Special Education and Teaching at Brigham Young University-Hawaii

Based on comparable special education programs nationally, this degree comes with an estimated $27,000 in debt against first-year earnings around $44,100—a reasonable 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio that suggests manageable repayment. However, the Hawaii context complicates this picture considerably. The University of Hawaii at Manoa reports special education graduates earning $60,400 in their first year—more than $16,000 above what peer programs suggest for BYU-Hawaii. This gap matters enormously in a state with Hawaii's cost of living, where that extra earning power could mean the difference between financial stability and struggle.

The debt estimate appears more favorable than Hawaii's typical $16,500, though this comes from national peer programs rather than BYU-Hawaii's actual outcomes. For a teaching credential that leads to relatively standardized career paths and salaries, the substantial earnings difference between Hawaii institutions raises questions about local employment outcomes, alumni networks, or credential recognition that deserve investigation before committing.

**The bottom line**: If your child can secure admission to UH Manoa's special education program, the reported earnings advantage is significant and documented. BYU-Hawaii may offer other values—smaller classes, religious environment, lower tuition—but verify actual job placement rates and starting salaries for recent graduates teaching in Hawaii schools, since the estimated figures suggest considerably less earning power than the state's flagship university delivers.