U.S. median for this major: $51,258.
College Scorecard field of study; 25 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 39% 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 $24,289. College Scorecard.
Middle Tennessee State University 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 Middle Tennessee State University'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 | $9,289 | $40,500 | 3.2 years |
| $30–48k | $10,273 | $44,790 | 3.5 years |
| $48–75k | $13,007 | $56,711 | 4.5 years |
| $75–110k | $16,935 | $73,837 | 5.8 years |
| $110k+ | $19,046 | $83,041 | 6.5 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (38% 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 ($47,239) minus $34,518 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in TN (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $12,721 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 Tennessee colleges
Every Tennessee 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 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | $50,585 | — | $18,976 | 74% |
| 2 | University of Memphis | $47,465 | $23,397 | $12,397 | 51% |
| 3 | Middle Tennessee State University | $47,239 | $18,493 | $13,359 | 54% |
| 4 | East Tennessee State University | $44,224 | — | $15,983 | 53% |
| 5 | Lee University | $36,999 | — | $18,878 | 63% |
22 more Tennessee 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 Middle Tennessee State University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Middle Tennessee State University
- Acceptance rate: 69% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 54% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $48,541
- Full cost breakdown · all 73 majors · overview
Related majors at Middle Tennessee State University
- Education (Elementary / Secondary)$46,252
- Education (Subject Teaching)$57,543
Middle Tennessee State University Special Education questions
How much do Middle Tennessee State University Special Education graduates earn?
Special Education graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn a median $47,239 four years after graduating and $44,052 one year after. The U.S. median for Special Education graduates across 175 colleges is $51,258.
How much debt do Middle Tennessee State University Special Education graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Special Education graduates of Middle Tennessee State University is $18,493, about 39% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,602.
Is Middle Tennessee State University a good school for Special Education in Tennessee?
On pay, Special Education graduates of Middle Tennessee State University earn $47,239 four years out, $0 above the median for the same major across 5 Tennessee colleges ($47,239) and $4,019 below the U.S. median ($51,258). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Middle Tennessee State University rank for Special Education in Tennessee?
Of 5 Tennessee colleges reporting Special Education graduate earnings, Middle Tennessee State University ranks 3rd. The highest is The University of Tennessee-Knoxville at $50,585.
What jobs do Special Education graduates get?
A common career is special education teacher, with a median wage of $65,170 in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN 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: “Middle Tennessee State University Special Education: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/middle-tennessee-state-university/majors/special-education (College Scorecard and BLS data).