Special Education and Teaching at Central Methodist University-College of Graduate and Extended Studies

The $30,051 debt figure here stands out—it's the lowest among Special Education programs in Missouri and sits in just the 5th percentile nationally. That's genuinely remarkable affordability for a teaching degree. However, that advantage comes with uncertainty: this program lacks reported earnings data because too few recent graduates participated in the federal surveys, so we're relying on what similar Missouri programs typically produce ($37,450 in the first year).

That estimated starting salary sits squarely in the middle of what peer Missouri programs report—matching Southeast Missouri State and trailing Missouri State by less than $1,000. The 0.80 debt-to-earnings ratio based on these estimates suggests manageable loan payments, though it's worth noting that Missouri's teaching salaries lag the national median of $44,139 by about $7,000. Special education teachers often qualify for federal loan forgiveness programs, which could make this debt load even more manageable over time.

The key question is whether Central Methodist's program produces outcomes similar to the state average it's being compared against. With no actual graduate data to confirm this, you're making an educated guess based on what's typical in Missouri. If the estimates hold true, you're looking at one of the most affordable paths to special education certification in the state. If they don't, that low debt still provides a cushion that more expensive programs don't offer.