Special Education and Teaching at University of New Hampshire-Main Campus

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59 suggests manageable borrowing, but the bigger question is whether these estimated figures—drawn from national medians across similar programs—reflect New Hampshire's higher-cost reality. Special education teachers in the state face median debt closer to $30,000 according to peer programs here, nearly $4,000 above what UNH graduates might carry based on this estimate. That gap matters when first-year salaries hover around $44,000, a starting point that's typical for the field nationally but doesn't account for New Hampshire's above-average cost of living.

The teaching profession's structured salary schedules mean earnings grow predictably but slowly, making that initial debt burden particularly important to manage. UNH's relatively high admission rate and moderate academic profile suggest this program serves a broad range of students entering a field with consistent demand but compressed pay scales. The 18% Pell grant rate indicates the school primarily serves middle-income families who will likely need to borrow.

Without actual outcome data for UNH's program specifically, families should verify current job placement rates and compare total cost of attendance against in-state alternatives. The estimated numbers suggest reasonable but not exceptional value—worthwhile if this program offers strong clinical placements or clear paths into New Hampshire districts, but worth shopping around given the state has six other options.