Special Education and Teaching at Indiana University-Bloomington

Indiana University-Bloomington delivers something unusual in special education: graduates earn more than 95% of similar programs nationwide, yet start at just $51,306—which tells you how challenging compensation is in this essential field. The $19,500 debt load is manageable at less than four months' salary, though it's worth noting this is actually relatively high for special education majors (90th percentile nationally). Within Indiana, IU-Bloomington ranks solidly in the middle among 17 programs, trailing Purdue and Ball State but still outpacing the state median by over $5,000.

The flat earnings trajectory—essentially zero growth between year one and year four—reflects the reality of teacher pay scales rather than any deficiency in the program. Special education teachers typically hit their initial salary quickly and then advance slowly through predetermined steps. What matters more here is the starting point, and IU's graduates begin about $7,000 ahead of the national median for this credential.

For families committed to special education, this represents solid preparation at a reasonable price, especially given IU-Bloomington's academic reputation. The debt is higher than ideal but nowhere near problematic given the stable earnings. Just understand that the $51,000 salary at graduation will likely look quite similar four years later—budget accordingly.