Which state pays special education bachelor's graduates the most?

Pennsylvania, where the median program pays its graduates $49,242 in their first year, the highest of 12 state rankings. Florida is next, at $48,147.

Which special education bachelor's program pays the most?

Pace University in New York reports the highest first-year pay of the 163 programs ranked here, $62,346. Its median federal debt is $24,000.

How much debt do special education bachelor's graduates have?

The median program leaves its graduates with $26,564 in federal debt. Across programs, the median debt is 58% of first-year pay.

Highest-Paying Special Education (Bachelor's) Programs in the US

166 programs report first-year pay
12 state rankings
Bachelor's in Special Education and Teaching

College Scorecard June 2026 release · BLS wages May 2025

The short answer

The median special education bachelor's program in the US pays its graduates $44,195 in their first year and $49,900 five years after. Pennsylvania has the highest state median ($49,242), and Missouri the lowest ($37,499). The median program leaves its graduates with $26,564 in federal debt.

Median first-year pay$44,195Across 166 programs

Median pay after 5 years$49,900Across 172 programs

Median federal debt$26,564Across 165 programs

Debt-to-earnings58%Across 149 programs

All 163 programs, ranked by graduate pay

Each program is ranked by the median pay of its graduates one year after they finished, from College Scorecard. This measures what graduates earn, not how good the teaching is. Pay also depends on where graduates live and work. Programs that don't report a figure are listed last when you sort by it.

