by our College Data Analytics TeamWe've pulled together some essential information you should know about the program, including how many students graduate each year, the ethnic diversity of these students, average starting salaries, and more. In addition, we cover how WMU ranks in comparison to other schools with special ed programs.
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The bachelor's program at WMU was ranked #54 on College Factual's Best Schools for special ed list. It is also ranked #1 in Michigan.
During the 2021-2022 academic year, Western Michigan University handed out 15 bachelor's degrees in special education. This is an increase of 36% over the previous year when 11 degrees were handed out.
In 2022, 24 students received their master’s degree in special ed from WMU. This makes it the #196 most popular school for special ed master’s degree candidates in the country.
In addition, 1 students received their doctoral degrees in special ed in 2022, making the school the #48 most popular school in the United States for this category of students.
The median salary of special ed students who receive their bachelor's degree at WMU is $47,868. This is great news for graduates of the program, since this figure is higher than the national average of $44,139 for all special ed bachelor's degree recipients.
During the 2022-2023 academic year, part-time undergraduate students at WMU paid an average of $792 per credit hour if they came to the school from out-of-state. In-state students paid a discounted rate of $633 per credit hour. The following table shows the average full-time tuition and fees for undergraduates.
| In State | Out of State | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $15,198 | $18,998 |
| Fees | $100 | $100 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,128 | $1,128 |
| On Campus Room and Board | $11,713 | $11,713 |
| On Campus Other Expenses | $2,631 | $2,631 |
Learn more about WMU tuition and fees.
Of the 15 special ed students who graduated with a bachelor's degree in 2021-2022 from WMU, about 7% were men and 93% were women.
The majority of bachelor's degree recipients in this major at WMU are white. In the most recent graduating class for which data is available, 87% of students fell into this category.
The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from Western Michigan University with a bachelor's in special ed.
| Ethnic Background | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Asian | 0 |
| Black or African American | 2 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 0 |
| White | 13 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 0 |
| Other Races | 0 |
WMU does not offer an online option for its special ed bachelor’s degree program at this time. To see if the school offers distance learning options in other areas, visit the WMU Online Learning page.
Special Ed majors graduating with a master's degree from WMU make a median salary of $56,065 a year. This is less than what their typical peers from other schools make. Their median salary is $56,864.
During the 2021-2022 academic year, 57 students graduated with a master's degree in special ed from WMU. About 23% were men and 77% were women.
The majority of master's degree recipients in this major at WMU are white. In the most recent graduating class for which data is available, 86% of students fell into this category.
The following table and chart show the ethnic background for students who recently graduated from Western Michigan University with a master's in special ed.
| Ethnic Background | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Asian | 1 |
| Black or African American | 4 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2 |
| White | 49 |
| Non-Resident Aliens | 1 |
| Other Races | 0 |
Take a look at the following statistics related to the make-up of the special ed majors at Western Michigan University.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Teacher Education Subject Specific | 170 |
| Teacher Education Grade Specific | 106 |
| Teaching English or French | 41 |
| Educational Administration | 37 |
| Student Counseling | 33 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.