Are Online Special Education Degrees Legitimate?

Many online special education degrees are legitimate. Accredited institutions provide legit online special education degrees that are well respected by employers and graduate degree programs.

The legitimacy of an online special education bachelor's degree depends on a student's career interests. For example, if a student is interested in teaching in public schools, a degree that leads to licensure would be legitimate.

It is important to find a college or university that has a good reputation with a high graduation rate that may encourage students to complete an online special education degree on time.

Do Employers Respect Online Special Education Degrees?

Employers do respect legitimate online special education degrees that are from an accredited school. Special education degree programs that have additional accreditation are also well respected.

Certain employers respect certain online special education degrees. If you are not interested in teaching in public schools, your employer would respect an online special education degree that did not lead to licensure.

What To Look For in an Online Special Education Degree Program

There are many things to look for in an online special education degree program such as the type of institution that awards it, accreditations, and more.

Accreditation

It is important to earn an online special education degree from an accredited institution. See two examples of the six organizations that accredit colleges below:

• The Higher Learning Commission
• The Western Association of Schools and Colleges

Accredited education programs offer high-quality degrees that meet educational standards and financial aid options to help lower the cost of tuition. Examples of financial aid options include:

• federal grants
• scholarships
• tuition discounts

The US Department of Education must recognize the accrediting organization for a college's accreditation to be legitimate. Many online special education programs have individual accreditation as well.

The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) provides quality reviews that can lead to accreditation. Accreditation is the top factor to look for in a legitimate online special education program.

Reputation

The reputation of a college helps prospective students get a preliminary understanding of how well a college operates. Students can verify college reputations through accreditation status, rankings, student and teacher reviews, and more.

College rankings may include acceptance rates, program rankings, student-to-faculty ratio, and more. College reputations help confirm that an online special education degree is legitimate.

Certain colleges have a better reputation in one study area over another. For example, some of the top online special education degree school options according to Forbes are:

• Dakota State University
• Old Dominion University
• Western Governors University

Graduation Rates

An accredited institution's graduation rate lets upcoming college students know how well prior students performed academically. A graduation rate helps determine a college's reputation.

The more students that graduate from an undergraduate degree program on time builds certainty for new students to complete a bachelor's degree program. Graduation rates are important, but a low graduation rate does not always mean that a university is not reputable.

Differences Between Online Special Education Degrees and Traditional Special Education Degrees

An online bachelor's degree in special education allows students to complete courses in a flexible format that involves online instruction or self-paced programs. Most online programs leading to licensure still require in-person field experiences.

Traditional special education degrees involve in-person scheduled classes and in-person field experiences. Adult students with many obligations typically prefer online special education degrees over traditional special education degrees.

Both online and traditional special education degrees awarded through accredited institutions are well-respected by employers and legitimate.

Benefits of Earning Your Special Education Degree at an Online School

Earning a special education degree at an online school has many benefits. Online schools provide the flexibility that many adult students need to earn a degree while taking care of other responsibilities.

Many online schools also provide an online tuition rate versus a tuition rate that depends on the state you reside in and the same credibility as a traditional on-campus school. Accredited online schools are well respected by employers.

It takes three years or less to earn a legitimate bachelor's degree in special education at an online school through transfer credits and online learning. Asynchronous learning and competency-based programs can help reduce the time it takes to earn a degree.

Featured Online Special Education Degree Programs

Many accredited institutions, like the ones below, offer legitimate opportunities for students seeking an online special education bachelor's degree.

1. Arkansas State University

Arkansas State University offers a Bachelor of Science in education in special education degree program for grades K through 12 that involves online course requirements.

The online special education degree program has an affordable rate of $276 per credit hour. Students can also transfer up to 90 credits to lower tuition costs.

CAEP accredits Arkansas State's undergraduate special education degree program that prepares students for earning state licensure to teach in public schools.

2. Colorado Christian University

Colorado Christian University provides two special education programs. The two special education programs include:

• BA in special education, K through 12 generalist, non-licensure
• BA in special education, K through 12 generalist, licensure

The special education degree that does not lead to licensure prepares students to work in private schools and more without the requirement of student teaching.

The cost of tuition for both programs is $494 per credit hour and both programs offer flexible online learning formats.

3. Drexel University Online

The CAEP-accredited BS in special education degree program at Drexel University Online is a part-time program that leads to licensure and job opportunities in public and private schools.

Drexel has a high acceptance rate of 80% encouraging prospective students to enroll and complete an online bachelor's degree program.

Students can expect the online special education degree program to have online and in-person requirements. Most course requirements are available online and in-person requirements include field experiences.

4. Liberty University

Liberty University offers a Bachelor of Education in special education degree program and a BS in special education interdisciplinary studies degree program online.

With a 99% acceptance rate, future Liberty students can apply to an undergraduate special education degree program with confidence.

The BEd in special education degree is an online program that prepares students for licensure and the BS in special education interdisciplinary studies program is an online non-licensure program.

5. Western Governors University

Western Governors University (WGU) offers a dual licensure BA degree program in special education and elementary education. It also provides a BA in special education.

These legitimate online special education degree programs involve self-paced online courses, preclinical experiences, and more. Tuition is $3,825 per six-month term.

Both programs lead to teaching licensure but the mild to moderate special education program only leads to licensure in states that offer a K through 12 special education teaching licenses.