Special Education Degree in Bellevue, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Special Education degree analysis for Bellevue, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$89K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$98K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.5 yrs
in Bellevue
Cost of Living
178.5
index (100 = avg)
Special Education in Bellevue, WA Overview
Bellevue, Washington (pop. 151,854) has 6 colleges offering Special Education programs. The local cost of living index of 178.5 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $3,300/month. Special Education has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for IEP Development and Adaptive Instruction skills. The adjusted starting salary in Bellevue is approximately $89,250.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$11,800/yr
Private Tuition
$40,000/yr
Room & Board
$18,115/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,339/yr
Unemployment
4%
Graduation Rate
47%
Special Education Salary in Bellevue (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Bellevue's cost of living index of 178.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Special Education salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $62,000 senior level.Bellevue adjustment factor: 1.78x based on the local cost of living index.
Special Education ROI Calculator for Bellevue
Estimate your return on investment for a Special Education degree using local Bellevue tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,800 | Private avg: $40,000
Bellevue avg aid: $12,339/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$119,660
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$26,775
vs HS diploma in Bellevue
ROI Payback Period
4.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Bellevue
$415,840
Lifetime earnings premium ($535,500) minus total education cost ($119,660)
Student Loan Payoff for Special Education in Bellevue
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Bellevue for Special Education
Bellevue State University
public
$11,349/yr
$45,396 total
University of Bellevue
public
$11,803/yr
$47,212 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Bellevue Community College
$7,512/yr
Top Employers for Special Education in Bellevue
Bellevue offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Special Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Bellevue Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Special Education Job Titles
Special Education in Nearby Washington Cities
Seattle, WA
$60K starting · COL 120
16 colleges
Spokane, WA
$61K starting · COL 121
20 colleges
Tacoma, WA
$57K starting · COL 113
25 colleges
Vancouver, WA
$54K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Kent, WA
$58K starting · COL 115.8
6 colleges
Everett, WA
$59K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Renton, WA
$61K starting · COL 122.5
5 colleges
Spokane Valley, WA
$62K starting · COL 123.1
4 colleges
Other Education Majors in Bellevue
Instructional Design & Technology
$89K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$89K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$89K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Elementary Education
$89K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Education
$89K starting · 6 yr ROI
Physical Education
$89K starting · 5 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education
$89K starting · 6 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Special Education Degree in Bellevue — 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 Bellevue.