Subject-Area Teaching at Central Washington University

Ellensburg, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
74 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
75
Optimistic
74
Base Case
75
Pessimistic
Earnings $49,177/yr (18% vs median)
AI Risk High (43% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (444,600 openings/yr)
ROI 16.6x earnings multiple (5.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #6 of 348 Teacher Education programs Top 5%

Program Analysis

Central Washington University's Teacher Education program, particularly in specialized subject areas, stands out because it effectively meets specific regional demands. While preparing you for K-12 classrooms, its strength lies in fostering deep subject matter expertise, often in science or technical fields, which are perpetually in demand across Washington's diverse school districts and even into community college and university settings. The program's reputation cultivates strong pipelines to employers throughout the state, ensuring graduates are recognized for their rigorous training. This focus on high-demand, specialized areas elevates your value, especially if you pursue further education to teach at the postsecondary level as many graduates do. To maximize your return, actively engage with faculty mentors to explore these advanced teaching opportunities and tailor your coursework to a specific, in-demand discipline.

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Subject-Area Teaching graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $622K $610K $564K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.9x 16.6x 15.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.8x 5.7x 5.3x
Probability of Field Employment 78% 70% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 75 74 75

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$36,768
Out-of-state: $107,084 (5.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$58,860
-60% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,068
5.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$62,919
28% growth from Year 1

About Central Washington University

With 90% of applicants admitted, Central Washington University prioritizes broad access, serving 8,081 students in Ellensburg, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Central Washington University →

Top Career Paths

Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $105,620/yr
Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary $101,390/yr
Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary $100,830/yr
View all 30 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Subject-Area Teaching at Other Schools

Compare Subject-Area Teaching

Other Majors at Central Washington 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 Central Washington University's Subject-Area Teaching program score?
A score of 74/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Central Washington University's Subject-Area Teaching graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Subject-Area Teaching to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Subject-Area Teaching careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 43% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does Central Washington University rank so high for Subject-Area Teaching?
The #6 ranking out of 348 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 →