Special Education Degree in Rochester, NY — Salary & ROI 2026
Special Education degree analysis for Rochester, NY. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$70K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$77K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.7 yrs
in Rochester
Cost of Living
140
index (100 = avg)
Special Education in Rochester, NY Overview
Rochester, New York (pop. 211,328) has 13 colleges offering Special Education programs. The local cost of living index of 140 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,592/month. Special Education has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for IEP Development and Adaptive Instruction skills. The adjusted starting salary in Rochester is approximately $70,000.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
13
Public Tuition
$13,886/yr
Private Tuition
$56,653/yr
Room & Board
$21,356/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,325/yr
Unemployment
5.8%
Graduation Rate
46%
Special Education Salary in Rochester (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Rochester's cost of living index of 140 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Special Education salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $62,000 senior level.Rochester adjustment factor: 1.40x based on the local cost of living index.
Special Education ROI Calculator for Rochester
Estimate your return on investment for a Special Education degree using local Rochester tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $13,886 | Private avg: $56,653
Rochester avg aid: $10,325/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$140,968
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$21,000
vs HS diploma in Rochester
ROI Payback Period
6.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Rochester
$279,032
Lifetime earnings premium ($420,000) minus total education cost ($140,968)
Student Loan Payoff for Special Education in Rochester
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Rochester for Special Education
University of Rochester
private
$60,550/yr
$242,200 total
Rochester Institute of Technology
private
$52,756/yr
$211,024 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Monroe Community College
$5,504/yr
Top Employers for Special Education in Rochester
Rochester offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Special Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Rochester Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Special Education Job Titles
Special Education in Nearby New York Cities
New York City, NY
$83K starting · COL 166
49 colleges
New York, NY
$94K starting · COL 187.2
279 colleges
Oyster Bay, NY
$73K starting · COL 145
11 colleges
Buffalo, NY
$61K starting · COL 122
10 colleges
North Hempstead, NY
$71K starting · COL 141.3
9 colleges
Babylon, NY
$76K starting · COL 152.3
8 colleges
Yonkers, NY
$73K starting · COL 145.3
8 colleges
Huntington, NY
$68K starting · COL 135.6
8 colleges
Other Education Majors in Rochester
Instructional Design & Technology
$70K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$70K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$70K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Elementary Education
$70K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Education
$70K starting · 6 yr ROI
Physical Education
$70K starting · 5 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education
$70K starting · 6 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Special Education Degree in Rochester — 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 Rochester.