Special Education and Teaching at Broward College

Is a bachelor's in special education from a community college worth pursuing when you're looking at estimated debt of $21,370? The answer depends heavily on what this program actually delivers, since the earnings figures here—$49,262 in year one—place it well above the national median for special education programs and just slightly above Florida's typical outcome. That 83rd percentile ranking nationally suggests strong performance, though with 40% of students receiving Pell grants, this could also reflect the economic composition of students who complete four-year degrees at community colleges.

The troubling part is the complete earnings stagnation. First-year earnings of $49,262 barely budge to $49,391 four years later—essentially no growth at all. Compare that to Florida's top programs like Florida Atlantic ($56,009) or even similar-tier schools that show more progression, and you see graduates potentially starting behind and staying behind. The debt load based on comparable Florida programs is manageable at roughly 43% of first-year earnings, but that only matters if earnings eventually climb. Special education teachers typically see salary increases through experience and advanced credentials, so this flat trajectory raises questions about whether graduates are securing full-time teaching positions with standard advancement tracks.

The practical takeaway: this program appears to deliver competitive entry-level outcomes for a community college bachelor's degree, but the absence of reported debt data and flat earnings curve should prompt direct questions to the school about job placement rates and whether graduates are entering traditional public school positions versus paraprofessional or alternative roles.