Special Education and Teaching at University of Central Missouri

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could swing significantly with just a few data points, but the pattern warrants attention: earnings actually decline slightly over the first four years, from $36,365 to $35,661. This places the program below Missouri State-Springfield ($38,250) and several other in-state alternatives, though it sits right at the state's median for special education programs. The $26,000 debt load is standard for this field, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71 that's manageable but tight on a teacher's starting salary.

What's most concerning is the national comparison—this program ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally for special education graduates, falling about $8,000 behind the national median of $44,139. Even accounting for Missouri's lower cost of living, that's a meaningful gap. Special education teachers earn relatively consistent salaries regardless of school prestige, so the fact that Missouri's other public universities are producing graduates who earn $1,500-2,000 more suggests the difference may lie in placement support or geographic reach.

If your child is committed to special education and Central Missouri specifically appeals to them, the debt level won't sink them financially. But with comparable tuition costs across Missouri's public universities, programs like Missouri State or Northwest Missouri State appear to deliver modestly better earnings outcomes for the same investment.