Special Education Degree in Arlington, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Special Education degree analysis for Arlington, TX. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$47K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$51K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.3 yrs
in Arlington
Cost of Living
93.5
index (100 = avg)
Special Education in Arlington, TX Overview
Arlington, Texas (pop. 394,266) has 14 colleges offering Special Education programs. The local cost of living index of 93.5 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $795/month. Special Education has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for IEP Development and Adaptive Instruction skills. The adjusted starting salary in Arlington is approximately $46,750.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$10,900/yr
Private Tuition
$36,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,627/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,822/yr
Unemployment
3.3%
Graduation Rate
51%
Special Education Salary in Arlington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Arlington's cost of living index of 93.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Special Education salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $62,000 senior level.Arlington adjustment factor: 0.94x based on the local cost of living index.
Special Education ROI Calculator for Arlington
Estimate your return on investment for a Special Education degree using local Arlington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,900 | Private avg: $36,000
Arlington avg aid: $14,822/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$102,108
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$14,025
vs HS diploma in Arlington
ROI Payback Period
7.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Arlington
$178,392
Lifetime earnings premium ($280,500) minus total education cost ($102,108)
Student Loan Payoff for Special Education in Arlington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Arlington for Special Education
Arlington State University
public
$11,254/yr
$45,016 total
University of Arlington
public
$12,320/yr
$49,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Arlington Community College
$5,331/yr
Texas Technical College - Arlington
$5,252/yr
Top Employers for Special Education in Arlington
Arlington offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Special Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Arlington Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Special Education Job Titles
Special Education in Nearby Texas Cities
Houston, TX
$58K starting · COL 115
90 colleges
San Antonio, TX
$60K starting · COL 120
58 colleges
Dallas, TX
$52K starting · COL 104
82 colleges
Austin, TX
$54K starting · COL 107
30 colleges
Fort Worth, TX
$51K starting · COL 101
19 colleges
El Paso, TX
$47K starting · COL 93
38 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$41K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Plano, TX
$43K starting · COL 85
9 colleges
Other Education Majors in Arlington
Instructional Design & Technology
$47K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$47K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$47K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Elementary Education
$47K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Education
$47K starting · 6 yr ROI
Physical Education
$47K starting · 5 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education
$47K starting · 6 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Special Education Degree in Arlington — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Special Education ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Arlington.