Special Education Degree Programs in Kingston, NY (2026)

Quick answer: The Kingston metro employs about 170 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 New York 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 81 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 at Albany

Albany, NY 53.0 miles away BOC Score 75.4
Tuition $10,866 - $31,256
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 69.1%
  • Graduation rate: 62.7%
  • Programs offered: 14
  • Annual completions: 703
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $66,256 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

State University of New York at New Paltz

New Paltz, NY 13.8 miles away BOC Score 73.7
Tuition $8,572 - $28,428
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 61.6%
  • Graduation rate: 70.3%
  • Programs offered: 5
  • Annual completions: 100
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $56,933 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

SUNY Old Westbury

Old Westbury, NY 81.2 miles away BOC Score 66.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 45.5% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 5
  • Annual completions: 47
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $58,756 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

St. Thomas Aquinas College

Sparkill, NY 61.4 miles away BOC Score 62.4
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 8
  • Annual completions: 73
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $60,309 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Russell Sage College

Troy, NY 57.3 miles away BOC Score 61.0
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 7
  • Annual completions: 123
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $66,409 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Iona University

New Rochelle, NY 70.2 miles away BOC Score 59.5
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 56.7% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 14
  • Annual completions: 277
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $69,776 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#7

Mercy University

Dobbs Ferry, NY 63.0 miles away BOC Score 57.2
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 46.9% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 12
  • Annual completions: 359
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $62,616 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#8

Touro University

New York, NY 81.0 miles away BOC Score 53.4
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 68.4% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 19
  • Annual completions: 438
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $73,235 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#9

Empire State University

Saratoga Springs, NY 80.1 miles away BOC Score 49.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 33.8% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 21
  • Annual completions: 193
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $63,250 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#10

Long Island University

Brookville, NY 79.4 miles away BOC Score 49.4
Tuition $42,432 - $55,424
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 86.2%
  • Graduation rate: 56.1%
  • Programs offered: 31
  • Annual completions: 396
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $74,905 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

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

Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in the Kingston area earn a median $81,540 per year, above the national median of $65,120 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Special Education Pay in Kingston, NY

MetricKingston metroNew YorkNational
Median annual wage$81,540$81,260$65,120
10th percentile$61,620$59,460$49,350
25th percentile$72,740$66,300$59,710
75th percentile$98,880$117,540$80,280
90th percentile$115,610$133,280$103,010
Employment17021,130260,870
Location quotient1.73-1.00

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Kingston, NY metropolitan statistical area.

What the Numbers Say About This Market

The Kingston median of $81,540 is above the national median of $65,120, and above the New York statewide median of $81,260 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

The metro’s location quotient of 1.73 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 New York Metro Areas

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
New York$91,61022,270
Rochester$60,7601,320
Buffalo$71,5701,290
Albany$77,210710
Kiryas Joel$80,730640
Syracuse$75,690560
Binghamton$66,300330
Utica$64,280260

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 Kingston?

The median annual wage for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in the Kingston, NY metro area is $81,540, above the national median of $65,120 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

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

The Kingston, NY metro area employs about 170 special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Do special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school in Kingston 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 Kingston?

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 Kingston a better market than the rest of New York?

The Kingston metro median is $81,540 against a statewide median of $81,260 (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/.