Compare 20 Special Education and Teaching. programs in Pennsylvania. Average earnings: $45,277.
Special Education and Teaching programs produce graduates earning between $34,704 and $55,884—a $21K spread that demonstrates why program selection matters independently of school prestige. Across 20 ranked programs in Pennsylvania, outcomes vary based on program quality, not institutional reputation.
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus leads with Special Education graduates earning $55,884, well above the state average of $45,277. West Chester University follows at $52,415, while East Stroudsburg delivers $51,821—proving that program-level factors drive outcomes more than overall school rankings.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Pennsylvania State University graduates borrow $25,000 and face a 10.3% payment burden, landing in the 'Good' category. West Chester offers the best family value with a 24.2% combined burden, showing that the optimal choice depends on who's paying.
Highest program earnings: $55,884
Strong outcomes with 80% acceptance
10.3% payment burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
24.2% family burden | Challenging - payment 18-25% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $55,884 | 10 | $25,000 | Good | $38,368 | High | |
| #2 | $52,415 | 119 | $23,500 | Good | $25,362 | Challenging | |
| #3 | $51,821 | 34 | $24,218 | Good | $25,252 | Challenging | |
| #4 | Saint Joseph's UniversityPrivate | $50,698 | 32 | $25,500 | Manageable | $42,436 | High |
| #5 | $49,835 | 32 | $25,000 | Manageable | $28,373 | High | |
| #6 | $49,619 | 111 | $26,000 | Manageable | $26,389 | High | |
| #7 | York College Of PennsylvaniaPrivate | $48,651 | 20 | $26,000 | Manageable | $33,999 | High |
| #8 | $46,704 | 80 | $23,507 | Manageable | $29,193 | High | |
| #9 | $46,652 | 44 | $26,000 | Manageable | $26,233 | High | |
| #10 | Lebanon Valley CollegePrivate | $45,900 | 23 | $27,000 | Manageable | $42,888 | High |
| #11 | Neumann UniversityPrivate | $45,732 | 15 | $27,000 | Manageable | $33,530 | High |
| #12 | Mercyhurst UniversityPrivate | $45,610 | 15 | $25,305 | Manageable | $25,932 | High |
| #13 | $44,770 | 98 | $25,000 | Manageable | $23,528 | High | |
| #14 | $44,386 | 67 | $26,798 | Manageable | $26,073 | High | |
| #15 | La Salle UniversityPrivate | $43,240 | 13 | $25,000 | Manageable | $31,871 | High |
| #16 | Keystone CollegePrivate | $38,289 | 7 | $26,000 | Challenging | $25,158 | High |
| #17 | Cabrini UniversityPrivate | $36,941 | 30 | $26,000 | Challenging | $33,000 | High |
| #18 | Robert Morris UniversityPrivate | $36,848 | 5 | $26,950 | High | $38,989 | High |
| #19 | Thiel CollegePrivate | $36,848 | 9 | $27,000 | High | $47,131 | High |
| #20 | Alvernia UniversityPrivate | $34,704 | 9 | $27,000 | High | $36,500 | 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 →
