Special Education and Teaching at National University

A bachelor's in special education from National University comes with estimated debt of $27,000—significantly higher than the $16,750 median for California programs in this field. While comparable programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $44,139, special education salaries in California tell a different story: the state median sits at just $33,783, about $10,000 lower than the national benchmark. That gap matters when you're carrying above-average debt into a profession where California teachers, paradoxically, earn less than their counterparts elsewhere despite the state's higher cost of living.

The estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61 looks manageable on paper, but it's calculated using the higher national earnings figure rather than California's actual outcomes. If graduates face California's typical starting salary instead, they're looking at a debt burden closer to 80% of first-year income. For comparison, Cal State Sacramento's special education graduates—with actual reported data—earned that lower $33,783 figure while likely carrying less debt at a public institution.

The fundamental tension here is clear: National University's private university pricing doesn't align well with public school teacher salaries, especially in a state where special education teachers earn less than the national norm. Unless your child has specific reasons to choose this program over California's public alternatives—like needing National University's adult-focused, flexible format—the debt premium is hard to justify for a career with well-established, modest salary expectations.