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

UNM's special education program operates in a challenging landscape—earnings barely exceed $41,000 and stay essentially flat over four years. While that might sound concerning, context matters here: this program sits in the 60th percentile statewide, meaning it outperforms most New Mexico alternatives. The state median for special education graduates is just $36,955, and even New Mexico State—another major option—produces lower initial earnings at $31,963.

The debt picture tells two stories. At $22,250, graduates borrow less than both the national median ($26,717) and carry a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53. That's reasonable given typical teacher salaries. However, the 78th percentile national debt ranking suggests many programs nationwide send graduates into the field owing even less. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift significantly with more data, but the directional message is consistent: this is an accessible program preparing students for New Mexico's teaching market at a price that won't cripple them.

For families committed to special education teaching in New Mexico, this program delivers competitive preparation without excessive debt. The earnings reflect the reality of teaching salaries in the state rather than program quality issues. Just understand your child will likely enter and remain at around $41,000 annually—adequate for New Mexico's cost of living, but not a path to high earnings.