Special Education and Teaching at Brigham Young University

BYU's special education program shows an unusual earnings pattern that demands explanation: first-year graduates earn $50,331, placing them well above the national median for this field, yet by year four those same cohorts see earnings drop to $36,162—a 28% decline that runs counter to typical career trajectories. While the estimated $27,000 debt burden (based on typical borrowing across BYU's programs) would be manageable against steady earnings, this backward progression raises questions about what's happening to these graduates between years one and four.

The likeliest explanations involve life choices common in BYU's community: graduates may be stepping back from full-time teaching to raise families, pursuing graduate degrees, or relocating to lower-cost-of-living areas with correspondingly lower salaries. Special education teachers are in high demand nationwide, so this isn't about unemployability. What's concerning is that even the strong first-year number places this program at only the 40th percentile among Utah's eight special education programs—schools like Utah State are getting their graduates to $61,000 right out of the gate.

If your child plans to work continuously in special education, ask why BYU's outcomes lag behind state competitors despite the university's strong academic profile. The debt estimate appears reasonable, but only if those early earnings hold steady. If family responsibilities or graduate school are likely within the first few years post-graduation, factor in that this program's typical trajectory shows significant income disruption rather than growth.