Special Education and Teaching (Post-baccalaureate Certificate) at California State University-Long Beach

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$56,264

Est. from national median (6 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$23,941

Est. from national median (5 programs)

Analysis

California's teacher shortage makes special education credentials particularly valuable, but taking on nearly $24,000 in debt for a post-baccalaureate certificate requires careful consideration—especially when the estimated first-year earnings of $56,000 come from a small national sample rather than this program's actual outcomes. Special education teachers are in high demand across California, and credentialed professionals can typically negotiate better starting salaries than general education teachers. However, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43, graduates would be dedicating a significant portion of their first year's salary to loan repayment, even before accounting for California's high cost of living.

The challenge here is uncertainty. Only five California institutions offer this post-bac certificate, and none have sufficient graduate data for public reporting, which makes it difficult to gauge what CS Long Beach graduates specifically earn. The $56,000 estimate reflects what similar programs produce nationally, but California teaching salaries vary dramatically by district—from under $50,000 in some rural areas to over $70,000 in well-funded urban districts. If you're already living in Southern California and can secure a position in a district near Long Beach with competitive pay, this debt load becomes manageable. But if the earnings fall below expectations or you're relocating to afford housing, the math gets tighter. Contact the program directly for placement data and typical hiring districts before committing.

Where California State University-Long Beach Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all special education and teaching postbacc-cert's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Special Education and Teaching postbacc-cert's programs at top institutions nationally

Scroll to see more →

School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
California State University-Long BeachLong Beach	$7,008	$56,264*	—	$23,941*	—
University of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu	$12,186	$68,261*	$65,885	$28,000*	0.41
University of GeorgiaAthens	$11,180	$60,817*	—	$19,500*	0.32
Bowling Green State University-Main CampusBowling Green	$14,081	$56,625*	$54,976	$25,625*	0.45
University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnati	$13,570	$55,902*	—	$23,941*	0.43
Pima Community CollegeTucson	$2,370	$46,052*	—	$15,200*	0.33
National Median	—	$56,264*	—	$23,941*	0.43

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with special education and teaching graduates

Education Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to education, such as counseling, curriculum, guidance, instruction, teacher education, and teaching English as a second language. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Special Education Teachers, Preschool

Teach academic, social, and life skills to preschool-aged students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.

$64,270/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Special Education Teachers, Middle School

Teach academic, social, and life skills to middle school students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.

$64,270/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Special Education Teachers, Secondary School

Teach academic, social, and life skills to secondary school students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.

$64,270/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Special Education Teachers, All Other

All special education teachers not listed separately.

$64,270/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Adapted Physical Education Specialists

Provide individualized physical education instruction or services to children, youth, or adults with exceptional physical needs due to gross motor developmental delays or other impairments.

$64,270/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Interpreters and Translators

Interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into another.

$59,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten

Teach academic, social, and life skills to kindergarten students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.

Special Education Teachers, Elementary School

Teach academic, social, and life skills to elementary school students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.

Teaching Assistants, Special Education

Assist a preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary school teacher to provide academic, social, or life skills to students who have learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Serve in a position for which a teacher has primary responsibility for the design and implementation of educational programs and services.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At California State University-Long Beach, approximately 49% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 6 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.