Special Education and Teaching bachelor's degree outcomes at Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC · Public · Federal field 1310

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are close to the same-degree benchmark.

$3,468 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 43.6% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: Not reached
10-year scenario: −91% · Negative payoff
Price evidence: College-wide context only

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+5%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$41,376 → $43,364

—Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

17Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

19Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

24Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

0Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$13,315

Institution-wide annual average net price—not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$20,485

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$47,031

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$217/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$13,315Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$19,992Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE81.8%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE60.3%Institution-wide completion rate

WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$41,376Year 1

$47,031Year 4

$43,364Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

5.5% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$3,919

Estimated loan payment$217

24borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$47,031 vs. $50,499

$3,468 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median

WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for—not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.

Education Teachers, Postsecondary$70,050 median wageNC estimate · 2,130 jobs · 25-1081+2.5% projected U.S. growth · 5.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeSpecial Education Teachers, All Other$65,170 median wageNC estimate · 33,930 jobs · 25-2059+1.9% projected U.S. growth · 2.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSpecial Education Teachers, Preschool$60,180 median wageNC estimate · 640 jobs · 25-2051+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSpecial Education Teachers, Middle School$59,360 median wageNC estimate · 2,470 jobs · 25-2057-0.4% projected U.S. growth · 6k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSpecial Education Teachers, Secondary School$56,770 median wageNC estimate · 3,400 jobs · 25-2058-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 10.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSpecial Education Teachers, Elementary SchoolNot available median wageU.S. estimate · Unreported jobs · 25-2056Special Education Teachers, KindergartenNot available median wageU.S. estimate · Unreported jobs · 25-2055Interpreters and Translators$50,030 median wageNC estimate · 1,780 jobs · 27-3091+2.0% projected U.S. growth · 6k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeNO MATCHNot available median wageU.S. estimate · Unreported jobs · 99-9999Teaching Assistants, Special EducationNot available median wageU.S. estimate · Unreported jobs · 25-9043

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