Special Education and Teaching at University of Wisconsin-Parkside

Looking at comparable special education programs across Wisconsin, this bachelor's degree appears to track right at the state median—with estimated first-year earnings around $47,000 and debt near $27,000. That puts the debt-to-earnings ratio at 0.57, meaning graduates would owe roughly seven months of their starting salary. For a teaching profession with clear salary schedules and steady employment, that's manageable.

What's less clear is where UW-Parkside fits within Wisconsin's range. The state's top-performing programs—UW-Madison, Carthage, UW-Milwaukee—report earnings between $47,300 and $50,200, suggesting there's variation even when starting salaries are largely determined by district pay scales. Geography matters here: where graduates land their first teaching job affects both earnings and debt payoff timelines. Kenosha's location between Milwaukee and Chicago could work in graduates' favor if they're willing to commute to higher-paying districts.

The limitation is real—without actual graduate outcomes from this specific program, you're betting on UW-Parkside performing like the typical Wisconsin special education program. Given the field's stability and the reasonable debt load, that's probably a safe bet for someone committed to special education. Just know you're making this decision with state-level projections, not proof that this particular program delivers.