#	School	Year 1 pay	After cost of living	Year 5 pay	Debt	Debt to pay
1	Pace UniversityNew York, NY · private nonprofit	$62,346	$57,770	$65,151	$24,000	38%
2	Utah StateLogan, UT · public	$61,474	$62,180	$54,315	$18,125	29%
3	UH ManoaHonolulu, HI · public	$60,396	$54,930	$61,945	$16,500	27%
4	FAUBoca Raton, FL · public	$56,009	$54,160	$56,998	Not reported	Not reported
5	Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY · private nonprofit	$55,881	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,000	48%
6	Miami Dade CollegeMiami, FL · public	$53,935	$52,154	Not reported	$9,671	18%
7	Towson UniversityTowson, MD · public	$53,331	$50,811	$57,712	$19,750	37%
8	Nevada StateHenderson, NV · public	$53,159	$53,170	Not reported	$22,334	42%
9	Western Washington UniversityBellingham, WA · public	$52,912	$49,444	$66,702	$29,284	55%
10	York College of PennsylvaniaYork, PA · private nonprofit	$52,199	$53,498	Not reported	$27,000	52%
11	UIUCChampaign, IL · public	$51,922	$51,944	$67,699	$18,925	36%
12	Millersville University of PennsylvaniaMillersville, PA · public	$51,664	$52,950	$49,226	$29,737	58%
13	Lebanon Valley CollegeAnnville, PA · private nonprofit	$51,415	$52,694	$48,939	$27,000	53%
14	Salve Regina UniversityNewport, RI · private nonprofit	$51,308	Not adjusted	$58,989	$27,000	53%
15	IU BloomingtonBloomington, IN · public	$51,306	$54,973	$59,829	$19,500	38%
16	USFTampa, FL · public	$50,975	$49,292	$52,875	Not reported	Not reported
17	Saint Joseph's UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · private nonprofit	$50,698	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,000	53%
18	Utah Valley UniversityOrem, UT · public	$50,647	$51,229	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
19	Kutztown University of PennsylvaniaKutztown, PA · public	$50,645	$51,905	$57,501	$27,000	53%
20	Southern Connecticut StateNew Haven, CT · public	$50,641	$48,877	$55,954	$27,000	53%
21	BYUProvo, UT · private nonprofit	$50,331	$50,909	$32,469	Not reported	Not reported
22	East Stroudsburg University of PennsylvaniaEast Stroudsburg, PA · public	$50,327	$51,579	$58,152	$27,000	54%
23	UW-MadisonMadison, WI · public	$50,174	$53,323	$55,063	$22,863	46%
24	Commonwealth University of PennsylvaniaBloomsburg, PA · public	$50,159	$51,407	$53,708	$27,000	54%
25	Bridgewater StateBridgewater, MA · public	$50,061	$47,336	$57,064	$27,000	54%
26	Rhode Island CollegeProvidence, RI · public	$50,060	$48,944	$56,951	$29,851	60%
27	ASUTempe, AZ · public	$49,882	$49,547	$53,261	$19,375	39%
28	Shippensburg University of PennsylvaniaShippensburg, PA · public	$49,835	$51,075	Not reported	$28,500	57%
29	University of Nevada-Las VegasLas Vegas, NV · public	$49,827	$49,837	$56,356	$11,000	22%
30	University of MinnesotaMinneapolis, MN · public	$49,771	$50,467	Not reported	$18,387	37%
31	Providence CollegeProvidence, RI · private nonprofit	$49,664	Not adjusted	$60,307	$27,000	54%
32	Grand Valley StateAllendale, MI · public	$49,494	$51,440	Not reported	$30,350	61%
33	Medgar Evers CollegeBrooklyn, NY · public	$49,413	$45,786	Not reported	$5,500	11%
34	Broward CollegeFort Lauderdale, FL · public	$49,262	Not adjusted	$53,145	Not reported	Not reported
35	Black Hills StateSpearfish, SD · public	$49,134	Not adjusted	$49,089	$26,812	55%
36	Trinity Christian CollegePalos Heights, IL · private nonprofit	$48,840	$48,861	$58,755	$35,611	73%
37	PurdueWest Lafayette, IN · public	$48,773	$52,259	Not reported	$26,276	54%
38	Alvernia UniversityReading, PA · private nonprofit	$48,649	Not adjusted	$45,987	Not reported	Not reported
39	Hope CollegeHolland, MI · private nonprofit	$48,630	Not adjusted	$50,640	Not reported	Not reported
40	Kean UniversityUnion, NJ · public	$48,628	$44,693	$58,792	$27,000	56%
