Home Schools Central Washington University Subject-Area Teaching
Education · Subject-Area Teaching Rank #6 of 348

Subject-Area Teachingat Central Washington University

Graduates earn $49,177/yr in their first year — about 18.0% above the national Subject-Area Teaching average. Base-case 10-year earnings $610K; scenarios range from $564K to $622K depending on AI disruption.

Ellensburg, WA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
74 STRONG
75
Optimistic
75
Pessimistic
Earnings
$49,177
1-year post-graduation
ROI
16.1x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$610K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
49% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Central Washington University

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.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$564K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score75/100
Earnings Multiple15.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$610K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score74/100
Earnings Multiple16.6x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$622K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score75/100
Earnings Multiple16.9x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Central Washington University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Subject-Area Teaching graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
+17.3% 10-yr growth · 27,400 openings/yr
$105,620/yr
Moderate
2
Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary
+2.6% 10-yr growth · 1,000 openings/yr
$101,390/yr
Moderate
3
Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary
+4.0% 10-yr growth · 100 openings/yr
$100,830/yr
Moderate
4
Physics teachers, postsecondary
+2.5% 10-yr growth · 1,300 openings/yr
$97,360/yr
Moderate
5
Business teachers, postsecondary
+5.7% 10-yr growth · 8,100 openings/yr
$97,270/yr
Moderate
6
Computer science teachers, postsecondary
+5.3% 10-yr growth · 3,500 openings/yr
$96,690/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Subject-Area Teaching

How Central Washington University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Northeastern Illinois University
IL · Public
69
DW Score
$64K
1-yr earn
11.8x
ROI
Top score
CUNY Queens College
NY · Public
81
DW Score
$59K
1-yr earn
22.1x
ROI
William Paterson University of New Jersey
NJ · Public
71
DW Score
$59K
1-yr earn
9.3x
ROI
Houston Christian University
TX · Private nonprofit
56
DW Score
$59K
1-yr earn
2.3x
ROI
Same state (WA)
Pacific Lutheran University
WA · Private nonprofit
58
DW Score
$58K
1-yr earn
1.8x
ROI
Also at Central Washington University

Other top programs at Central Washington University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Central Washington University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Subject-Area Teaching offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Subject-Area Teaching trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Subject-Area Teaching at Central Washington University

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.