Special Education and Teaching at Kent State University at Kent

Kent State's Special Education program produces teachers earning around $39,000—about 5% below Ohio's median and 11% below the national average for this field. While the debt load of $25,000 is slightly lower than state and national benchmarks, the bigger concern is that these graduates start behind their peers and never really catch up. Four years into their careers, earnings have barely budged, sitting at the 40th percentile among Ohio's 43 special education programs. For comparison, University of Dayton graduates in this field earn $6,000 more annually.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64 isn't alarming on its face—special education teachers can manage this loan burden—but the lack of earnings progression is troubling. Most teachers see meaningful salary growth in their first several years as they move through step increases and gain tenure. The near-flat trajectory here suggests graduates may be concentrated in lower-paying districts or facing other structural barriers to advancement.

If your child is committed to special education, this program provides affordable entry to the field, but understand they'll likely be on the lower end of the Ohio teaching salary scale. Schools like Ohio State or University of Dayton offer meaningfully better earning potential for similar debt, which compounds significantly over a 30-year career. The modest premium in selectivity or cost at these alternatives could be worth investigating.