Special Education and Teaching at University of Maryland-College Park

Maryland special education teachers typically earn strong salaries—the state median for this field sits at $53,331—but this program's estimated first-year earnings of $44,139 fall notably short of that benchmark. Based on comparable programs nationally, graduates start about $9,000 below what Maryland's education market typically pays. The four-year earnings figure of $56,658 does eventually approach and slightly exceed the state norm, suggesting meaningful salary growth through the early career years, but that slow start matters for managing debt.

The estimated debt load of $26,023 creates a manageable ratio of 0.59 to first-year earnings, which falls within reasonable territory for education majors. Similar programs nationwide typically produce debt around $26,717, so this tracks with field norms. Special education positions offer job security and benefits that raw salary figures don't capture—teacher pension systems and summer breaks have real financial value—but the initial earnings gap compared to other Maryland programs deserves scrutiny.

If your child is committed to special education and values UMD's strong academic reputation (that 1463 SAT average signals serious peers), this could work. The debt isn't crushing, and Maryland's teacher salaries do climb. But the estimated figures suggest this program either starts graduates at less competitive salary scales or places more alumni outside Maryland's higher-paying districts. Before committing, find out where recent graduates actually land jobs and what those districts pay.