Special Education and Teaching at University of Nebraska at Omaha

UNO graduates start earning roughly $6,000 less than the state median for special education teachers, placing this program squarely in the bottom half among Nebraska's 13 schools. That's a meaningful gap given these are starting salaries in the same labor market—and it widens when you look at the state's top program at Lincoln, where graduates earn nearly $10,000 more right out of the gate. The silver lining is debt: at $22,860, UNO graduates owe about $4,000 less than typical Nebraska special education majors, making the financial picture more manageable despite the lower starting pay.

The strong earnings growth—43% by year four—brings graduates closer to competitive pay, but they're still playing catch-up. By that point, UNO grads earn $54,167, which is respectable for teaching but doesn't fully close the initial gap with peers from other Nebraska programs. The modest debt load means you're not drowning in payments while waiting for those salary increases to kick in, but this program ranks in just the 14th percentile nationally for earnings, suggesting Nebraska special education salaries lag significantly behind other states.

For families considering UNO: the accessible debt matters here, particularly if your child is committed to staying in Nebraska's education system. But if proximity to Lincoln is feasible, that program's $10,000 starting salary advantage compounds over a career and may be worth the comparison.