Special Education and Teaching at Defiance College

Defiance College's special education program ranks among the lowest-earning in Ohio, with graduates starting at $29,443—roughly $12,000 below the state median and $15,000 below the national average. While the debt load of $28,500 is actually slightly below typical levels, earning barely more than your debt in your first year signals a challenging financial start. The 25th percentile ranking within Ohio means three-quarters of special education programs in the state produce better earnings outcomes.

The small sample size here is crucial—with fewer than 30 graduates in the data, these numbers might not reflect typical outcomes. That said, when your starting salary is $16,000 below what University of Dayton graduates earn in the same field, that's a gap that compounds significantly over a career. Special education teachers generally see steady demand and modest but reliable salary growth, but starting this far behind your peers means playing catch-up for years.

If your child is committed to special education and Defiance College for other reasons, understand you're accepting below-market starting earnings in exchange. The state's larger public universities—Ohio State, Cincinnati, Miami—all produce graduates earning $12,000-$16,000 more in year one, which likely translates to better long-term trajectories as well.