Special Education and Teaching (Bachelor's Degree) at Wisconsin Lutheran College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$46,978

Est. from WI median (10 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$27,000

Est. from national median (42 programs)

Analysis

Wisconsin's special education programs cluster tightly around $47,000 in first-year earnings, and Wisconsin Lutheran College appears to track with this state pattern. Based on comparable programs across Wisconsin, graduates here can expect starting salaries near $47,000—slightly above the national median for this field and in line with peer institutions like Concordia University-Wisconsin. The estimated $27,000 debt load translates to a manageable 0.57 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning you'd owe roughly seven months of gross salary.

Special education teaching represents one of education's more stable career paths, with consistent demand driven by federal mandates rather than district budget whims. The challenge is that earnings growth in this field tends to flatten quickly—what you earn in year one closely approximates what you'll earn in year five, barring advanced credentials. Similar programs in Wisconsin suggest this holds true regardless of which institution your child attends, with even UW-Madison's premium only reaching about $50,000.

The financial picture here is straightforward: reasonable debt for predictable, if modest, earnings in a field with strong job security. If your child is committed to special education specifically, Wisconsin Lutheran College offers comparable outcomes to larger state universities at similar cost. The real question is whether the teaching salary structure—steady but limited—aligns with your family's expectations for return on a four-year degree investment.

Where Wisconsin Lutheran College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Wisconsin

Special Education and Teaching bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Wisconsin (15 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Wisconsin Lutheran CollegeMilwaukee	$35,080	$46,978*	—	$27,000*	—
University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison	$11,205	$50,174*	$47,683	$22,863*	0.46
Carthage CollegeKenosha	$36,500	$48,593*	$43,911	$25,954*	0.53
University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeMilwaukee	$10,020	$48,378*	—	$26,375*	0.55
University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterWhitewater	$8,250	$47,592*	$47,106	$27,000*	0.57
Concordia University-WisconsinMequon	$34,250	$47,295*	—	—*	—
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 Wisconsin Lutheran College, approximately 25% 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 10 similar programs in WI. Actual outcomes may vary.