Special Education Degree in Pueblo, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
Special Education degree analysis for Pueblo, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$61K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$67K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.8 yrs
in Pueblo
Cost of Living
122
index (100 = avg)
Special Education in Pueblo, CO Overview
Pueblo, Colorado (pop. 111,876) has 13 colleges offering Special Education programs. The local cost of living index of 122 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,055/month. Special Education has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for IEP Development and Adaptive Instruction skills. The adjusted starting salary in Pueblo is approximately $61,000.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
13
Public Tuition
$10,380/yr
Private Tuition
$39,631/yr
Room & Board
$16,375/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,147/yr
Unemployment
5.6%
Graduation Rate
48%
Special Education Salary in Pueblo (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Pueblo's cost of living index of 122 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Special Education salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $62,000 senior level.Pueblo adjustment factor: 1.22x based on the local cost of living index.
Special Education ROI Calculator for Pueblo
Estimate your return on investment for a Special Education degree using local Pueblo tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,380 | Private avg: $39,631
Pueblo avg aid: $7,147/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$107,020
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,300
vs HS diploma in Pueblo
ROI Payback Period
5.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Pueblo
$258,980
Lifetime earnings premium ($366,000) minus total education cost ($107,020)
Student Loan Payoff for Special Education in Pueblo
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Pueblo for Special Education
Colorado State University-Pueblo
public
$10,380/yr
$41,520 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Pueblo Community College
$4,419/yr
Top Employers for Special Education in Pueblo
Pueblo offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Special Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Pueblo Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Special Education Job Titles
Special Education in Nearby Colorado Cities
Denver, CO
$64K starting · COL 128
31 colleges
Colorado Springs, CO
$61K starting · COL 122
22 colleges
Aurora, CO
$56K starting · COL 111
28 colleges
Fort Collins, CO
$63K starting · COL 126
5 colleges
Lakewood, CO
$53K starting · COL 105.8
6 colleges
Thornton, CO
$51K starting · COL 102.5
6 colleges
Arvada, CO
$53K starting · COL 105.5
5 colleges
Westminster, CO
$52K starting · COL 103.8
5 colleges
Other Education Majors in Pueblo
Instructional Design & Technology
$61K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$61K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$61K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Elementary Education
$61K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Education
$61K starting · 6 yr ROI
Physical Education
$61K starting · 5 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education
$61K starting · 6 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Special Education Degree in Pueblo — 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 Pueblo.