Special Education and Teaching at Cabrini University

Cabrini's special education program graduates earn nearly $8,500 less than the typical Pennsylvania special education teacher, placing it in the bottom quarter statewide. That's a significant gap when Pennsylvania's state schools like Millersville and Kutztown consistently produce graduates earning over $50,000—roughly 25% more than Cabrini's median of $40,114. Even nationally, where special education salaries tend to run lower, Cabrini lands in just the 23rd percentile.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $27,000, borrowing levels match both state and national medians, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67. For a field where salaries are standardized by teaching scales, however, that initial earnings disadvantage matters. Special education teachers typically see steady salary growth through contract negotiations and tenure, but starting $8,000 behind peers means potentially missing out on tens of thousands over a career, since raises often build on base salary.

If your child is committed to special education in Pennsylvania, the state's public universities deliver stronger financial outcomes at likely lower tuition costs. Cabrini may offer smaller class sizes and personalized attention—valuable for teacher preparation—but the earnings data suggests other programs better position graduates for Pennsylvania's school districts.