Special Education and Teaching: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 205 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$187,305 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
39.9 yrsModeled economic break-even
−75%Modeled 10-year ROI
$51,258Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$51,258Median reported earnings · year 4
$50,782Average reported earnings · year 5
$26,717Median federal debt
25thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
205Reporting programs
185With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $49,835
- Federal debt
- $25,620
- Reporting programs
- 4
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $41,141
- Federal debt
- $16,669
- Reporting programs
- 2
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $51,258
- Federal debt
- $26,717
- Reporting programs
- 205
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $67,859
- Federal debt
- $23,274
- Reporting programs
- 9
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $62,770
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 288
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $98,012
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $70,411
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 17
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $79,956
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 5
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$47,239National median$51,25875th percentile$55,665
185 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Manhattan University$83,9322Utah State University$74,5353State University of New York at Cortland$74,0794Seton Hall University$72,0675Molloy University$71,7816The College of New Jersey$66,7677CUNY Medgar Evers College$66,3778Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia$64,8279Western Washington University$64,78010Nevada State University$64,201Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Education Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1081 · 15 crosswalk linksSpecial Education Teachers, All OtherSOC 25-2059 · 13 crosswalk linksSpecial Education Teachers, Elementary SchoolSOC 25-2056 · 13 crosswalk linksSpecial Education Teachers, KindergartenSOC 25-2055 · 13 crosswalk linksSpecial Education Teachers, Middle SchoolSOC 25-2057 · 13 crosswalk linksSpecial Education Teachers, PreschoolSOC 25-2051 · 13 crosswalk linksSpecial Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolSOC 25-2058 · 13 crosswalk linksInterpreters and TranslatorsSOC 27-3091 · 1 crosswalk linksNO MATCHSOC 99-9999 · 1 crosswalk linksTeaching Assistants, Special EducationSOC 25-9043 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manhattan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Riverdale, NY | $83,932 | $26,329 | +35% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | Utah State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Logan, UT | $74,535 | $18,125 | +23% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | State University of New York at CortlandBachelor's Degree | Cortland, NY | $74,079 | Not available | +8% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | Seton Hall UniversityBachelor's Degree | South Orange, NJ | $72,067 | $25,000 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Molloy UniversityBachelor's Degree | Rockville Centre, NY | $71,781 | Not available | -3% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | The College of New JerseyBachelor's Degree | Ewing, NJ | $66,767 | $25,228 | -25% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | CUNY Medgar Evers CollegeBachelor's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $66,377 | $5,500 | +5% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | Saint Joseph's University - PhiladelphiaBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $64,827 | $27,000 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Western Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bellingham, WA | $64,780 | $29,284 | -25% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Nevada State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Henderson, NV | $64,201 | $22,334 | -19% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | La Salle UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $63,434 | $27,000 | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Syracuse UniversityBachelor's Degree | Syracuse, NY | $62,864 | $27,000 | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | SUNY Old WestburyBachelor's Degree | Old Westbury, NY | $62,389 | $24,145 | -23% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | University of Hawaii at ManoaBachelor's Degree | Honolulu, HI | $62,087 | $16,500 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Kean UniversityBachelor's Degree | Union, NJ | $61,158 | $27,000 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | University of ConnecticutBachelor's Degree | Storrs, CT | $61,066 | Not available | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | University of Connecticut-Waterbury CampusBachelor's Degree | Waterbury, CT | $61,066 | Not available | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | University of Connecticut-Avery PointBachelor's Degree | Groton, CT | $61,066 | Not available | -32% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | University of Connecticut-StamfordBachelor's Degree | Stamford, CT | $61,066 | Not available | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusBachelor's Degree | Hartford, CT | $61,066 | Not available | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | University of Nevada-Las VegasBachelor's