Online master’s degrees at Wayne State College are among the lowest priced in the nation. Online tuition is a flat rate, regardless of residency.
Special Education Master's Degree
Wayne State's fully online master’s degree in special education is designed to help professionals and districts meet the needs of students with exceptionalities, and their families. The program offers four unique pathways:
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Special Education for Initial Certification: For those who already have a bachelor’s degree (regardless of major) and are now interested in a teaching career as a special education professional.
View Benchmarks for Successful Advancement in Educator Preparation - MSE Special Education Certification. -
Special Education for Additional Certification: For certified teachers who want to learn how to bring special education-related teaching and assessment methods into the classroom, or for those interested in becoming special education teachers.
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Special Education Advanced Study: For special education professionals looking to deepen and broaden their understanding of the special education field.
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Special Education Supervisor: For special education professionals looking to transition into leadership roles.
Questions? Contact Us
Phone: 402-375-7164
Email: onlinesped@wsc.edu
Fast Facts
Degrees offered: MSE
School: Education and Behavioral Sciences
Department: Educational Foundations and Leadership
Accreditation: Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), Nebraska Department of Education
Licensing and Certification: Wayne State academic programs are designed to prepare students for licensure or certification in Nebraska. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Nebraska, please check that state's licensing board to determine their licensing requirements. Authorization may be required from them prior to beginning a clinical or field experience in that state. Learn more.
Admissions Criteria
1. Completed Admissions Application
2. Official Transcripts
3. Statement of Interest to the Dean
4. Recommendation Form
Note for Admitted Students: All students admitted into the graduate special education program are required to purchase a myEportfolio 4+1 Year Subscription from the Wayne State College bookstore. (This subscription purchase is good for five years.)
Purchase myEportfolio Now (Need help? Visit the Chalk and Wire help sheet.)
Recognized for Excellence
Wayne State College is continually recognized for incredible value, successful graduates, and innovative learning.

No. 3 in the U.S.
Most Affordable Online Master's Degrees, 2018-19
EDsmart

Most Affordable Online Master's Degrees, 2018-19
No. 3 in the U.S.
EDsmart
EDsmart's ranking of most affordable online master's programs is the most comprehensive and well-rounded to date.The ranking includes only fully accredited schools that offer a master's program online. Rankings are based solely on average in-state graduate student tuition as published in the National Center for Education Statistics database.

No. 1 in Nebraska;
No. 6 in the U.S.
Most Affordable Online Graduate School, 2018
College Choice

Most Affordable Online Graduate School, 2018
No. 1 in Nebraska;
No. 6 in the U.S.
College Choice
College Choice has ranked Wayne State College as the best online college in Nebraska for master’s degrees, and No. 6 overall in the U.S. To be included in the rankings, a college must first be accredited. College Choice then collected and analyzed data on the basis of the five things that matter most to the broadest array of students.
- Quality – A rigorous education backed by the best educational practices
- Reputation – From a school that’s respected throughout the nation
- Affordability – At a price that makes sense
- Value – A degree that will increase earning potential
- Satisfaction – From a college where students will be happy and fulfilled

No. 23 in the U.S.; Top 10%
Most Focused Special Education Degree Program, 2019
College Factual

Most Focused Special Education Degree Program, 2019
No. 23 in the U.S.; Top 10%
College Factual
In a recent ranking of the best special education degrees by College Factual, Wayne State College earned #23 of all colleges in the U.S., placing us in the top 10% nationwide for 2019. Three metrics measure how College Factual determines which colleges are the "Most Focused."
- Percentage of students studying a particular major - the higher the better. This is a signal from students at the college that they recognize the strength of the program, and also stands to reason that more resources are dedicated to departments with more students.
- Market share - We take it as a positive signal if a college is attracting a lot of students to a particular major. This usually means that a college has more income from tuition to further invest in the program.
- Post graduate resources - If a college has significant graduate and doctoral level programs, that indicates they are even more focused on a particular major. This can mean more resources available to all students.
College Factual, located in Troy, New York, is a leading source of college data analytics and insights, with a strong focus on student outcomes. Its mission is to help all types of students discover their best-fit college and major so they can enjoy their college experience and graduate with less debt. College Factual provides coverage for over 2,500 colleges and universities, 350 college majors, for students in over 160 countries.

No. 20 in the U.S.
Most Affordable Education Master's Degree Online, 2018
SR Education Group

Most Affordable Education Master's Degree Online, 2018
No. 20 in the U.S.
SR Education Group
SR Education Group ranks Wayne State College as No. 20 in the 2018 Most Affordable Online Colleges for a Master's in Education. This ranking represents online schools across the nation that are making an effort to provide economical options for students. The company manually researches the tuition of every college offering fully online degrees to determine and rank the most affordable choices.

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Online classes are available throughout the summer, fall, and spring. Advance your career and get started today!