Est. Earnings (1yr)
$42,830
Est. from NC median (6 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$27,000
Est. from national median (42 programs)

Analysis

Similar special education programs in North Carolina typically produce first-year earnings around $42,830, positioning Greensboro College's estimated outcomes right at the state median. That's roughly $1,300 below the national benchmark for this field—a modest gap that reflects North Carolina's below-average teacher compensation rather than anything specific to this program. The estimated $27,000 debt load, derived from comparable small private colleges nationally, exceeds what graduates at NC public universities typically carry by about $2,500 to $5,000.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63 falls within manageable territory for a teaching credential, especially in a high-demand field like special education. Programs of this type across North Carolina produce remarkably consistent outcomes—the state's top five programs with reported data all cluster within $2,000 of each other, from $42,600 to $44,200. This narrow range suggests the teaching labor market in North Carolina is standardized enough that your choice of institution may matter less than certification completion and placement.

The uncertainty here is real: without school-specific data, you're looking at what peer programs accomplish, not what this particular program delivers. For a family considering Greensboro College specifically, the question becomes whether their support services, placement assistance, and success rates justify the private college premium over UNC system alternatives that appear to produce similar starting salaries with less debt.

Where Greensboro College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in North Carolina

Special Education and Teaching bachelors's programs at peer institutions in North Carolina (24 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Greensboro CollegeGreensboro$20,400$42,830*$27,000*
East Carolina UniversityGreenville$7,361$44,185*$41,964$26,416*0.60
Appalachian State UniversityBoone$7,541$43,283*$42,295$25,000*0.58
University of North Carolina at GreensboroGreensboro$7,593$42,967*$39,988$24,000*0.56
University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte$7,214$42,692*$41,222$26,602*0.62
University of North Carolina WilmingtonWilmington$7,317$42,584*$42,392$19,500*0.46
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 Greensboro College, approximately 45% 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 6 similar programs in NC. Actual outcomes may vary.