Special Education and Teaching at Fort Hays State University

Based on comparable special education programs nationwide, Fort Hays State produces graduates likely entering the field with around $26,000 in debt and first-year earnings near $44,100. That 0.59 debt-to-earnings ratio falls within workable territory for a teaching credential, particularly given Kansas teacher salaries and the fact that special education often commands modest pay premiums over general education roles.

The challenge here is that Kansas offers only four bachelor's programs in special education statewide, and none publish outcomes data—leaving you to rely entirely on national patterns. What we know is that special education teaching is among the more stable career paths within education, with consistent demand and clear licensure requirements. The estimated debt load is manageable on a teaching salary, especially if your child qualifies for loan forgiveness programs available to special education teachers in Kansas schools.

The bigger consideration is whether Fort Hays State specifically delivers strong preparation for Kansas certification and local job placement, which these estimates can't tell us. Contact the education department directly about their pass rates on the Praxis exams and where recent graduates are teaching. In a field this regulated and place-specific, those school-level details matter more than national earnings patterns.