Teacher Education at California State University-San Marcos

San Marcos, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
40 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
41
Optimistic
40
Base Case
57
Pessimistic
Earnings $29,055/yr (-30% vs median)
AI Risk High (30% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (412,300 openings/yr)
ROI 12.2x earnings multiple (4.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #607 of 679 Teacher Education programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Teacher Education graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $371K $379K $377K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.0x 12.2x 12.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.7x 4.8x 4.8x
Probability of Field Employment 76% 72% 62%
DegreeOutlook Score 41 40 57

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$30,956
Out-of-state: $78,476 (4.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$42,200
-36% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,000
6.2 months of Year 1 earnings

About California State University-San Marcos

With 96% of applicants admitted, California State University-San Marcos prioritizes broad access, enrolling 14,174 students in San Marcos, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 44% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-San Marcos →

Top Career Paths

Postsecondary teachers, all other $78,490/yr
Education teachers, postsecondary $72,090/yr
Training and development specialists $65,850/yr
View all 11 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Teacher Education at Other Schools

Other Majors at California State University-San Marcos

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-San Marcos's Teacher Education program score?
This program scores 40/100 — on the lower end for Teacher Education. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Teacher Education to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Teacher Education careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 30% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why are Teacher Education earnings lower at California State University-San Marcos?
Lower starting pay at California State University-San Marcos may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →