Special Education Degree in Springfield, MO — Salary & ROI 2026
Special Education degree analysis for Springfield, MO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$40K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$44K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.2 yrs
in Springfield
Cost of Living
80
index (100 = avg)
Special Education in Springfield, MO Overview
While Springfield has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Special Education students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $13,383/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 Springfield is approximately $40,000.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$8,210/yr
Private Tuition
$33,330/yr
Room & Board
$13,383/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,942/yr
Unemployment
3.2%
Graduation Rate
52%
Special Education Salary in Springfield (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Springfield's cost of living index of 80 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Special Education salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $62,000 senior level.Springfield adjustment factor: 0.80x based on the local cost of living index.
Special Education ROI Calculator for Springfield
Estimate your return on investment for a Special Education degree using local Springfield tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,210 | Private avg: $33,330
Springfield avg aid: $13,942/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,372
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$12,000
vs HS diploma in Springfield
ROI Payback Period
7.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Springfield
$153,628
Lifetime earnings premium ($240,000) minus total education cost ($86,372)
Student Loan Payoff for Special Education in Springfield
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Springfield for Special Education
Missouri State University
public
$8,210/yr
$32,840 total
Drury University
private
$33,330/yr
$133,320 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Ozarks Technical Community College
$3,900/yr
Top Employers for Special Education in Springfield
Springfield offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Special Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Springfield Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Special Education Job Titles
Special Education in Nearby Missouri Cities
Kansas City, MO
$47K starting · COL 94
44 colleges
St. Louis, MO
$49K starting · COL 97
23 colleges
Columbia, MO
$42K starting · COL 84
10 colleges
Independence, MO
$43K starting · COL 85.8
5 colleges
Lee's Summit, MO
$48K starting · COL 95.5
4 colleges
OFallon, MO
$44K starting · COL 87.3
4 colleges
St. Joseph, MO
$45K starting · COL 90.4
3 colleges
St. Charles, MO
$42K starting · COL 83.4
3 colleges
Other Education Majors in Springfield
Instructional Design & Technology
$40K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$40K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$40K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Elementary Education
$40K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Education
$40K starting · 6 yr ROI
Physical Education
$40K starting · 5 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education
$40K starting · 6 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Special Education Degree in Springfield — 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 Springfield.