Special Education Degree in Riverside, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Special Education degree analysis for Riverside, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$60K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$65K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7 yrs
in Riverside
Cost of Living
119
index (100 = avg)
Special Education in Riverside, CA Overview
Riverside, California (pop. 314,998) has 20 colleges offering Special Education programs. The local cost of living index of 119 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,489/month. Special Education has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for IEP Development and Adaptive Instruction skills. The adjusted starting salary in Riverside is approximately $59,500.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
20
Public Tuition
$14,169/yr
Private Tuition
$57,035/yr
Room & Board
$17,117/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,701/yr
Unemployment
3%
Graduation Rate
71%
Special Education Salary in Riverside (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Riverside's cost of living index of 119 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Special Education salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $62,000 senior level.Riverside adjustment factor: 1.19x based on the local cost of living index.
Special Education ROI Calculator for Riverside
Estimate your return on investment for a Special Education degree using local Riverside tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,169 | Private avg: $57,035
Riverside avg aid: $13,701/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$125,144
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$17,850
vs HS diploma in Riverside
ROI Payback Period
7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Riverside
$231,856
Lifetime earnings premium ($357,000) minus total education cost ($125,144)
Student Loan Payoff for Special Education in Riverside
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Riverside for Special Education
University of California, Riverside
public
$14,169/yr
$56,676 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Riverside City College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Special Education in Riverside
Riverside offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Special Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Riverside Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Special Education Job Titles
Special Education in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$71K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$70K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$65K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$57K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$59K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$56K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$58K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$66K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other Education Majors in Riverside
Instructional Design & Technology
$60K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$60K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$60K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Elementary Education
$60K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Education
$60K starting · 6 yr ROI
Physical Education
$60K starting · 5 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education
$60K starting · 6 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Special Education Degree in Riverside — 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 Riverside.