Compare 11 Special Education and Teaching. programs in Michigan. Average earnings: $42,208.
With top graduates earning $49,494, 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 $7K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige across Michigan's 11 ranked programs.
Grand Valley State University leads with Special Education graduates earning $49,494, well above the state average of $42,208. Michigan State University follows at $47,374, while Wayne State University rounds out the top three at $44,713. These outcomes reflect program-specific strengths rather than overall institutional rankings.
For students, Grand Valley State offers the best combination—top earnings with a manageable 12.5% payment burden on $24,500 in student loans. But families should consider Wayne State University, where total family debt burden drops to 24.8% compared to Grand Valley's 27.9%, making it the smartest choice when parent loans factor in.
Highest program earnings: $49,494
Strong outcomes with 95% acceptance rate
12.5% payment burden | Manageable
24.8% family burden | Challenging
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $49,494 | 55 | $24,500 | Manageable | $26,392 | High | |
| #2 | $47,374 | 51 | $23,250 | Manageable | $37,401 | High | |
| #3 | Wayne State UniversityPublic | $44,713 | 22 | $21,250 | Manageable | $16,378 | Challenging |
| #4 | $44,496 | 44 | $25,000 | Manageable | $16,878 | High | |
| #5 | $43,549 | 19 | $26,188 | Manageable | $22,488 | High | |
| #6 | $43,515 | 57 | $27,000 | Manageable | $23,103 | High | |
| #7 | Hope CollegePrivate | $40,768 | 14 | $26,800 | Challenging | $48,059 | High |
| #8 | Calvin UniversityPrivate | $39,009 | 12 | $23,250 | Challenging | $33,900 | High |
| #9 | $37,856 | 5 | $21,474 | Challenging | $17,287 | High | |
| #10 | Spring Arbor UniversityPrivate | $36,848 | 6 | $26,375 | High | $18,988 | High |
| #11 | $36,668 | 16 | $25,000 | Challenging | $18,264 | High |
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 →