Degree | Las Vegas, NV | $60,958 | $11,000 | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignBachelor's Degree | Champaign, IL | $60,685 | $18,925 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | East Stroudsburg University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | East Stroudsburg, PA | $60,391 | $27,000 | -39% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | Southern Connecticut State UniversityBachelor's Degree | New Haven, CT | $60,365 | $27,000 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | University of North FloridaBachelor's Degree | Jacksonville, FL | $59,429 | $13,509 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | Broward CollegeBachelor's Degree | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $59,330 | Not available | -40% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | University of HartfordBachelor's Degree | West Hartford, CT | $59,185 | $27,000 | -53% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | Miami Dade CollegeBachelor's Degree | Miami, FL | $59,174 | $9,671 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | New Mexico State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Las Cruces, NM | $58,953 | $19,000 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | Gonzaga UniversityBachelor's Degree | Spokane, WA | $58,772 | $27,000 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $58,675 | $18,387 | -45% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | Michigan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | East Lansing, MI | $58,522 | $26,375 | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | Wayne State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Detroit, MI | $58,182 | $43,500 | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | Salve Regina UniversityBachelor's Degree | Newport, RI | $57,837 | $27,000 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | Florida State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Tallahassee, FL | $57,573 | $22,709 | -44% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Boston UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $57,294 | $27,000 | -56% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | SUNY Buffalo State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Buffalo, NY | $57,096 | $22,610 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Towson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Towson, MD | $56,971 | $19,750 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | Rhode Island CollegeBachelor's Degree | Providence, RI | $56,477 | $29,851 | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | Florida Gulf Coast UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fort Myers, FL | $56,467 | $22,931 | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $56,311 | $19,375 | -53% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | Elmira CollegeBachelor's Degree | Elmira, NY | $56,168 | Not available | -59% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | Keuka CollegeBachelor's Degree | Keuka Park, NY | $55,992 | $27,000 | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | St. Joseph's University-New YorkBachelor's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $55,812 | $27,000 | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | Trinity Christian CollegeBachelor's Degree | Palos Heights, IL | $55,713 | $35,611 | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | Bridgewater State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bridgewater, MA | $55,692 | $27,000 | -56% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | University of Nebraska at OmahaBachelor's Degree | Omaha, NE | $55,665 | $22,860 | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | Auburn UniversityBachelor's Degree | Auburn, AL | $55,544 | $22,250 | -62% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | SUNY at FredoniaBachelor's Degree | Fredonia, NY | $55,441 | $26,000 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | Purdue University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $55,308 | $26,276 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | Eastern Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cheney, WA | $55,244 | $23,000 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | California State University, SacramentoBachelor's Degree | Sacramento, CA | $55,146 | $16,750 | -53% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | Providence CollegeBachelor's Degree | Providence, RI | $54,927 | $27,000 | -73% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | SUNY College at GeneseoBachelor's Degree | Geneseo, NY | $54,908 | $23,250 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | Neumann UniversityBachelor's Degree | Aston, PA | $54,846 | $27,000 | -66% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | Kutztown University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | Kutztown, PA | $54,845 | $27,000 | -63% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | Doane UniversityBachelor's Degree | Crete, NE | $54,733 | $27,000 | -66% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | Georgia College & State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Milledgeville, GA | $54,380 | $26,000 | -64% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | Eastern Michigan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ypsilanti, MI | $54,303 | $31,000 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | University of ToledoBachelor's Degree | Toledo, OH | $53,958 | $22,073 | -64% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | Westfield