Special Education Degree in Madison, WI — Salary & ROI 2026
Special Education degree analysis for Madison, WI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$45K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$49K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.8 yrs
in Madison
Cost of Living
89
index (100 = avg)
Special Education in Madison, WI Overview
Madison, Wisconsin (pop. 269,840) has 11 colleges offering Special Education programs. The local cost of living index of 89 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $902/month. Special Education has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for IEP Development and Adaptive Instruction skills. The adjusted starting salary in Madison is approximately $44,500.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$10,725/yr
Private Tuition
$33,350/yr
Room & Board
$11,942/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,815/yr
Unemployment
5.7%
Graduation Rate
73%
Special Education Salary in Madison (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Madison's cost of living index of 89 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Special Education salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $62,000 senior level.Madison adjustment factor: 0.89x based on the local cost of living index.
Special Education ROI Calculator for Madison
Estimate your return on investment for a Special Education degree using local Madison tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,725 | Private avg: $33,350
Madison avg aid: $15,815/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$90,668
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,350
vs HS diploma in Madison
ROI Payback Period
6.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Madison
$176,332
Lifetime earnings premium ($267,000) minus total education cost ($90,668)
Student Loan Payoff for Special Education in Madison
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Madison for Special Education
University of Wisconsin-Madison
public
$10,725/yr
$42,900 total
Edgewood College
private
$33,350/yr
$133,400 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Madison Area Technical College
$4,632/yr
Top Employers for Special Education in Madison
Madison offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Special Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Madison Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Special Education Job Titles
Special Education in Nearby Wisconsin Cities
Milwaukee, WI
$47K starting · COL 94
33 colleges
Green Bay, WI
$43K starting · COL 86
6 colleges
Kenosha, WI
$53K starting · COL 106
8 colleges
Racine, WI
$43K starting · COL 85.8
4 colleges
Appleton, WI
$40K starting · COL 79
6 colleges
Waukesha, WI
$45K starting · COL 90.5
3 colleges
Eau Claire, WI
$43K starting · COL 86
2 colleges
Oshkosh, WI
$54K starting · COL 107
3 colleges
Other Education Majors in Madison
Instructional Design & Technology
$45K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$45K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$45K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Elementary Education
$45K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Education
$45K starting · 6 yr ROI
Physical Education
$45K starting · 5 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education
$45K starting · 6 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Special Education Degree in Madison — 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 Madison.