Special Education and Teaching at Notre Dame College

Notre Dame College's special education program produces graduates earning roughly $35,800 in their first year—about $8,500 below Ohio's median for this field and nearly $9,000 below the national average. While the program sits at the 40th percentile among Ohio schools (meaning half the state's programs do worse), that's partly because special education salaries in Ohio already lag national norms. The debt load of $30,750 exceeds both state and national medians, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.86 that will require careful budgeting in those early teaching years.

The concerning part is the minimal earnings growth: just $600 over four years. Compare that trajectory to top Ohio programs like University of Dayton ($45,260) or Ohio State ($45,213), which start $10,000 higher and typically show stronger growth curves. That $10,000 annual gap compounds significantly when you're also managing student loans.

Important caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so individual circumstances could vary widely. Still, for families considering this investment, the combination of below-average starting salaries and above-average debt suggests exploring Ohio's stronger-performing programs first. Special education teachers do vital work, but starting your career $10,000 behind comparable programs while carrying more debt makes financial independence harder to achieve.