U.S. median for this major: $51,258.
College Scorecard field of study; 22 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 $31,713. College Scorecard.
University of Missouri-Columbia 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 University of Missouri-Columbia'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 | $13,841 | $59,516 | 3.6 years |
| $30–48k | $13,378 | $57,525 | 3.5 years |
| $48–75k | $13,722 | $59,005 | 3.6 years |
| $75–110k | $19,762 | $84,977 | 5.2 years |
| $110k+ | $26,304 | $113,107 | 6.9 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (56% 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 ($51,901) minus $35,438 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MO (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $16,463 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 Missouri colleges
Every Missouri 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 | University of Missouri-Columbia | $51,901 | $20,357 | $20,268 | 75% |
| 2 | Northwest Missouri State University | $46,475 | $26,250 | $16,244 | 54% |
| 3 | Southeast Missouri State University | $41,163 | $25,000 | $15,882 | 58% |
| 4 | Missouri State University-Springfield | $40,846 | $22,500 | $17,613 | 58% |
| 5 | University of Central Missouri | $39,569 | $26,000 | $14,462 | 54% |
| 6 | Missouri Baptist University | $36,929 | $28,688 | $27,006 | 48% |
12 more Missouri 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 University of Missouri-Columbia, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About University of Missouri-Columbia
- Acceptance rate: 78% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 75% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $63,403
- Full cost breakdown · all 87 majors · overview
Related majors at University of Missouri-Columbia
- Education (Elementary / Secondary)$44,681
- Education—
- Education (Subject Teaching)$45,263
University of Missouri-Columbia Special Education questions
How much do University of Missouri-Columbia Special Education graduates earn?
Special Education graduates of University of Missouri-Columbia earn a median $51,901 four years after graduating and $37,547 one year after. The U.S. median for Special Education graduates across 175 colleges is $51,258.
How much debt do University of Missouri-Columbia Special Education graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Special Education graduates of University of Missouri-Columbia is $20,357, about 39% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,602.
Is University of Missouri-Columbia a good school for Special Education in Missouri?
On pay, Special Education graduates of University of Missouri-Columbia earn $51,901 four years out, $10,897 above the median for the same major across 6 Missouri colleges ($41,004) and $643 above the U.S. median ($51,258). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does University of Missouri-Columbia rank for Special Education in Missouri?
Of 6 Missouri colleges reporting Special Education graduate earnings, University of Missouri-Columbia ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Special Education graduates get?
A common career is special education teacher, with a median wage of $46,120 in the Columbia, MO 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: “University of Missouri-Columbia Special Education: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-missouri-columbia/majors/special-education (College Scorecard and BLS data).