Special Education and Teaching at Bob Jones University

South Carolina's special education programs cluster tightly in the low $40,000s for starting salaries, and peer institutions suggest Bob Jones graduates would likely land somewhere in that range. The estimated $27,000 in debt—roughly in line with what special ed majors typically borrow nationally—translates to a manageable 0.67 debt-to-earnings ratio. That's reasonable territory for a teaching credential, where salaries are relatively predictable and loan forgiveness programs exist for educators serving in high-need areas.

The challenge lies in what those comparable South Carolina figures actually mean: starting salaries $4,000 below the national median for special education teachers. Special ed positions are in high demand across the country, and graduates willing to look beyond South Carolina could potentially command stronger entry salaries. The tight state salary band also suggests limited room for negotiation or variation based on where you studied—Coastal Carolina's graduates earn only $2,300 more than Anderson's.

For parents, this program likely delivers what you'd expect from a teaching degree in South Carolina: stable employment prospects in an understaffed field, with debt that won't dominate your child's budget. The real question is whether they're committed to teaching in-state, where salaries lag, or whether they'd consider markets where special educators can start closer to $48,000. The degree should work financially either way, but location will significantly shape the return.