Associate0% vs national median258 grads tracked
Special Education and Teaching at Tidewater Community College
Ranked 5th of 9 associate programs in Special Education and Teaching by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$27,615
middle 50%: $22,477 – $34,133
Median · 5 years out
$30,990
middle 50%: $25,323 – $38,655
Median · 10 years out
$32,406
middle 50%: $25,242 – $44,129
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Special Education and Teaching (associate) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Special Education associate degree holders earn $28k initially. Year 10 median pay is $32k.
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
15.5 yrs
≈ $18,237 total interest
Same major at other universities
Northern Virginia Community College
$44,700 · 5 yrs out
Chemeketa Community College
$37,821 · 5 yrs out
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
$35,474 · 5 yrs out
Brightpoint Community College
$32,393 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Peninsula Community College
$29,833 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Western Community College
$29,599 · 5 yrs out
Danville Community College
$29,433 · 5 yrs out
Southwest Virginia Community College
$22,848 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Tidewater Community College
Engineering (Associate)
$81,090 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Associate)
$81,090 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$80,325 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$78,072 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$76,554 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$74,996 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Associate)
$74,643 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Associate)
$74,643 · 5 yrs out
Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$74,301 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate)
$72,218 · 5 yrs out
Visual and Performing Arts (Certificate)
$70,012 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$69,841 · 5 yrs out