U.S. median for this major: $51,258.
College Scorecard field of study; 19 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 42% 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 $21,259. College Scorecard.
UNM Special Education: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 New Mexico colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
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 UNM'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 | $11,938 | $52,408 | 2.3 years |
| $30–48k | $13,045 | $57,268 | 2.5 years |
| $48–75k | $16,196 | $71,100 | 3.1 years |
| $75–110k | $17,906 | $78,607 | 3.5 years |
| $110k+ | $19,053 | $83,643 | 3.7 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (36% 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 ($53,429) minus $30,723 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NM (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $22,706 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 New Mexico colleges
Every New Mexico 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 | New Mexico State University | $58,953 | $19,000 | $8,889 | 55% |
| 2 | University of New Mexico | $53,429 | $22,250 | $15,489 | 55% |
4 more New Mexico 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 UNM, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About UNM
- Acceptance rate: 95% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 55% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $44,792
- Full cost breakdown · all 68 majors · overview
Related majors at UNM
UNM Special Education questions
How much do UNM Special Education graduates earn?
Special Education graduates of University of New Mexico earn a median $53,429 four years after graduating and $41,947 one year after. The U.S. median for Special Education graduates across 175 colleges is $51,258.
How much debt do UNM Special Education graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Special Education graduates of University of New Mexico is $22,250, about 42% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,602.
Where does UNM rank for Special Education in New Mexico?
Of 2 New Mexico colleges reporting Special Education graduate earnings, University of New Mexico ranks 2nd. The highest is New Mexico State University at $58,953.
What jobs do Special Education graduates get?
A common career is special education teacher, with a median wage of $78,670 in the Albuquerque, NM 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 New Mexico Special Education: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-new-mexico-main-campus/majors/special-education (College Scorecard and BLS data).