U.S. median for this major: $51,258.
College Scorecard field of study; 16 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 72% 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 $19,725. College Scorecard.
NKU 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 NKU'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 | $2,603 | $11,375 | 1.2 years |
| $30–48k | $3,630 | $15,863 | 1.7 years |
| $48–75k | $6,761 | $29,546 | 3.1 years |
| $75–110k | $12,679 | $55,407 | 5.9 years |
| $110k+ | $14,522 | $63,461 | 6.7 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (35% 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 ($42,964) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in KY (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $9,448 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 Kentucky colleges
Every Kentucky 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 | Northern Kentucky University | $42,964 | $30,750 | $8,191 | 52% |
| 2 | Western Kentucky University | $40,705 | $27,000 | $10,990 | 56% |
| 3 | Morehead State University | $39,777 | $26,878 | $9,793 | 52% |
| 4 | Eastern Kentucky University | $38,991 | $28,381 | $11,040 | 50% |
| 5 | Murray State University | $36,657 | $20,775 | $9,096 | 61% |
9 more Kentucky 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 NKU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About NKU
- Acceptance rate: 68% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 52% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $50,220
- Full cost breakdown · all 63 majors · overview
Related majors at NKU
NKU Special Education questions
How much do NKU Special Education graduates earn?
Special Education graduates of Northern Kentucky University earn a median $42,964 four years after graduating and $40,333 one year after. The U.S. median for Special Education graduates across 175 colleges is $51,258.
How much debt do NKU Special Education graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Special Education graduates of Northern Kentucky University is $30,750, about 72% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,602.
Is NKU a good school for Special Education in Kentucky?
On pay, Special Education graduates of Northern Kentucky University earn $42,964 four years out, $3,187 above the median for the same major across 5 Kentucky colleges ($39,777) and $8,294 below the U.S. median ($51,258). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does NKU rank for Special Education in Kentucky?
Of 5 Kentucky colleges reporting Special Education graduate earnings, Northern Kentucky University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Special Education graduates get?
A common career is special education teacher, with a median wage of $64,430 in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN 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: “Northern Kentucky University Special Education: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/northern-kentucky-university/majors/special-education (College Scorecard and BLS data).