Earning an associate’s in special education online is a valuable first step for those wishing to work with students who have special needs and/or learning disabilities. After earning this associates’s degree, individuals can choose to either continue their education and earn a bachelor’s degree in the field, or to enter the workplace immediately as a teacher’s assistant or a paraeducator, working with special education students while under the supervision of a certified teacher. Earning the associate’s degree online is an optimal choice, as students can have a more flexible schedule and study from the comfort of their home. This article highlights the top 10 affordable online associate’s special education programs, ranked by affordability.
The top 10 affordable online associate’s special education are:
- Dallas County Community College
- Copiah-Lincoln Community College
- Lehigh Carbon Community College
- Hagerstown Community College
- College of Southern Nevada
- Panola College
- Portland Community College
- Northampton Community College
- Mesabi Range Community College
- Tyler Junior College
10. Tyler Junior College
Tyler, Texas
Associate’s in Special Education Online Concentration
Tyler Junior College offers a specialized academic associate’s degree program in teaching, with an emphasis in special education. This program, which can be completed entirely online, is designed for individuals who wish to transfer to a 4 year program upon completion of their associate’s degrees. The curriculum consists of 60 credits, 44 of which are part of the TJC core curriculum, and the remaining 16 are special education related courses.
Tuition: $10,000
9. Mesabi Range College
Eveleth, Minnesota
Associate of Applied Science in Early Childhood/Early Childhood Special Education Online
This online associate’s degree program at Mesabi Range College is designed for those looking to work in the special education field with young children, specifically from birth to age 8. The 60 credit curriculum combines classroom learning with practical experience. Students will learn various ways to educate and care for challenging behavioral situations, as well as how to develop communication strategies to interact effectively with diverse students and their families.
Tuition: $9,692
8. Northampton Community College
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Associate’s in Special Education Online
The Special Education Paraeducator associate’s degree program at Northampton Community College is designed to prepare individuals to enter the workplace immediately. Graduates will be prepared to work with children with varying abilities under the direct supervision of a certified teacher. Beginning with their very first special education course, students will gain hands-on experience in public school and young children’s classrooms. This 61-credit program can be completed entirely online.
Tuition: $9,000
7. Portland Community College
Portland, Oregon
Associate of Applied Science Online – Paraeducator with a Special Education Emphasis
Portland Community College offers an affordable associate’s degree in special education that prepares students to be able to immediately enter the workplace in an education setting in a non-licensure position. Students can complete this paraeducator degree entirely online. The program curriculum teaches various essential workplace skills, including individual instruction, behavior management, interpersonal and intercultural communications, and personal growth.
Tuition: $9,000
6. Panola College
Carthage, Texas
Associate of Arts in Teaching with Special Education Degree Plan Online
Panola College gives students the option of choosing a specialized concentration when earning their associate’s degree in teaching, making it a good option for earning an associate’s degree in special education. This 4-semester program, offered entirely online, prepares students for work as either a teacher or paraprofessional. The flexible education department allows students to create an individualized degree plan as they complete their first two years of a 4-year teacher program.
Tuition: $8,000
5. College of Southern Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Associate’s in Special Education Online
The online special education associate’s degree program at the College of Southern Nevada is designed to provide the first 2 years of training for those wanting to become special education teachers or paraprofessionals. The affordable 60 credit program combines 32 general education credits with 28 specialized, program-required credits. Students will graduate with an extensive knowledge base which includes technology tools, theoretical and multicultural perspectives, evaluation techniques, and historical, legal and philosophical foundations and issues related to special education.
Tuition: $7,328
4. Hagerstown Community College
Hagerstown, Maryland
Associate of Arts in Teaching in Elementary/Special Education Online
The online associate’s degree in special education at Hagerstown Community College is designed for students preparing to transfer to a 4-year institution to obtain a bachelor’s degree and teaching license. This affordable, 64-credit program includes 32 general education credits and 32 specialized special education credits. Additionally, 45 hours of field experience are included in the program curriculum, allowing the student to gain practical experience in the classroom.
Tuition: $7,000
3. Lehigh Carbon Community College
Schnecksville, PA
Associate’s in Special Education Online
Lehigh Carbon Community College offers an affordable, pre-professional program that provides the foundation for students wishing to continue their studies in order to obtain a 4-year degree. This online program offers a wide range of electives, and they effectively incorporate field experience and observation into their program of study. The curriculum covers areas such as curriculum planning, theories and beliefs about teaching, special education law, and relationships with students and their families.
Tuition: $5,967
2. Copiah-Lincoln Community College
Wesson, Mississippi
Associate Degree in Elementary Education with Special Education Endorsement Online
Students studying elementary education at Copiah-Lincoln can choose special education as their endorsement of choice, and earn an associate’s degree fully online. This affordable 60 credit program offers graduating students the option of continuing on to a 4-year program with one of the schools with which Copiah-Lincoln has an articulation agreement, some of which offer online bachelor’s degrees. To be accepted in the associate’s degree program, students must have either an ACT score of 21 or more, or a passing Praxis score in reading, writing, and mathematics.
Tuition: $5,273
1. Dallas County Community College
Dallas, Texas
Associate of Arts in Teaching with Specialization in Special Education Online
Dallas County Community College offers a cheap, fully online associate’s degree in teaching with a specialization in special education. The program consists of 60 credit hours, 42 of which are core curriculum. The remaining credits are directly related to special education. This degree plan is created for those interested in earning their certification to teach all levels of special education.
Tuition: $3,000
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