Special Education and Teaching (Bachelor's Degree) at Elmira College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$38,978

Est. from NY median (7 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$27,000

Est. from NY median (8 programs)

Analysis

Special education teachers are among the most in-demand professionals in New York schools, but comparable programs across the state suggest Elmira's graduates face a challenging financial start. Based on peer programs in New York, first-year earnings hover around $39,000—well below both the national median for this field ($44,139) and what graduates from top state programs like Pace University ($62,346) or Syracuse ($55,881) command. The estimated $27,000 debt load is close to state and national norms, yielding a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69, but that assumes the estimated earnings hold true for Elmira's actual graduates.

What complicates the picture here is that both earnings and debt figures are derived from similar programs rather than Elmira's own outcomes, which the Department of Education couldn't publish due to small sample sizes. This makes it difficult to assess whether Elmira's 91% admission rate and accessibility mission translate into outcomes that match, exceed, or fall short of the state median. Special education offers strong job security and meaningful work, but the financial returns—at least based on comparable New York programs—lag behind other teaching specializations and many bachelor's-level careers.

If your child is committed to special education specifically, verify Elmira's actual teacher certification pass rates and job placement numbers before enrolling. The estimated debt burden is reasonable for a teaching career, but only if the salary projections prove accurate for this particular program.

Where Elmira College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all special education and teaching bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in New York

Special Education and Teaching bachelors's programs at peer institutions in New York (36 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Elmira CollegeElmira	$37,932	$38,978*	—	$27,000*	—
Pace UniversityNew York	$51,424	$62,346*	—	$24,000*	0.38
Syracuse UniversitySyracuse	$63,061	$55,881*	—	$27,000*	0.48
CUNY Medgar Evers CollegeBrooklyn	$7,352	$49,413*	—	$5,500*	0.11
SUNY Old WestburyOld Westbury	$8,379	$38,978*	$44,330	$24,145*	0.62
SUNY College at GeneseoGeneseo	$8,966	$37,229*	—	$23,250*	0.62
National Median	—	$44,139*	—	$26,717*	0.61

* 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 Elmira College, approximately 35% 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 median of 7 similar programs in NY. Actual outcomes may vary.