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Deaf/hard of hearing specialist education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a deaf/hard of hearing specialist. Deaf/hard of hearing specialists usually study special education, communication, or american sign language. 59% of deaf/hard of hearing specialists hold a bachelor's degree, and 35% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 21 real deaf/hard of hearing specialist resumes to see exactly what deaf/hard of hearing specialist education sections show.

The most common colleges for deaf/hard of hearing specialists are the Northern Illinois University and the Northern Illinois University.

There are also many online deaf/hard of hearing specialist courses to help get the education required to be a deaf/hard of hearing specialist.

What education do you need to become a deaf/hard of hearing specialist?

What degree do you need to be a deaf/hard of hearing specialist?

The most common degree for deaf/hard of hearing specialists is bachelor's degree, with 59% of deaf/hard of hearing specialists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 35% and master's degree degree at 6%.
  • Bachelor's, 59%
  • Master's, 35%
  • Associate, 6%

What should I major in to become a deaf/hard of hearing specialist?

You should major in special education to become a deaf/hard of hearing specialist. 40% of deaf/hard of hearing specialists major in special education. Other common majors for a deaf/hard of hearing specialist include communication and american sign language.

Most common colleges for deaf/hard of hearing specialists

Deaf/hard of hearing specialists often get their degrees at Northern Illinois University, Texas Christian University, and Missouri State University. Here are the most common colleges for deaf/hard of hearing specialists in the US based on their resumes.
Deaf/hard of hearing specialist common collegePercentages
Northern Illinois University11.11%
Texas Christian University5.56%
Missouri State University5.56%
University of North Florida5.56%
University of Northern Colorado5.56%

Best majors for deaf/hard of hearing specialists

Best colleges for deaf/hard of hearing specialists

The best colleges for deaf/hard of hearing specialists are Harvard University, Northwestern University, and Columbia University in the City of New York.

A deaf/hard of hearing specialist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for deaf/hard of hearing specialists. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become deaf/hard of hearing specialists.

1. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

3. University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$10,610

Enrollment

40,329

4. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

5. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Enrollment

30,905

6. University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$13,226

Enrollment

31,568

7. University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$14,184

Enrollment

30,845

8. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

In-state tuition

$17,653

Enrollment

16,405

9. University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$10,595

Enrollment

30,184

10. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

20 best online courses for deaf/hard of hearing specialists

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1. Educating Deaf Children: Becoming an Empowered Teacher

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Urban school reform in the United States is characterized by contentious, politicized debate. This course explores a set of critical issues in the education and educational reform space, with a focus on aspects of the field that have sparked controversy and polarized views. We will dig into these debates, situating them within the larger history of public education and school reform, and considering the viewpoints, the evidence, and translation of issues into educational policy. We will...

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5. TESOL Certificate, Part 2: Teach English Now!

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Top 10 most affordable universities for deaf/hard of hearing specialists

The most affordable schools for deaf/hard of hearing specialists are University of Florida, hunter college of the city university of new york, and california state university - long beach.

If the best universities for deaf/hard of hearing specialists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for deaf/hard of hearing specialists.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

2. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

3. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

4. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

5. Lehman College of the City University of New York

Bronx, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,210

Cost of attendance

14,359

6. Queens College of the City University of New York

Queens, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,338

Cost of attendance

14,281

7. City College of New York of the City University of New York, The

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,140

Cost of attendance

14,430

8. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

9. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

10. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for deaf/hard of hearing specialists

The hardest universities for deaf/hard of hearing specialists to get into are Harvard University, Northwestern University, and Columbia University in the City of New York.

Some great schools for deaf/hard of hearing specialists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for deaf/hard of hearing specialists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

3. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

4. University of Chicago

Chicago, IL • Private

Admissions rate

7%

SAT average

1,520

5. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

6. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

7. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,456

8. Dartmouth College

Hanover, NH • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,488

9. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,517

10. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for deaf/hard of hearing specialists

The easiest schools for deaf/hard of hearing specialists to get into are Our Lady of the Lake University, william paterson university of new jersey, and college of new rochelle, the.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a deaf/hard of hearing specialist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for deaf/hard of hearing specialists.

1. Our Lady of the Lake University

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,002

2. William Paterson University of New Jersey

Wayne, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

994

3. College of New Rochelle, The

New Rochelle, NY • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

982

4. San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,054

5. Cardinal Stritch University

Milwaukee, WI • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,035

6. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

7. Texas Woman's University

Denton, TX • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,059

8. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

9. The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,035

10. California University of Pennsylvania

California, PA • Private

Admissions rate

97%

SAT average

1,007

Average deaf/hard of hearing specialist salary by education level

Deaf/hard of hearing specialists with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $54,093 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, deaf/hard of hearing specialists earn a median annual income of $50,599 compared to $50,383 for deaf/hard of hearing specialists with an Associate degree.
Deaf/hard of hearing specialist education levelDeaf/hard of hearing specialist salary
Master's Degree$54,093
High School Diploma or Less$46,487
Bachelor's Degree$50,599
Some College/ Associate Degree$50,383

Deaf/hard of hearing specialist education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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