Special Education and Teaching at Providence College

Providence College graduates enter special education teaching with earnings that look strong nationally—87th percentile—but the Rhode Island context tells a more complicated story. At $49,664 in year one, graduates earn slightly less than the state median of $50,060, landing in the 40th percentile among RI programs. This matters because Rhode Island College, the public option, produces graduates earning essentially the same amount ($50,060) with identical debt loads of $27,000. Meanwhile, Salve Regina edges ahead at $51,308.

The bright spot here is healthy earnings growth of 11% by year four, reaching $55,130, and manageable debt. A 0.54 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates will spend roughly half their first-year salary paying off loans—reasonable for education, where predictable salary schedules and loan forgiveness programs can help. The $27,000 debt sits right at the national median, so Providence isn't overcharging relative to the broader market.

For families paying a premium over in-state tuition at URI or RIC, the question is whether Providence's private school experience justifies similar financial outcomes. If your child values the smaller class sizes and campus culture of a selective private college (49% admission rate, strong SAT scores), this works financially. But if maximizing return on investment is the priority, Rhode Island's public options deliver comparable teacher salaries without the tuition premium.