Special Education and Teaching at University of Nevada-Las Vegas

UNLV's special education program delivers strong national results—ranking in the 88th percentile for earnings compared to programs across the country—but sits in the middle of Nevada's small field of teacher preparation programs. The $49,827 starting salary beats most special education programs nationwide, though Nevada State's graduates edge ahead by about $3,000. More impressive is the debt picture: at just $11,000, UNLV graduates carry less than half the typical burden for this degree, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.22 that most teachers would envy.

Here's the complication: with only three special education programs in Nevada and fewer than 30 graduates tracked in this dataset, these numbers may not tell the complete story. The modest 4% earnings growth over four years is typical for teaching positions with lockstep salary schedules, but the small sample makes it hard to know if this pattern holds consistently. For a 96% admission rate school serving many first-generation students (40% receive Pell grants), the combination of accessible entry and manageable debt creates a practical pathway into a high-demand field.

If your child is Nevada-focused and committed to special education, UNLV offers a financially sensible option with above-average national outcomes and minimal debt. Just understand that Nevada State shows slightly higher earnings potential, and these figures should be confirmed with the university given the limited sample size.