Special Education and Teaching (Bachelor's Degree) at Maranatha Baptist University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$46,978

Est. from WI median (10 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$27,000

Est. from national median (42 programs)

Analysis

Similar special education programs in Wisconsin typically produce first-year earnings around $47,000, which would put Maranatha Baptist roughly in line with state medians and slightly above the national benchmark. The estimated $27,000 debt load—comparable to what most special education graduates carry—translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57, suggesting manageable monthly payments for a field known for steady employment and structured pay scales.

What's harder to gauge without school-specific data is whether Maranatha's smaller program effectively prepares students for Wisconsin's competitive special education market. The top programs in the state—Madison, Milwaukee, Whitewater—report graduates earning $48,000 to $50,000, not dramatically higher than the state median but enough to make a difference over time. Special education offers job security and clear licensure pathways, but starting salaries don't leave much room for error if actual debt exceeds these estimates or if graduates need additional time to find full-time positions.

For parents, the practical question is whether Maranatha's faith-based approach and smaller cohort environment justify choosing it over larger Wisconsin programs with proven track records. If your child values that specific setting and you can keep borrowing close to these estimates, the financial picture appears workable for a teaching career. If costs run higher or your child isn't certain about special education specifically, programs with transparent outcome data might offer more security.

Where Maranatha Baptist University Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Wisconsin

Special Education and Teaching bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Wisconsin (15 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Maranatha Baptist UniversityWatertown	$20,280	$46,978*	—	$27,000*	—
University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison	$11,205	$50,174*	$47,683	$22,863*	0.46
Carthage CollegeKenosha	$36,500	$48,593*	$43,911	$25,954*	0.53
University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeMilwaukee	$10,020	$48,378*	—	$26,375*	0.55
University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterWhitewater	$8,250	$47,592*	$47,106	$27,000*	0.57
Concordia University-WisconsinMequon	$34,250	$47,295*	—	—*	—
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 Maranatha Baptist University, approximately 34% 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 10 similar programs in WI. Actual outcomes may vary.