Special Education and Teaching at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

This post-bacc certificate lands graduates right at the median for special education teachers, with first-year earnings of $55,902—nearly identical to both the national and Ohio averages. However, it trails slightly behind the state median and ranks in just the 40th percentile among Ohio's three programs. For comparison, nearby Bowling Green places graduates about $700 higher. The $24,000 in debt results in a manageable 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates should be able to repay loans in roughly half a year's salary.

The real limitation here is the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates means one or two different career paths could swing these numbers significantly. Special education teaching also benefits from strong job security and public sector benefits that don't show up in these salary figures. The relatively accessible admissions at UC-Cincinnati (88% acceptance rate) means this could serve as a practical pathway for career-changers seeking teaching credentials.

For parents, this represents a solid entry point into a stable profession, though not necessarily the top value in Ohio. If your child is already committed to special education, this program delivers predictable outcomes at a reasonable debt level. Just know you're getting middle-of-the-pack results rather than exceptional value, and the small graduate numbers suggest this is a niche program worth investigating further before enrollment.