Special Education and Teaching at Ohio University-Zanesville Campus

Ohio University-Zanesville's Special Education program costs less to attend than most similar programs nationwide, but earns slightly below the national median for these graduates. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 is manageable—graduates leave with under $27,000 in debt and earn about $41,400 in their first year, meaning they could reasonably pay off loans within a few years on a teacher's salary. That said, the small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly with different cohorts.

What's more interesting is the state comparison. This program lands at the 60th percentile among Ohio's 43 special education programs—essentially middle-of-the-pack—despite being a regional campus. You're getting similar outcomes to the state median while potentially saving on living costs in Zanesville versus Columbus or Cincinnati. The top-earning programs in Ohio (Dayton, Ohio State) only pay about $3,000-4,000 more annually, a difference that narrows considerably after accounting for likely higher attendance costs at those flagship institutions.

For an anxious parent, the key question is whether your child is committed to special education teaching specifically. If yes, this program delivers appropriate preparation at a reasonable cost with manageable debt. The earnings are stable (growing modestly to $42,847 by year four) and align with what special education teachers typically earn in Ohio. Just remember these figures come from a limited number of graduates, so ask the program about typical placements and job outcomes to supplement what the federal data shows.