Special Education and Teaching (Bachelor's Degree) at Salve Regina University

Median Earnings (1yr)

$51,308

95th percentile

Median Debt

$27,000

1% above national median

Analysis

Salve Regina's graduates earn $51,308 in their first year—$7,000 above the national median for special education programs and placing them in the 95th percentile nationally. That's an impressive premium for a field where starting salaries are notoriously constrained. With just $27,000 in debt (well below the national median), graduates face manageable repayment at about half their annual salary.

The state context is worth noting: among Rhode Island's three programs, this sits in the middle of the pack at the 60th percentile, essentially matching the state median of $50,060. Rhode Island College graduates earn roughly the same, while Providence College trails slightly behind. The consistency across Rhode Island programs suggests the state's special education teacher market may simply pay well rather than this being unique to Salve Regina.

The caveat here is sample size—with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, a few outliers could skew these numbers significantly. But assuming the data holds, you're looking at above-average starting pay nationwide with reasonable debt, making this one of the more financially sound special education programs available. For a Rhode Island family specifically, it's competitive with in-state alternatives but doesn't dramatically outperform them.

Where Salve Regina University Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Salve Regina University 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
Salve Regina University	$51,308	$53,660	+5%
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign	$51,922	$61,326	+18%
Western Washington University	$52,912	$58,469	+11%
Providence College	$49,664	$55,130	+11%
Rhode Island College	$50,060	$50,947	+2%

Compare to Similar Programs in Rhode Island

Special Education and Teaching bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Rhode Island (3 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Salve Regina UniversityNewport	$47,930	$51,308	$53,660	$27,000	0.53
Rhode Island CollegeProvidence	$10,986	$50,060	$50,947	$29,851	0.60
Providence CollegeProvidence	$60,848	$49,664	$55,130	$27,000	0.54
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 Salve Regina University, approximately 15% 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 19 graduates with reported earnings and 31 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.