Special Education and Teaching at Georgia College & State University

Georgia College graduates about as many special education teachers as fit in a typical classroom, so treat these numbers as directional rather than definitive. That said, the pattern looks reassuringly stable: starting salary of $45,167 beats both the national and Georgia medians, and earnings hold steady four years out rather than declining—a positive sign in a field where burnout often pushes teachers out.

The debt picture is reasonable for a teaching degree. At $26,000, graduates owe slightly less than both national and state averages, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58. That means monthly payments around 6% of gross income under standard plans—tight on a teacher's salary but workable, especially given Georgia's relatively affordable cost of living. Among Georgia's 17 special education programs, this one ranks in the 60th percentile for earnings while keeping debt in check.

The flat earnings trajectory is worth understanding: it's not program failure, it's the reality of teaching's compressed salary scales. Special educators typically gain raises through experience and additional credentials, not by climbing into administration. If your child is passionate about working with students who have disabilities and can live within a teacher's budget, this program delivers the training without burying them in debt. Just know that the small sample size means next year's cohort could show different numbers.