy seamless transfer into the program of their choice. Student teaching and observation opportunities are available throughout the program, with students working a full-time internship during their senior year.

6. Central Methodist University

Central Methodist University in Missouri provides many flexible online degree programs at affordable prices. One of the programs available is a Bachelor of Science in Education, special education, mild to moderate disabilities K-12.

The program enables students to become certified to teach special education in Missouri. All coursework is completed online, while various field experiences enable students to gain the hands-on learning they need to succeed as teachers.

7. Western Governors University

Western Governors University is a nonprofit online school that provides self-paced, competency-based degree programs. Students can pursue two special education bachelor’s degrees: a Bachelor of Arts in special education (mild to moderate) and a Bachelor of Arts in special ed and elementary ed (dual licensure). Which one fits depends on your state — the mild to moderate degree suits states offering a single K-12 special education license, while the dual program serves states where dual licensure is required or available.

The school charges flat tuition rates per six-month term rather than per credit hour, helping highly motivated students graduate affordably. Both licensure degrees include in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching. If you want the coursework without the classroom requirements, WGU also offers a Bachelor of Arts in educational studies with special education emphases, which includes no student teaching and leads to no license.

8. Old Dominion University

Old Dominion University offers an online Bachelor of Science in special education that can be completed as a full degree or degree completion program. Students must complete at least 30 of the 120 required credit hours through Old Dominion to graduate.

The program provides both general and adapted curriculum tracks. Students who earn this degree can pursue licensure in Virginia; if they plan to work elsewhere, they must check with their state's requirements beforehand to ensure the program meets all requirements.

9. University of Georgia

The University of Georgia offers an online Bachelor of Science in Education in special education, general curriculum, preparing students to teach learners with high-incidence disabilities in preschool through 12th grade. The program runs through the Mary Frances Early College of Education and takes about two years.

Two things to confirm before you apply. This is an upper-division degree completion program, so you’ll need sufficient prior coursework and prerequisites to enter, and it’s designed for Georgia residents pursuing Georgia certification. Students who qualify can add an accelerated online master’s in special education through UGA’s Double Dawgs pathway, earning both degrees on an overlapping timeline.

10. Liberty University

Liberty University offers special education degrees at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. The online Bachelor of Science in special education interdisciplinary studies provides a great opportunity for students to begin working in non-licensure special education roles.

Students can transfer up to 75% of their total required credit hours and take advantage of flexible eight-week courses. The program offers affordable tuition and the opportunity to transfer seamlessly into the school's Master of Arts in teaching-special education program.

FAQs About Easy Online Special Education Degrees

A few questions come up again and again when comparing these programs. Here’s what to sort out before you apply.

Will a Special Education Degree From Another State Let You Teach in Yours?

Sometimes, but never assume it. Licensure programs are approved by one state’s education department, and while most states have reciprocity agreements, they often require additional coursework, exams, or a provisional license period. Before enrolling in an out-of-state program, contact your own state’s licensing board with the specific program name. Schools publish state authorization disclosures for exactly this reason, and reading yours first can save you a year of catch-up coursework.

Can You Complete Special Education Student Teaching Online?

No. Every licensure program requires supervised classroom hours, and that holds true even at schools that advertise fully online delivery. What varies is the logistics: most programs arrange placements in schools near you rather than requiring relocation, and some will approve your current workplace if you already work in a school. Non-licensure degrees often skip student teaching altogether, which is the main reason they finish faster.

What’s the Difference Between General Curriculum and Adapted Curriculum Tracks?

The two prepare you for different student populations. General curriculum tracks focus on high-incidence disabilities, where students follow the standard academic curriculum with support and accommodations. Adapted curriculum tracks focus on low-incidence and more significant disabilities, where instruction centers on functional and life skills alongside modified academics. Several schools let you pursue either, and some states issue separate endorsements for each, so match the track to the classroom you want.

Is a Non-Licensure Special Education Degree Worth Earning?

It depends entirely on where you want to work. A non-licensure degree won’t put you in charge of a public school special education classroom, but it does qualify you for paraprofessional and instructional aide roles, private and charter school positions in many states, early intervention programs, and behavioral support work. It also serves as a foundation for a licensure-track master’s later. Several schools on this list build that exact bridge, pairing a non-licensure bachelor’s with a Master of Arts in Teaching.

Do You Need a Master’s Degree To Teach Special Education?

Not to start, in most states. A bachelor’s degree plus state licensure is the standard entry requirement. That said, a handful of states expect a master’s within a set number of years, and districts frequently tie salary increases to graduate credit. If you expect to pursue one eventually, look for a bachelor’s program with an accelerated or concurrent master’s pathway, since stacking the two generally costs less and takes less time than returning years later.

Find a Special Education Degree Program Today

If you're ready to begin your special education journey, check out the schools featured right here on Learn.org. You can contact the admissions office at any of these schools to find out which special education degree program may be right for you.