Special Education and Teaching at University of Arkansas

University of Arkansas's special education program graduates earn slightly below both the national median ($44,139) and Arkansas state median ($44,018), landing at the 40th percentile among in-state programs. That's not necessarily a dealbreaker given teaching's predictable salary structure, but it means this isn't among the state's stronger options—University of Central Arkansas graduates, for instance, start about $600 higher annually. The real issue is debt: at $20,500, graduates carry the 86th percentile nationally in student loans, meaning only 14% of programs saddle students with more debt. While still manageable with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47, that's higher than ideal for a helping profession with compressed salary scales.

The good news is that $20,500 in debt translates to roughly $230 in monthly payments—challenging but workable on a special education teacher's salary, especially considering Arkansas's lower cost of living. However, these numbers come from fewer than 30 graduates, so they could shift significantly year to year. If your child has firm offers from multiple Arkansas education programs, compare debt loads carefully; graduating with $15,000 instead of $20,500 makes a real difference when living on a teacher's salary. The career itself offers job security and loan forgiveness options, but this particular program doesn't stand out as offering exceptional preparation relative to debt incurred.