Compare 210 Special Education and Teaching. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $44,034. Top programs: $70,824+.
With top graduates earning $70,824, Special Education and Teaching stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $26K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Manhattan College's Special Education program leads with graduates earning $70,824, followed closely by Seton Hall University at $70,367. At $43,961 average across all 211 programs, these top performers demonstrate that regional programs can deliver exceptional outcomes regardless of overall institutional rankings.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Northeastern Illinois University graduates borrow $14,600 and face just a 5.4% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income compared to higher-debt alternatives.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Manhattan CollegePrivate | $70,824 | 29 | $26,000 | Excellent | $56,630 | High |
| #2 | Seton Hall UniversityPrivate | $70,367 | 17 | $22,750 | Excellent | $40,003 | Challenging |
| #3 | Pace UniversityPrivate | $65,151 | 29 | $23,250 | Excellent | $46,275 | Challenging |
| #4 | $61,537 | 71 | $21,500 | Excellent | $24,455 | Manageable | |
| #5 | $61,326 | 26 | $19,500 | Excellent | $34,511 | Challenging | |
| #6 | $59,948 | 5 | $14,600 | Excellent | $13,578 | Good | |
| #7 | $58,469 | 85 | $18,500 | Excellent | $23,123 | Manageable | |
| #8 | Gonzaga UniversityPrivate | $57,391 | 19 | $24,454 | Good | $37,652 | High |
| #9 | $57,325 | 11 | $19,500 | Excellent | $22,000 | Manageable | |
| #10 | Syracuse UniversityPrivate | $57,318 | 38 | $26,000 | Good | $39,841 | High |
| #11 | $57,130 | 39 | $16,500 | Excellent | $13,610 | Manageable | |
| #12 | $56,658 | 9 | $19,000 | Excellent | $35,200 | Challenging | |
| #13 | $56,026 | 26 | $18,500 | Excellent | $30,988 | Challenging | |
| #14 | $55,884 | 10 | $25,000 | Good | $38,368 | High | |
| #15 | Kean UniversityPublic | $55,172 | 54 | $23,250 | Good | $22,000 | Challenging |
| #16 | Providence CollegePrivate | $55,130 | 46 | $27,000 | Good | $46,300 | High |
| #17 | $55,060 | 161 | $22,000 | Good | $26,471 | Challenging | |
| #18 | $54,887 | 14 | $19,500 | Good | $17,148 | Manageable | |
| #19 | $54,509 | 11 | $21,500 | Good | $35,324 | High | |
| #20 | $54,167 | 51 | $19,000 | Good | $15,945 | Manageable | |
| #21 | Salve Regina UniversityPrivate | $53,660 | 22 | $27,000 | Good | $41,621 | High |
| #22 | Nevada State UniversityPublic | $53,159 | 26 | $19,691 | Good | $12,146 | Manageable |
| #23 | Towson UniversityPublic | $52,508 | 117 | $18,718 | Good | $28,489 | Challenging |
| #24 | $52,415 | 119 | $23,500 | Good | $25,362 | Challenging | |
| #25 | Canisius UniversityPrivate | $52,403 | 11 | $24,250 | Good | $23,720 | Challenging |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
