Subject-Area Teaching at Cornerstone University

Grand Rapids, MI · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
49 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
50
Optimistic
49
Base Case
53
Pessimistic
Earnings $42,515/yr (2% vs median)
AI Risk High (43% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (444,600 openings/yr)
ROI 4.2x earnings multiple
Ranked #246 of 348 Teacher Education programs

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 $487K $488K $468K
Earnings Multiple 4.2x 4.2x 4.0x
Probability of Field Employment 78% 70% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 50 49 53

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$116,400
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$89,536
23% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$28,000
7.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$47,695
12% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $42,515/yr, Subject-Area Teaching graduates from Cornerstone University land near the $41,690 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

An earnings multiple of 4.2x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Subject-Area Teaching's typical career paths, with 43% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 4% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $28,000 represents roughly 8 months of the $42,515 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #246 of 348 Subject-Area Teaching programs, Cornerstone University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $47,695 are relatively flat compared to the $42,515 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Cornerstone University

With 73% of applicants admitted, Cornerstone University prioritizes broad access, with a smaller student body of 1,387 in Grand Rapids, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Cornerstone 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

Other Majors at Cornerstone University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Subject-Area Teaching at Cornerstone University?
A score of 49/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Subject-Area Teaching. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Subject-Area Teaching careers?
With 43% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $468,446 in decade earnings vs $487,098 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →