U.S. median for this major: $51,258.
College Scorecard field of study; 28 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 61% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $26,602.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $28,367. College Scorecard.
GVSU Special Education: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Special Education nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses GVSU's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $12,272 | $54,242 | 3.3 years |
| $30–48k | $11,902 | $52,607 | 3.2 years |
| $48–75k | $12,861 | $56,846 | 3.5 years |
| $75–110k | $16,609 | $73,412 | 4.5 years |
| $110k+ | $22,534 | $99,600 | 6.1 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (45% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Special Education graduates 4 years after graduating ($49,814) minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $16,403 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Special Education at Michigan colleges
Every Michigan college we cover that reports Special Education graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan State University | $58,522 | $26,375 | $19,680 | 81% |
| 2 | Wayne State University | $58,182 | $43,500 | $12,766 | 58% |
| 3 | Eastern Michigan University | $54,303 | $31,000 | $15,407 | 46% |
| 4 | Western Michigan University | $50,665 | $31,000 | $15,273 | 58% |
| 5 | Central Michigan University | $50,095 | $31,000 | $17,597 | 59% |
| 6 | Saginaw Valley State University | $50,078 | $29,873 | $10,775 | 48% |
| 7 | Grand Valley State University | $49,814 | $30,350 | $16,317 | 67% |
| 8 | Concordia University Ann Arbor | $49,463 | — | $32,811 | 48% |
| 9 | Spring Arbor University | $42,461 | $29,750 | $19,353 | 64% |
10 more Michigan colleges offer Special Education but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Special Education graduates
Special education teacher
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -0.4% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Interpreters and Translators
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +2.0% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at GVSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About GVSU
- Acceptance rate: 83% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 67% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $56,118
- Full cost breakdown · all 83 majors · overview
Related majors at GVSU
- Education$49,225
- Education (Subject Teaching)$49,612
GVSU Special Education questions
How much do GVSU Special Education graduates earn?
Special Education graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median $49,814 four years after graduating and $49,494 one year after. The U.S. median for Special Education graduates across 175 colleges is $51,258.
How much debt do GVSU Special Education graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Special Education graduates of Grand Valley State University is $30,350, about 61% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,602.
Is GVSU a good school for Special Education in Michigan?
On pay, Special Education graduates of Grand Valley State University earn $49,814 four years out, $281 below the median for the same major across 9 Michigan colleges ($50,095) and $1,444 below the U.S. median ($51,258). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does GVSU rank for Special Education in Michigan?
Of 9 Michigan colleges reporting Special Education graduate earnings, Grand Valley State University ranks 7th. The highest is Michigan State University at $58,522.
What jobs do Special Education graduates get?
A common career is special education teacher, with a median wage of $61,850 in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI area and $65,120 nationally. Others include interpreters and translators.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Grand Valley State University Special Education: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/grand-valley-state-university/majors/special-education (College Scorecard and BLS data).