Special Education and Teaching: is this doctoral degree worth it?
National picture across 1 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$98,012 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$98,012Median year-4 earnings
$15,846Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Four useful answers about Special Education and Teaching
How much do Special Education and Teaching doctoral degree graduates earn?
The national median is $98,012 four years after completion across reportable doctoral degree programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
A national median federal-debt figure is not reportable for this degree in the current release.
Does the college matter for Special Education and Teaching?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $98,012 to $98,012 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Special Education and Teaching?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 10 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
Observed national outcomes
$98,012Median reported earnings · year 4
Not availableAverage reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
43thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
12IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
1With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 1 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts, not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $49,835
- Federal debt
- $25,620
- Reporting programs
- 4
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $41,141
- Federal debt
- $16,669
- Reporting programs
- 2
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $51,258
- Federal debt
- $26,717
- Reporting programs
- 205
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $67,859
- Federal debt
- $23,274
- Reporting programs
- 9
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $62,770
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 288
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $98,012
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $70,411
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 17
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $79,956
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 5
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$98,012National median$98,01275th percentile$98,012
1 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
1 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Vanderbilt University$98,012Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Education Teachers, Postsecondary$75,350 median wage60,830 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1081+2.5% projected employment, 2025–35 · 5.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$39,530–$126,860 10th–90th percentileSpecial Education Teachers, All Other$76,580 median wage33,930 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-2059+1.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 2.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$48,440–$120,080 10th–90th percentileSpecial Education Teachers, Secondary School$74,260 median wage163,930 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-2058-0.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 10.4k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$49,800–$109,100 10th–90th percentileSpecial Education Teachers, Middle School$66,810 median wage95,200 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-2057-0.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 6k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$49,420–$102,510 10th–90th percentileSpecial Education Teachers, Preschool$64,830 median wage29,510 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-2051+2.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$45,620–$130,040 10th–90th percentileSpecial Education Teachers, Elementary SchoolUnreported U.S. jobs · SOC 25-2056Special Education Teachers, KindergartenUnreported U.S. jobs · SOC 25-2055Interpreters and Translators$60,170 median wage52,060 U.S. jobs · SOC 27-3091+2.0% projected employment, 2025–35 · 6k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$37,070–$103,660 10th–90th percentileNO MATCHUnreported U.S. jobs · SOC 99-9999Teaching Assistants, Special EducationUnreported U.S. jobs · SOC 25-9043
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vanderbilt UniversityDoctoral Degree | Nashville, TN | $98,012 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $15,846 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.