Ed.S. in Special Education

  • TOTAL COST

    $12,660*
  • NEXT START DATE

    Jan 12, 2026
  • COMPLETION TIME

    18 Months
  • AVG. SALARY PREMIUM

  • SEMESTER CREDITS

    34

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    Lead in Special Ed, Advance Your Impact

    Take your special education expertise to the post-master’s degree level and build upon your influential leadership, advocacy and inclusivity efforts for students with disabilities. Earning a specialist degree in special education at American College of Education (ACE) equips you with the knowledge, skills and practices needed to lead transformative initiatives that impact pre-K-12 special education outcomes. You’ll not only become an advanced expert, but you’ll also learn to leverage innovative, relevant technology, and research to foresee and strategically create effective programs.

    This program is not designed to lead to licensure, but it’ll position you for specialized leadership roles without doctoral dissertation research. Beyond extensive leadership skills, you’ll also gain a deeper understanding of reading intervention, assistive technology, differentiated instruction, educator support, building partnerships with student families and more. Become the leader who understands what special educators need to create and implement effective spaces for students with disabilities to succeed and grow. 


    Why ACE?

    Low-Cost, High Quality

    You deserve a great return on your educational investment, and we deliver master’s degrees at a total average cost of $10,000. We also award over $1.2M in scholarships and grants each year.

    Quality You Expect

    We are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Our faculty work in the industries where you work and are committed to your success, contributing to our 85% graduation rate.¹ Our curriculum equips you with practical strategies you can apply right away, as well as skills to help you advance your career.

    Flexibility You Need

    Our virtual campus and convenient start dates provide you the flexibility you need to achieve your goals at a time and place that works with your busy schedule. Our student support services are available 24/7 and tutoring is included at no additional cost.

    1Source: Student Right to Know


    Tuition

    We believe in full transparency with our total cost of attendance. No hidden fees. No surprises along the way.

    Total Cost Ed.S. in Special Education

    Total Tuition

    34 semester credits x $306 per credit

    $10,404

    Fees

    $100 Application Fee
    $150 Conferral Fee
    $2006 Technology and Library Fee
    (34 Semester Credits X $59 per Credit)

    $2,256

    Total Program Cost

    $12,660*

    Find a plan that fits your budget.


    Program Details

    The Education Specialist degree is a practitioner’s degree at the post-master’s level for those who seek advanced credentials but not a full doctoral degree with a dissertation requirement. The objective of the degree is to develop skills and competencies that will make a student a more effective leader in the field of Special Education. The Ed.S. in Special Education degree is designed for individuals with a master’s degree who will wish to advance their special education knowledge and skills. This degree is not designed for licensure.

    Majors

    Focus of Study


    Start Dates

    With flexible start dates, you can begin your program when it’s best for you.

    January 12, 2026 Term

    Jan 09, 2026

    Application Due

    Jan 09, 2026

    Payment Due

    Jan 12, 2026

    Term Start

    Jan 16, 2026

    Unregister/Cancel Deadline

    Feb 15, 2026

    Term End

    February 02, 2026 Term

    February 23, 2026 Term

    April 13, 2026 Term

    May 25, 2026 Term

    June 15, 2026 Term

    July 13, 2026 Term

    August 24, 2026 Term

    September 14, 2026 Term

    October 05, 2026 Term

    November 16, 2026 Term


    Courses

    Here are just some of the courses you’ll take when working towards this program. Visit the College Catalog to see all courses.

    LEAD6001

    Introduction to Advanced Studies

    1 Semester Credits

    LEAD6011

    Leadership as a Reflective Practice

    1 Semester Credits

    LEAD6021

    Leadership Seminar

    1 Semester Credits

    SPED6003

    Strategies and Methods for Reading Intervention

    3 Semester Credits

    SPED6013

    Assistive Technology for Exceptional Learners

    3 Semester Credits

    SPED6023

    Differentiated Instruction for Exceptional Learners

    3 Semester Credits

    SPED6043

    Assessment and Evaluation for Exceptional Learners

    3 Semester Credits

    SPED6063

    Building Family and Professional Partnerships

    3 Semester Credits

    SPED6073

    Exploring the Autism Spectrum

    3 Semester Credits


    Admission Requirements

    ACE General Admission Requirements

    Program Admission Requirements

    International Transcript Requirements

    English as a Second Language Applicants

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