WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+7% vs national median1,580 grads tracked

Special Education and Teaching at Northern Illinois University

Ranked 33rd of 138 bachelor's programs in Special Education and Teaching by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$48,380
middle 50%: $38,688 – $56,269
Median · 5 years out
$59,848
middle 50%: $51,570 – $68,929
Median · 10 years out
$71,316
middle 50%: $59,543 – $84,786

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Special Education and Teaching (bachelor's) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Northern Illinois University's bachelor's program in Special Education and Teaching earn a median $48,380 one year after graduating, rising to $71,316 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 7% above the national median of $56,089 for this field, ranking 33rd of 138 reporting programs.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
6.7 yrs
≈ $7,436 total interest

Same major at other universities

Illinois State University
$60,852 · 5 yrs out
Weber State University
$60,837 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
$60,257 · 5 yrs out
SUNY College at Geneseo
$60,237 · 5 yrs out
Utah State University
$60,045 · 5 yrs out
Lewis University
$60,006 · 5 yrs out
Miami University
$59,568 · 5 yrs out
Ohio State University (The)
$58,980 · 5 yrs out
Aurora University
$58,858 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Madison
$58,480 · 5 yrs out
University of Toledo
$58,238 · 5 yrs out
State University of New York at Plattsburgh
$58,150 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Northern Illinois University

Education (Doctorate)
$119,874 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$115,599 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$111,551 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$111,291 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$109,443 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$102,156 · 5 yrs out
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,392 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$97,297 · 5 yrs out
Public Administration and Social Service Professions (Master's)
$95,329 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$95,041 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Master's)
$93,400 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$92,787 · 5 yrs out

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