Special Education and Teaching at Roosevelt University

Roosevelt serves nearly half its students from Pell-eligible families, and the estimated $25,000 debt load for this special education program sits just above Illinois' state median while producing earnings in line with typical Illinois outcomes at around $46,200. For a field where starting salaries cluster tightly—even top programs in the state like U of I only reach about $52,000—this debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54 represents a manageable starting point.

What matters most here is that special education teaching offers relatively stable, predictable earnings regardless of where you earn your degree. The estimated first-year salary based on comparable Illinois programs matches the state median exactly, suggesting Roosevelt graduates likely enter the same salary schedules as teachers from more selective institutions. The $25,000 debt estimate, while not negligible, translates to roughly six months of gross salary—a ratio that public service loan forgiveness programs and teacher-specific repayment assistance can make more workable.

The real consideration isn't whether Roosevelt's program delivers good value—similar Illinois programs suggest it does—but whether teaching special education aligns with your child's temperament for the work itself. The salary ceiling is real, but so is the loan forgiveness infrastructure built specifically for educators. If your child is committed to teaching, these estimated numbers suggest a viable path forward.