Special Education and Teaching at University of Georgia

University of Georgia's special education certificate program shows first-year earnings of $60,817—well above the national median for this credential and matching Georgia's state median. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.32 is manageable, meaning graduates earn roughly three times their debt in their first year. However, with only two schools in Georgia offering this post-baccalaureate certificate, you're looking at limited comparison data, and the small graduate cohort (under 30) means these numbers could shift significantly year to year.

The $19,500 in median debt sits below the national average for this program, which matters for a field where starting salaries typically hover in the mid-$50,000s. UGA's combination of lower-than-average debt and higher-than-average earnings creates a relatively favorable entry point into special education. The credential's structure—designed for career changers who already hold bachelor's degrees—explains why students can complete it quickly with moderate borrowing.

For parents whose child already has a bachelor's degree and wants to transition into special education teaching, this program offers a reasonably efficient path. The caveat: verify current class sizes and cohort outcomes directly with UGA, since small sample sizes mean one outlier year could dramatically affect these medians. The fundamentals look solid, but you're working with limited trend data.