41	Carthage CollegeKenosha, WI · private nonprofit	$48,593	Not adjusted	$47,182	$25,954	53%
42	UW-MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WI · public	$48,378	$51,414	Not reported	$26,375	55%
43	Illinois StateNormal, IL · public	$48,358	$48,378	$56,275	$20,436	42%
44	La Salle UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · private nonprofit	$48,302	Not adjusted	Not reported	$27,000	56%
45	UCFOrlando, FL · public	$48,147	$46,558	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
46	University of HartfordWest Hartford, CT · private nonprofit	$48,049	$46,375	Not reported	$27,000	56%
47	Western Michigan UniversityKalamazoo, MI · public	$47,868	$49,750	$49,952	$31,000	65%
48	Texas A&M International UniversityLaredo, TX · public	$47,820	$49,270	$59,201	$18,229	38%
49	University of North FloridaJacksonville, FL · public	$47,734	$46,158	$52,358	$13,509	28%
50	Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaff, AZ · public	$47,610	$47,290	$50,073	$23,000	48%
51	UW-WhitewaterWhitewater, WI · public	$47,592	$50,579	$51,281	$27,000	57%
52	Ball StateMuncie, IN · public	$47,499	$50,894	$50,351	$23,250	49%
53	Concordia University-WisconsinMequon, WI · private nonprofit	$47,295	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
54	Minnesota State MankatoMankato, MN · public	$47,132	$47,791	$51,346	$27,000	57%
55	University of Nebraska-LincolnLincoln, NE · public	$47,017	$52,181	$51,536	$27,000	57%
56	Florida Gulf Coast UniversityFort Myers, FL · public	$46,866	$45,319	$55,014	$22,931	49%
57	Western Illinois UniversityMacomb, IL · public	$46,729	$46,749	$48,274	$25,986	56%
58	Winona StateWinona, MN · public	$46,697	$47,350	$52,938	$27,000	58%
59	Saint Cloud StateSaint Cloud, MN · public	$46,662	$47,314	$47,220	$28,250	61%
60	Carroll UniversityWaukesha, WI · private nonprofit	$46,661	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
61	University of West FloridaPensacola, FL · public	$46,643	$45,103	$47,301	$29,750	64%
62	Mercyhurst UniversityErie, PA · private nonprofit	$46,636	Not adjusted	$49,564	$27,000	58%
63	Northern Illinois UniversityDekalb, IL · public	$46,578	$46,598	$57,132	$21,452	46%
64	Central Michigan UniversityMount Pleasant, MI · public	$46,522	$48,351	$50,739	$31,000	67%
65	UW-Eau ClaireEau Claire, WI · public	$46,508	$49,427	$49,346	$27,000	58%
66	University of South DakotaVermillion, SD · public	$46,439	Not adjusted	$47,089	$27,000	58%
67	WGUSalt Lake City, UT · private nonprofit	$46,271	Not adjusted	$52,641	$25,158	54%
68	Northeastern StateTahlequah, OK · public	$46,045	$52,417	$49,771	Not reported	Not reported
69	Lewis UniversityRomeoville, IL · private nonprofit	$45,831	$45,850	Not reported	$25,000	55%
70	University of AlabamaTuscaloosa, AL · public	$45,631	$51,373	$50,092	$26,000	57%
71	University of St FrancisJoliet, IL · private nonprofit	$45,323	$45,342	Not reported	$23,500	52%
72	University of DaytonDayton, OH · private nonprofit	$45,260	Not adjusted	$50,844	$20,612	46%
73	Ohio StateColumbus, OH · public	$45,213	$48,735	$49,462	$26,899	59%
74	UW-StoutMenomonie, WI · public	$45,196	$48,032	Not reported	$30,000	66%
75	Georgia CollegeMilledgeville, GA · public	$45,167	$46,906	$52,928	$26,000	58%
76	UW-OshkoshOshkosh, WI · public	$44,945	$47,766	$46,734	$27,000	60%
77	University of MemphisMemphis, TN · public	$44,664	$48,617	$44,607	$23,397	52%
78	Southwest Minnesota StateMarshall, MN · public	$44,510	$45,132	Not reported	$30,542	69%
79	Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleCarbondale, IL · public	$44,429	Not adjusted	$46,500	$22,875	51%
80	Carson-Newman UniversityJefferson City, TN · private nonprofit	$44,404	$48,334	Not reported	$19,398	44%
