Bachelor's-2% vs national median611 grads tracked
Special Education and Teaching at Western Illinois University
Ranked 68th of 138 bachelor's programs in Special Education and Teaching by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$43,763
middle 50%: $34,568 – $51,966
Median · 5 years out
$55,084
middle 50%: $46,865 – $65,415
Median · 10 years out
$64,702
middle 50%: $53,783 – $78,386
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
Special Education and Teaching graduates earn a $44k median salary in their first year. This grows to $65k after ten years.
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
7.3 yrs
≈ $8,304 total interest
Same major at other universities
Coastal Carolina University
$55,789 · 5 yrs out
University of Georgia
$55,704 · 5 yrs out
St. Cloud State University
$55,604 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
$55,592 · 5 yrs out
Indiana University - Bloomington
$55,256 · 5 yrs out
Augusta University
$55,119 · 5 yrs out
Shawnee State University
$54,993 · 5 yrs out
Kent State University
$54,903 · 5 yrs out
SUNY Buffalo State University
$54,891 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
$54,601 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota State University Moorhead
$54,481 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
$54,424 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Western Illinois University
Education (Doctorate)
$163,593 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$107,538 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$98,269 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Master's)
$97,417 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Master's)
$97,160 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,133 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Bachelor's)
$96,422 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$84,414 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$82,090 · 5 yrs out
Construction Management (Bachelor's)
$82,014 · 5 yrs out
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General (Bachelor's)
$81,320 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$80,729 · 5 yrs out