Special Education and Teaching (Bachelor's Degree) at William Woods University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$37,450

Est. from MO median (7 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$30,051

Est. from MO median (4 programs)

Analysis

Missouri's special education programs cluster tightly in earnings, with comparable Bachelor's programs typically producing first-year salaries around $37,450—about $6,700 below the national median for this field. William Woods' estimated figures align with this state pattern, though that's notably lower than what special education teachers earn elsewhere in the country.

The estimated $30,051 in debt sits above Missouri's typical $26,250 for this credential, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.80. That's manageable compared to many fields, but when your estimated starting salary is already trailing national benchmarks by 15%, the extra debt matters more. Similar programs at Missouri State and Northwest Missouri State appear to produce comparable earnings with lower debt loads, suggesting William Woods may be pricing itself above the value it delivers for this particular degree.

Special education consistently offers strong job security and the intrinsic rewards of meaningful work, but the financial picture here is straightforward: you're looking at below-average earnings for the profession combined with above-average debt for Missouri. If your child is committed to this path, compare the actual debt packages William Woods offers against Missouri's larger public universities, which seem to produce similar outcomes at lower cost. The limitation here isn't the career choice—it's paying premium tuition for below-average returns in a state where cheaper alternatives exist.

Where William Woods University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all special education and teaching bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Missouri

Special Education and Teaching bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Missouri (17 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
William Woods UniversityFulton	$28,860	$37,450*	—	$30,051*	—
Missouri State University-SpringfieldSpringfield	$9,024	$38,250*	$35,842	$22,500*	0.59
Northwest Missouri State UniversityMaryville	$10,181	$38,040*	$39,625	$26,250*	0.69
University of Missouri-ColumbiaColumbia	$14,130	$37,547*	$39,236	$20,357*	0.54
Southeast Missouri State UniversityCape Girardeau	$9,496	$37,450*	$35,277	$25,000*	0.67
Fontbonne UniversitySaint Louis	$28,976	$36,791*	—	$45,511*	1.24
National Median	—	$44,139*	—	$26,717*	0.61

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with special education and teaching graduates

Education Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to education, such as counseling, curriculum, guidance, instruction, teacher education, and teaching English as a second language. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Special Education Teachers, Preschool

Teach academic, social, and life skills to preschool-aged students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.

$64,270/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Special Education Teachers, Middle School

Teach academic, social, and life skills to middle school students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.

$64,270/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Special Education Teachers, Secondary School

Teach academic, social, and life skills to secondary school students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.

$64,270/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Special Education Teachers, All Other

All special education teachers not listed separately.

$64,270/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Adapted Physical Education Specialists

Provide individualized physical education instruction or services to children, youth, or adults with exceptional physical needs due to gross motor developmental delays or other impairments.

$64,270/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Interpreters and Translators

Interpret oral or sign language, or translate written text from one language into another.

$59,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten

Teach academic, social, and life skills to kindergarten students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.

Special Education Teachers, Elementary School

Teach academic, social, and life skills to elementary school students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.

Teaching Assistants, Special Education

Assist a preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary school teacher to provide academic, social, or life skills to students who have learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Serve in a position for which a teacher has primary responsibility for the design and implementation of educational programs and services.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At William Woods University, approximately 30% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 7 similar programs in MO. Actual outcomes may vary.