State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Westfield, MA | $53,678 | $27,000 | -65% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | Northern Arizona UniversityBachelor's Degree | Flagstaff, AZ | $53,619 | $23,000 | -64% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | Indiana University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | Indiana, PA | $53,494 | $27,000 | -66% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | University of New Mexico-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Albuquerque, NM | $53,429 | $22,250 | -65% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | St Petersburg CollegeBachelor's Degree | St. Petersburg, FL | $53,393 | Not available | -55% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | Millersville University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | Millersville, PA | $53,356 | $29,737 | -68% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | Georgia Southern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Statesboro, GA | $53,272 | $23,687 | -66% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | Northern Illinois UniversityBachelor's Degree | Dekalb, IL | $53,148 | $21,452 | -65% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | University of ArkansasBachelor's Degree | Fayetteville, AR | $53,054 | $20,500 | -68% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | Illinois State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Normal, IL | $52,864 | $20,436 | -69% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | University of North Carolina WilmingtonBachelor's Degree | Wilmington, NC | $52,494 | $19,500 | -71% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | Thiel CollegeBachelor's Degree | Greenville, PA | $52,302 | Not available | -73% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | University of ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $52,173 | $19,500 | -71% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeBachelor's Degree | Milwaukee, WI | $52,142 | $26,375 | -70% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | Western Governors UniversityBachelor's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $52,090 | $25,158 | -69% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | Indiana University-BloomingtonBachelor's Degree | Bloomington, IN | $52,008 | $19,500 | -71% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | Commonwealth University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | Bloomsburg, PA | $51,949 | $27,000 | -71% | Negative payoff |
| 78 | University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterBachelor's Degree | Whitewater, WI | $51,908 | $27,000 | -71% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | University of Missouri-ColumbiaBachelor's Degree | Columbia, MO | $51,901 | $20,357 | -74% | Negative payoff |
| 80 | Metropolitan State University of DenverBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $51,786 | $20,027 | -72% | Negative payoff |
| 81 | University of South FloridaBachelor's Degree | Tampa, FL | $51,759 | Not available | -69% | Negative payoff |
| 82 | St Bonaventure UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Bonaventure, NY | $51,664 | $27,000 | -77% | Negative payoff |
| 83 | Minnesota State University-MankatoBachelor's Degree | Mankato, MN | $51,630 | $27,000 | -74% | Negative payoff |
| 84 | Lewis UniversityBachelor's Degree | Romeoville, IL | $51,522 | $25,000 | -74% | Negative payoff |
| 85 | University of DaytonBachelor's Degree | Dayton, OH | $51,389 | $20,612 | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 86 | Ball State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Muncie, IN | $51,267 | $23,250 | -74% | Negative payoff |
| 87 | University of GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Athens, GA | $51,259 | $25,000 | -73% | Negative payoff |
| 88 | Ohio University-Eastern CampusBachelor's Degree | Saint Clairsville, OH | $51,258 | $26,950 | -68% | Negative payoff |
| 89 | Ohio University-Chillicothe CampusBachelor's Degree | Chillicothe, OH | $51,258 | $26,950 | -69% | Negative payoff |
| 90 | Ohio University-Southern CampusBachelor's Degree | Ironton, OH | $51,258 | $26,950 | -69% | Negative payoff |
| 91 | Ohio University-Lancaster CampusBachelor's Degree | Lancaster, OH | $51,258 | $26,950 | -69% | Negative payoff |
| 92 | Ohio University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Athens, OH | $51,258 | $26,950 | -77% | Negative payoff |
| 93 | Ohio University-Zanesville CampusBachelor's Degree | Zanesville, OH | $51,258 | $26,950 | -69% | Negative payoff |
| 94 | University of Northern ColoradoBachelor's Degree | Greeley, CO | $51,008 | $26,564 | -76% | Negative payoff |
| 95 | Niagara UniversityBachelor's Degree | Niagara University, NY | $50,897 | $26,000 | -76% | Negative payoff |
| 96 | Grand Canyon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Phoenix, AZ | $50,892 | $47,180 | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 97 | The University of AlabamaBachelor's Degree | Tuscaloosa, AL | $50,763 | $26,000 | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 98 | University of North GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Dahlonega, GA | $50,673 | Not available | -74% | Negative payoff |
| 99 | Western Michigan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Kalamazoo, MI | $50,665 | $31,000 | -77% | Negative payoff |
| 100 | The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleBachelor's Degree | Knoxville, TN | $50,585 | Not available | -78% | Negative payoff |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.