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 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 $34,022. College Scorecard.
UIU Special Education: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Iowa 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 UIU'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 | $17,715 | $77,769 | 6.3 years |
| $30–48k | $22,774 | $99,978 | 8.0 years |
| $48–75k | $18,720 | $82,181 | 6.6 years |
| $75–110k | $20,041 | $87,980 | 7.1 years |
| $110k+ | $23,805 | $104,504 | 8.4 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (29% 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 ($49,098) minus $36,661 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IA (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $12,437 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.
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 UIU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About UIU
- Acceptance rate: 96% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 34% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $52,766
- Full cost breakdown · all 40 majors · overview
Related majors at UIU
UIU Special Education questions
How much do UIU Special Education graduates earn?
Special Education graduates of Upper Iowa University earn a median $49,098 four years after graduating and $44,304 one year after. The U.S. median for Special Education graduates across 175 colleges is $51,258.
How much debt do UIU Special Education graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Special Education graduates of Upper Iowa University is $35,455, about 72% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,602.
Where does UIU rank for Special Education in Iowa?
Of 1 Iowa colleges reporting Special Education graduate earnings, Upper Iowa University ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Special Education graduates get?
A common career is special education teacher, with a median wage of $60,440 in Iowa 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: “Upper Iowa University Special Education: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/upper-iowa-university/majors/special-education (College Scorecard and BLS data).