Special Education Degree Programs in Elizabethtown, KY (2026)

Quick answer: The Elizabethtown metro employs about 110 special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing is set at the state level, through your state education agency for current certification requirements.

Compare special education programs enrolling now:

Licensing

Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Teaching in a public school requires state certification, and the degree alone is not the license. Certification requirements, examinations and background checks are set state by state and change; special education adds its own endorsement in most states.

See the Kentucky licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state education agency for current certification requirements.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 10 schools within 86 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 10 of them carry a score.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY 78.4 miles away BOC Score 70.9
Tuition $13,502 - $34,391
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 92.9%
  • Graduation rate: 70.7%
  • Programs offered: 20
  • Annual completions: 1118
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $65,922 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

University of Louisville

Louisville, KY 36.0 miles away BOC Score 59.3
Tuition $13,136 - $32,941
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 79.4%
  • Graduation rate: 61.0%
  • Programs offered: 19
  • Annual completions: 938
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $67,853 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Eastern Kentucky University

Richmond, KY 86.2 miles away BOC Score 52.8
Tuition $10,320 - $23,735
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 77.6%
  • Graduation rate: 49.9%
  • Programs offered: 32
  • Annual completions: 1274
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $54,691 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, KY 59.0 miles away BOC Score 52.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 54.6% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 31
  • Annual completions: 618
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $53,602 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Asbury University

Wilmore, KY 67.2 miles away BOC Score 51.1
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 3
  • Annual completions: 37
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $45,728 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Georgetown College

Georgetown, KY 80.1 miles away BOC Score 50.3
Tuition $42,840 - $56,886
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 91.1%
  • Graduation rate: 48.1%
  • Programs offered: 5
  • Annual completions: 13
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $54,370 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#7

Brescia University

Owensboro, KY 67.6 miles away BOC Score 43.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 3
  • Annual completions: 2
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $51,492 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#9

Spalding University

Louisville, KY 37.8 miles away BOC Score 39.5
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 54.4% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 4
  • Annual completions: 71
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $64,136 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#10

Campbellsville University

Campbellsville, KY 38.2 miles away BOC Score 33.5
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 18
  • Annual completions: 933
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $47,650 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

What Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School Earn in Elizabethtown

Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in the Elizabethtown area earn a median $60,910 per year, below the national median of $65,120 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Special Education Pay in Elizabethtown, KY

MetricElizabethtown metroKentuckyNational
Median annual wage$60,910$60,060$65,120
10th percentile$47,010$46,070$49,350
25th percentile$47,010$48,630$59,710
75th percentile$62,510$63,240$80,280
90th percentile$74,030$75,560$103,010
Employment1103,710260,870
Location quotient1.32-1.00

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Elizabethtown, KY metropolitan statistical area.

What the Numbers Say About This Market

The Elizabethtown median of $60,910 is below the national median of $65,120, and above the Kentucky statewide median of $60,060 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

The metro’s location quotient of 1.32 means special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.

Special education positions exist in every district, and shortage-driven demand is broad rather than metro-concentrated - which favors candidates willing to work outside the largest markets.

Other Kentucky Metro Areas

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Louisville$62,340790
Lexington$61,450480
Bowling Green$61,500130

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.


Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school make in Elizabethtown?

The median annual wage for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in the Elizabethtown, KY metro area is $60,910, below the national median of $65,120 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

How many special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school work in the Elizabethtown area?

The Elizabethtown, KY metro area employs about 110 special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Do special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in Elizabethtown need a license?

Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Teaching in a public school requires state certification, and the degree alone is not the license. Certification requirements, examinations and background checks are set state by state and change; special education adds its own endorsement in most states. Confirm current requirements with your state education agency for current certification requirements.

Can I study special education online from Elizabethtown?

The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state education agency for current certification requirements.

Is Elizabethtown a better market than the rest of Kentucky?

The Elizabethtown metro median is $60,910 against a statewide median of $60,060 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School (SOC 25-2052), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.