Special Education Degree in El Paso, TX — Salary & ROI 2026
Special Education degree analysis for El Paso, 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
6.5 yrs
in El Paso
Cost of Living
93
index (100 = avg)
Special Education in El Paso, TX Overview
El Paso is one of Texas's top college towns, with 38 institutions and a student population of 26,186. Public tuition averages $8,886/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Special Education has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for IEP Development and Adaptive Instruction skills. The adjusted starting salary in El Paso is approximately $46,500.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
38
Public Tuition
$8,886/yr
Private Tuition
$12,800/yr
Room & Board
$13,953/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,714/yr
Unemployment
4.4%
Graduation Rate
56%
Special Education Salary in El Paso (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for El Paso's cost of living index of 93 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Special Education salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $62,000 senior level.El Paso adjustment factor: 0.93x based on the local cost of living index.
Special Education ROI Calculator for El Paso
Estimate your return on investment for a Special Education degree using local El Paso tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,886 | Private avg: $12,800
El Paso avg aid: $16,714/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$91,356
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,950
vs HS diploma in El Paso
ROI Payback Period
6.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in El Paso
$187,644
Lifetime earnings premium ($279,000) minus total education cost ($91,356)
Student Loan Payoff for Special Education in El Paso
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in El Paso for Special Education
University of Texas at El Paso
public
$8,592/yr
$34,368 total
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso
public
$9,180/yr
$36,720 total
Western Technical College
private
$12,800/yr
$51,200 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
El Paso Community College
$2,616/yr
Top Employers for Special Education in El Paso
El Paso offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Special Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key El Paso 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
Arlington, TX
$47K starting · COL 93.5
14 colleges
Corpus Christi, TX
$41K starting · COL 82
22 colleges
Plano, TX
$43K starting · COL 85
9 colleges
Other Education Majors in El Paso
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 El Paso — 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 El Paso.