81	University of Central ArkansasConway, AR · public	$44,318	$50,977	Not reported	$19,250	43%
82	Upper Iowa UniversityFayette, IA · private nonprofit	$44,304	$50,482	Not reported	$35,455	80%
83	Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleEdwardsville, IL · public	$44,205	$44,224	$43,701	$19,850	45%
84	East Carolina UniversityGreenville, NC · public	$44,185	$46,843	$46,759	$26,416	60%
85	Wayne StateDetroit, MI · public	$44,157	$45,893	$51,383	$43,500	99%
86	Indiana University of PennsylvaniaIndiana, PA · public	$44,121	$45,219	$52,862	$27,000	61%
87	University of Southern IndianaEvansville, IN · public	$44,104	$47,256	$46,345	$27,000	61%
88	Middle Tennessee StateMurfreesboro, TN · public	$44,052	$47,950	$45,543	$18,493	42%
89	University of Northern ColoradoGreeley, CO · public	$44,009	$42,706	$49,362	$26,564	60%
90	Eastern Illinois UniversityCharleston, IL · public	$43,955	$43,973	$51,770	$26,046	59%
91	UW-Stevens PointStevens Point, WI · public	$43,844	$46,595	$46,793	$23,607	54%
92	Eastern Michigan UniversityYpsilanti, MI · public	$43,777	$45,498	$51,197	$31,000	71%
93	University of ArkansasFayetteville, AR · public	$43,718	Not adjusted	Not reported	$20,500	47%
94	Athens StateAthens, AL · public	$43,668	$49,163	Not reported	$29,215	67%
95	Thiel CollegeGreenville, PA · private nonprofit	$43,626	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
96	Slippery Rock University of PennsylvaniaSlippery Rock, PA · public	$43,480	$44,562	$49,371	$27,000	62%
97	Appalachian StateBoone, NC · public	$43,283	$45,887	$49,424	$25,000	58%
98	GCUPhoenix, AZ · private nonprofit	$43,258	Not adjusted	$46,426	$47,180	109%
99	BYU-IdahoRexburg, ID · private nonprofit	$43,252	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
100	Saginaw Valley StateUniversity Center, MI · public	$43,191	$44,889	$50,545	$29,873	69%
101	University of GeorgiaAthens, GA · public	$43,137	$44,798	$53,452	$25,000	58%
102	UNC GreensboroGreensboro, NC · public	$42,967	$45,552	$44,554	$24,000	56%
103	Auburn UniversityAuburn, AL · public	$42,774	$48,156	$50,705	$22,250	52%
104	Capital UniversityColumbus, OH · private nonprofit	$42,709	$46,036	$49,486	$27,000	63%
105	UNC CharlotteCharlotte, NC · public	$42,692	$45,260	$45,769	$26,602	62%
106	UNC WilmingtonWilmington, NC · public	$42,584	$45,146	$51,603	$19,500	46%
107	Neumann UniversityAston, PA · private nonprofit	$42,488	Not adjusted	$53,662	$27,000	64%
108	University of CincinnatiCincinnati, OH · public	$42,347	$45,645	Not reported	$25,046	59%
109	Dakota StateMadison, SD · public	$42,318	$47,771	$42,986	$31,000	73%
110	Boise StateBoise, ID · public	$42,303	Not adjusted	Not reported	$26,675	63%
111	Coastal Carolina UniversityConway, SC · public	$42,147	$44,957	$46,262	$27,000	64%
112	Jacksonville StateJacksonville, AL · public	$42,107	$47,406	Not reported	$24,250	58%
113	University of New MexicoAlbuquerque, NM · public	$41,947	$45,490	$48,398	$22,250	53%
114	Saint Mary-of-the-Woods CollegeSaint Mary of the Woods, IN · private nonprofit	$41,943	$44,941	$43,254	$23,252	55%
115	Eastern Washington UniversityCheney, WA · public	$41,883	$39,138	$58,104	$23,000	55%
116	Miami UniversityOxford, OH · public	$41,871	$45,132	$46,116	$27,000	64%
117	Western Carolina UniversityCullowhee, NC · public	$41,376	$43,865	$43,364	$20,485	50%
118	Ohio UniversityAthens, OH · public	$41,362	$44,584	$46,532	$26,950	65%
119	Spring Arbor UniversitySpring Arbor, MI · private nonprofit	$41,324	$42,949	Not reported	$29,750	72%
120	University of KentuckyLexington, KY · public	$41,217	Not adjusted	$45,328	$26,500	64%
121	University of ToledoToledo, OH · public	$40,952	$44,142	$48,539	$22,073	54%
122	Bellarmine UniversityLouisville, KY · private nonprofit	$40,785	$45,237	$45,601	$27,000	66%
