Special Education and Teaching at Black Hills State University
Spearfish, SD · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
54
Optimistic
52
Base Case
54
Pessimistic
Earnings
$49,134/yr (11% vs median)
AI Risk
High (44% exposed)
Job Market
Large (34,900 openings/yr)
ROI
15.1x earnings multiple (11.2x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Special Education and Teaching graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $550K | $544K | $515K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 15.3x | 15.1x | 14.3x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 11.4x | 11.2x | 10.6x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 81% | 73% | 58% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 54 | 52 | 54 |
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$36,000
Out-of-state: $48,400 (11.2x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,351
5.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$49,089
Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes
About Black Hills State University
With 94% of applicants admitted, Black Hills State University prioritizes broad access, with a smaller student body of 1,935 in Spearfish, SD.
See all programs and financial aid at Black Hills State University →Top Career Paths
Education teachers, postsecondary
$72,090/yr
Special education teachers, secondary school
$69,590/yr
Special education teachers, all other
$67,430/yr
Compare & Explore
Special Education and Teaching at Other Schools
Other Majors at Black Hills State University
Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?
For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Black Hills State University's Special Education and Teaching program score?
This program scores 52/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Special Education and Teaching graduates.
How vulnerable is Special Education and Teaching to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Special Education and Teaching careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 44% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does Black Hills State University rank so high for Special Education and Teaching?
The #36 ranking out of 170 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →