Special Education Degree in Thornton, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
Special Education degree analysis for Thornton, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$51K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$56K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.9 yrs
in Thornton
Cost of Living
102.5
index (100 = avg)
Special Education in Thornton, CO Overview
Thornton, Colorado (pop. 141,867) has 6 colleges offering Special Education programs. The local cost of living index of 102.5 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,335/month. Special Education has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for IEP Development and Adaptive Instruction skills. The adjusted starting salary in Thornton is approximately $51,250.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$12,200/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,219/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,102/yr
Unemployment
2.9%
Graduation Rate
67%
Special Education Salary in Thornton (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Thornton's cost of living index of 102.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Special Education salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $62,000 senior level.Thornton adjustment factor: 1.02x based on the local cost of living index.
Special Education ROI Calculator for Thornton
Estimate your return on investment for a Special Education degree using local Thornton tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,200 | Private avg: $38,000
Thornton avg aid: $8,102/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$105,676
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,375
vs HS diploma in Thornton
ROI Payback Period
6.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Thornton
$201,824
Lifetime earnings premium ($307,500) minus total education cost ($105,676)
Student Loan Payoff for Special Education in Thornton
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Thornton for Special Education
Thornton State University
public
$11,406/yr
$45,624 total
University of Thornton
public
$12,917/yr
$51,668 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Thornton Community College
$5,632/yr
Top Employers for Special Education in Thornton
Thornton offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Special Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Thornton 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
Arvada, CO
$53K starting · COL 105.5
5 colleges
Westminster, CO
$52K starting · COL 103.8
5 colleges
Pueblo, CO
$61K starting · COL 122
13 colleges
Other Education Majors in Thornton
Instructional Design & Technology
$51K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$51K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$51K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Elementary Education
$51K starting · 5 yr ROI
Music Education
$51K starting · 6 yr ROI
Physical Education
$51K starting · 5 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education
$51K starting · 6 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Special Education Degree in Thornton — 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 Thornton.