123	Winthrop UniversityRock Hill, SC · public	$40,435	$43,131	Not reported	$26,717	66%
124	Westfield StateWestfield, MA · public	$40,429	$38,228	$57,770	$27,000	67%
125	Northern Kentucky UniversityHighland Heights, KY · public	$40,333	Not adjusted	Not reported	$30,750	76%
126	USC UpstateSpartanburg, SC · public	$40,322	$43,011	Not reported	$26,750	66%
127	Anderson University (South Carolina)Anderson, SC · private nonprofit	$40,264	$42,949	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
128	Mississippi StateMississippi State, MS · public	$40,185	$46,215	$40,198	$22,302	55%
129	Colorado Christian UniversityLakewood, CO · private nonprofit	$40,033	Not adjusted	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
130	Pennsylvania Western UniversityCalifornia, PA · public	$40,012	$41,008	$47,667	Not reported	Not reported
131	Vincennes UniversityVincennes, IN · public	$39,867	$42,717	$37,538	$21,710	54%
132	College of CharlestonCharleston, SC · public	$39,832	Not adjusted	$43,953	$24,025	60%
133	Liberty UniversityLynchburg, VA · private nonprofit	$39,699	Not adjusted	$44,616	$29,875	75%
134	Metropolitan State University of DenverDenver, CO · public	$39,638	$38,464	$52,967	$20,027	51%
135	University of Maine at FarmingtonFarmington, ME · public	$39,458	Not adjusted	$45,235	$27,000	68%
136	Kent StateKent, OH · public	$39,139	$42,187	$45,441	$25,000	64%
137	SUNY Old WestburyOld Westbury, NY · public	$38,978	$36,117	$68,312	$24,145	62%
138	Western Kentucky UniversityBowling Green, KY · public	$38,807	$43,043	Not reported	$27,000	70%
139	Bowling Green StateBowling Green, OH · public	$38,671	$41,683	$43,416	$27,000	70%
140	Eastern Kentucky UniversityRichmond, KY · public	$38,485	$42,686	$42,418	$28,381	74%
141	Missouri StateSpringfield, MO · public	$38,250	$42,118	$44,035	$22,500	59%
142	Northwest Missouri StateMaryville, MO · public	$38,040	$41,886	$39,045	$26,250	69%
143	University of Nebraska at OmahaOmaha, NE · public	$37,998	$42,172	$53,367	$22,860	60%
144	University of MissouriColumbia, MO · public	$37,547	$41,344	$42,239	$20,357	54%
145	Southeast Missouri StateCape Girardeau, MO · public	$37,450	$41,237	$35,985	$25,000	67%
146	SUNY College at GeneseoGeneseo, NY · public	$37,229	$34,497	Not reported	$23,250	62%
147	Shawnee StatePortsmouth, OH · public	$37,020	$39,903	Not reported	$27,000	73%
148	Morehead StateMorehead, KY · public	$36,999	$41,038	$40,027	$26,878	73%
149	FIUMiami, FL · public	$36,598	Not adjusted	$62,506	$20,031	55%
150	University of Mount UnionAlliance, OH · private nonprofit	$36,444	Not adjusted	$44,261	Not reported	Not reported
151	University of Central MissouriWarrensburg, MO · public	$36,365	$40,042	$40,190	$26,000	71%
152	Murray StateMurray, KY · public	$36,197	$40,148	$39,132	$20,775	57%
153	Ashland UniversityAshland, OH · private nonprofit	$35,709	$38,490	$44,126	$27,000	76%
154	Missouri Baptist UniversitySaint Louis, MO · private nonprofit	$35,312	$38,883	Not reported	$28,688	81%
155	Youngstown StateYoungstown, OH · public	$35,220	$37,963	$40,430	$29,125	83%
156	St. Joseph's University-New YorkBrooklyn, NY · private nonprofit	$35,041	$32,469	$61,465	$27,000	77%
157	University of ArizonaTucson, AZ · public	$35,023	$34,787	$46,092	$19,500	56%
158	University of AkronAkron, OH · public	$34,073	$36,727	$41,933	$26,000	76%
159	Sacramento StateSacramento, CA · public	$33,783	$30,512	$42,702	$16,750	50%
160	New Mexico StateLas Cruces, NM · public	$31,963	$34,663	$65,983	$19,000	59%
161	Defiance CollegeDefiance, OH · private nonprofit	$29,443	$31,736	Not reported	$28,500	97%
162	Buffalo StateBuffalo, NY · public	$16,737	$15,509	$53,972	$22,610	135%
163	University of Puerto RicoBayamon, PR · public	$9,503	Not adjusted	$23,226	$5,250	55%

