Special Education Degree in Lawton, OK — Salary & ROI 2026
Special Education degree analysis for Lawton, OK. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$41K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$45K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.8 yrs
in Lawton
Cost of Living
82.5
index (100 = avg)
Special Education in Lawton, OK Overview
While Lawton has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Special Education students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $12,675/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Special Education has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for IEP Development and Adaptive Instruction skills. The adjusted starting salary in Lawton is approximately $41,250.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$8,400/yr
Private Tuition
$24,000/yr
Room & Board
$12,675/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,482/yr
Unemployment
3.5%
Graduation Rate
74%
Special Education Salary in Lawton (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lawton's cost of living index of 82.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Special Education salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $62,000 senior level.Lawton adjustment factor: 0.82x based on the local cost of living index.
Special Education ROI Calculator for Lawton
Estimate your return on investment for a Special Education degree using local Lawton tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,400 | Private avg: $24,000
Lawton avg aid: $11,482/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$84,300
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,375
vs HS diploma in Lawton
ROI Payback Period
6.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lawton
$163,200
Lifetime earnings premium ($247,500) minus total education cost ($84,300)
Student Loan Payoff for Special Education in Lawton
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lawton for Special Education
Lawton State University
public
$9,205/yr
$36,820 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Lawton Community College
$4,912/yr
Top Employers for Special Education in Lawton
Lawton offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Special Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lawton Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Special Education Job Titles
Special Education in Nearby Oklahoma Cities
Oklahoma City, OK
$49K starting · COL 97
37 colleges
Tulsa, OK
$42K starting · COL 84
15 colleges
Norman, OK
$43K starting · COL 86
10 colleges
Broken Arrow, OK
$46K starting · COL 91.8
5 colleges
Edmond, OK
$48K starting · COL 95.2
4 colleges
Moore, OK
$45K starting · COL 89.3
3 colleges
Midwest City, OK
$46K starting · COL 91.1
3 colleges
Stillwater, OK
$44K starting · COL 87.3
3 colleges
Other Education Majors in Lawton
Instructional Design & Technology
$41K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$41K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$41K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Elementary Education
$41K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Education
$41K starting · 6 yr ROI
Physical Education
$41K starting · 5 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education
$41K starting · 6 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Special Education Degree in Lawton — 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 Lawton.