Special Education and Teaching (Bachelor's Degree) at Ohio University-Lancaster Campus

Median Earnings (1yr)

$41,362

31st percentile

60th percentile in Ohio

Median Debt

$26,950

1% above national median

Analysis

With only a handful of graduates in the data, these numbers should be treated cautiously, but they reveal something important about Ohio's special education teaching market: starting salaries cluster tightly across institutions. Ohio University-Lancaster's graduates earn exactly the state median at $41,362, placing them ahead of 60% of Ohio programs—a respectable middle-of-the-pack position. Even top programs like Ohio State and Dayton only earn 9-10% more, suggesting that teacher salary scales compress differences between schools.

The $26,950 debt load is manageable for a teaching career, with graduates owing about 8 months of their first-year salary. Earnings tick up modestly to $42,847 by year four, typical for early-career teachers moving through standard pay steps. The real question is whether this regional campus offers the clinical placements and licensure support you'd get at larger programs—especially since you're paying similar debt for slightly lower earnings than you'd see at Ohio State's main campus.

For families seeking an affordable path to special education teaching in central Ohio, this program delivers reasonable value. Just verify the small cohort size reflects program capacity rather than retention issues, and confirm graduates are successfully obtaining their teaching licenses.

Where Ohio University-Lancaster Campus Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Ohio University-Lancaster Campus graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Ohio University-Lancaster Campus	$41,362	$42,847	+4%
University of Dayton	$45,260	$44,985	-1%
University of Toledo	$40,952	$44,030	+8%
Ohio State University-Main Campus	$45,213	$43,720	-3%
Miami University-Oxford	$41,871	$43,240	+3%

Compare to Similar Programs in Ohio

Special Education and Teaching bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Ohio (43 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Ohio University-Lancaster CampusLancaster	$6,178	$41,362	$42,847	$26,950	0.65
University of DaytonDayton	$47,600	$45,260	$44,985	$20,612	0.46
Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus	$12,859	$45,213	$43,720	$26,899	0.59
Capital UniversityColumbus	$41,788	$42,709	$40,804	$27,000	0.63
University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnati	$13,570	$42,347	—	$25,046	0.59
Miami University-OxfordOxford	$17,809	$41,871	$43,240	$27,000	0.64
National Median	—	$44,139	—	$26,717	0.61

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 Ohio University-Lancaster Campus, approximately 9% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 27 graduates with reported earnings and 36 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.