Special Education and Teaching (Post-baccalaureate Certificate) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$56,264

Est. from national median (6 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$23,941

Est. from national median (5 programs)

Analysis

A post-baccalaureate certificate costing an estimated $24,000 to pursue special education teaching faces immediate practical challenges. Based on peer programs nationally, first-year earnings around $56,000 would leave graduates managing debt roughly equal to 43% of their annual income—manageable on paper, but tight for someone likely entering a field known for modest salary growth and high burnout rates. That $24,000 figure comes from similar certificate programs at NC State, suggesting this credential may carry more debt than typical teacher licensure pathways at other institutions.

The context matters here: this is a certificate for people who already have a bachelor's degree and are pivoting into teaching. Comparable programs nationally cluster tightly around these same earnings and debt figures, which tells us the outcomes are driven more by the teaching profession's pay structure than by any particular school's advantage. North Carolina's teacher salaries remain below the national average, and while special education teachers sometimes qualify for loan forgiveness programs, that's not guaranteed and shouldn't be assumed when evaluating the initial investment.

For parents whose child already holds a degree and feels called to special education, the credential itself is necessary for licensure—that's non-negotiable. But the financial picture suggests exploring whether NC State's certificate is competitively priced compared to alternative pathways in North Carolina, particularly district-sponsored programs or certificates at regional universities that might carry lower costs for similar market outcomes.

Where North Carolina State University at Raleigh Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all special education and teaching postbacc-cert's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Special Education and Teaching postbacc-cert's programs at top institutions nationally

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleigh	$8,895	$56,264*	—	$23,941*	—
University of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu	$12,186	$68,261*	$65,885	$28,000*	0.41
University of GeorgiaAthens	$11,180	$60,817*	—	$19,500*	0.32
Bowling Green State University-Main CampusBowling Green	$14,081	$56,625*	$54,976	$25,625*	0.45
University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnati	$13,570	$55,902*	—	$23,941*	0.43
Pima Community CollegeTucson	$2,370	$46,052*	—	$15,200*	0.33
National Median	—	$56,264*	—	$23,941*	0.43

* 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 North Carolina State University at Raleigh, approximately 19% 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 national median of 6 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.