Special Education and Teaching at Coastal Carolina University

Coastal Carolina's Special Education program sits in an interesting position: it outperforms most South Carolina competitors (60th percentile in-state) while landing slightly below the national median. At $42,147 starting, graduates earn more than those from flagship programs like College of Charleston or USC-Upstate, suggesting the program has developed strong local placement relationships.

The concerning element is the 7% earnings decline from year one to year four, which runs counter to typical teacher salary schedules that build in regular raises. However, the sample size here is quite small—under 30 graduates—so this could reflect a few individuals changing career paths or moving to lower-cost-of-living areas rather than a systematic problem with the program's quality. The relatively light debt load of $27,000 provides some cushion; graduates owe just eight months of their starting salary, well below what many education majors carry.

For parents of students committed to special education teaching in South Carolina, this program appears to deliver solid preparation at a manageable price. The real question is whether your child plans to stay in-state, where Coastal Carolina's network seems strongest, or pursue opportunities elsewhere. If the former, this looks like a reasonable investment despite the small sample quirks in the data.