Pay after cost of living divides first-year pay by the Bureau of Economic Analysis price level of the school's state, where the US average is 100. It is shown for 131 programs where at least half of the graduates who work are working in the school's state. The other 32, whose graduates mostly work in other states or whose state has no price level, are listed last when you sort by it.

17 programs report pay but not debt, so they are ranked only by pay.

College Scorecard withholds pay for programs with too few graduates, to protect their privacy, so those programs can't be ranked. 3 more programs report pay but aren't listed, because College Scorecard's school file doesn't name their schools. The national medians above still count them.

Special Education (Bachelor's) programs by state

Each row is the median across the state's special education bachelor's programs. State names link to the full ranking of that state's programs.

#	State	Programs	Year 1 pay	Debt
1	Pennsylvania	16	$49,242	$27,000
2	Florida	9	$48,147	$21,370
3	Wisconsin	10	$46,978	$26,688
4	Minnesota	5	$46,697	$27,000
5	Illinois	10	$46,205	$23,188
6	Indiana	6	$45,802	$23,251
7	Michigan	8	$45,340	$30,675
8	North Carolina	6	$42,830	$24,500
9	Ohio	15	$39,139	$26,975
10	New York	7	$38,978	$26,000
11	Kentucky	7	$38,807	$27,000
12	Missouri	6	$37,499	$26,000

Programs in 28 more states and territories report pay, but too few to rank. A state ranking needs at least five programs that report both pay and debt.

Quick picks nationwide

Lowest median debt

Medgar Evers College, NY$5,500
Miami Dade College, FL$9,671
University of North Florida, FL$13,509
University of Minnesota, MN$18,387
UIUC, IL$18,925
IU Bloomington, IN$19,500
UNC Wilmington, NC$19,500
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, IL$19,850
FIU, FL$20,031
University of Missouri, MO$20,357

Lowest debt for the pay

Medgar Evers College, NY11%
Miami Dade College, FL18%
University of North Florida, FL28%
UIUC, IL36%
University of Minnesota, MN37%
IU Bloomington, IN38%
Pace University, NY38%
Illinois State, IL42%
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, IL45%
University of Dayton, OH46%

Only the 94 programs with their own page here are included. "Debt for the pay" is median debt divided by first-year pay.

Careers this field leads to

These are the jobs that the federal crosswalk from fields of study to occupations links to special education, largest first. Pay is the median across the US and all experience levels.

Special Education Teachers, Secondary School

$74,260

Median pay in the US. 163,930 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to stay about the same in number from 2025 to 2035, with about 10,400 openings a year. Typical education to start: bachelor's degree.

Bottom 10%: $49,800Top 10%: $109,100

Special Education Teachers, Middle School

$66,810

Median pay in the US. 95,200 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to stay about the same in number from 2025 to 2035, with about 6,000 openings a year. Typical education to start: bachelor's degree.

Bottom 10%: $49,420Top 10%: $102,510

Interpreters and Translators

$60,170

Median pay in the US. 52,060 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035, with about 6,000 openings a year. Typical education to start: bachelor's degree.

Bottom 10%: $37,070Top 10%: $103,660

Special Education Teachers, Preschool

$64,830

Median pay in the US. 29,510 people work in this job in the US. Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035, with about 2,000 openings a year. Typical education to start: bachelor's degree.

Bottom 10%: $45,620Top 10%: $130,040

Common questions

The median special education bachelor's program in the US pays its graduates $44,195 in their first year and $49,900 five years after.

About this data

Earnings and debt only include students who received federal financial aid, and earnings only count graduates who were working and not enrolled in more school.
Debt only includes federal loans. Private loans and credit cards are not counted.
Medians are across programs, not students: each program counts once, however many graduates it has.
National medians include every program in the 50 states, DC, and US territories, including schools that have since closed. Schools with several campuses that report one combined figure are counted once.
Programs are ranked by College Scorecard median pay one year after graduation. Pay after cost of living uses the price level of the school's state.
Scorecard figures describe graduating classes from several years ago. BLS wages are from May 2025. Price levels are the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for 2024.

Sources

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field of study and institution files, June 2026 release
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025 to 2035
NCES, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk
Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024