Special Education and Teaching at Franklin Pierce University

Special education teachers are in high demand, but the financial picture here requires careful consideration. Based on national peer programs, Franklin Pierce graduates would likely enter the field earning around $44,000—a figure that reflects the broader reality of teaching salaries, which often lag behind other bachelor's-level careers. The estimated $27,000 in debt sits just below the national median for this degree, yielding a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61.

That said, New Hampshire's teaching market presents challenges. The state median debt for special education programs runs about $30,000, and with only seven schools offering this pathway statewide, you're looking at limited in-state alternatives. The real question is whether your child plans to stay in New Hampshire, where teaching salaries and cost of living will shape their financial reality, or relocate to a state with stronger teacher compensation. Special education credentials travel well, which offers some flexibility.

The core tension is this: teaching is mission-driven work with modest financial returns, and these estimated figures suggest Franklin Pierce follows the national pattern. If your child is committed to special education specifically—not just education broadly—the debt load is workable. But given that these are estimates rather than this school's actual graduate outcomes, you're making this decision with less certainty than ideal. Ask the school directly about job placement rates and where their special education graduates actually land.