Special Education and Teaching at Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
43 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
44
Optimistic
43
Base Case
47
Pessimistic
Earnings $43,777/yr (-1% vs median)
AI Risk High (44% exposed)
Job Market Large (34,900 openings/yr)
ROI 8.3x earnings multiple
Ranked #96 of 170 Special Education and Teaching programs

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 $519K $517K $493K
Earnings Multiple 8.4x 8.3x 7.9x
Probability of Field Employment 81% 73% 58%
DegreeOutlook Score 44 43 47

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$62,040
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$68,336
-10% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$31,000
8.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,197
17% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $43,777 track close to the $44,105 national median for Special Education and Teaching programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 8.3x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Special Education and Teaching's typical career paths, with 44% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 5% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $31,000 represents roughly 8 months of the $43,777 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #96 of 170 Special Education and Teaching programs, Eastern Michigan University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $51,197 are relatively flat compared to the $43,777 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Eastern Michigan University

Eastern Michigan University has a 81% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving 10,751 students in Ypsilanti, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Eastern Michigan 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
View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Special Education and Teaching at Other Schools

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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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Special Education and Teaching at Eastern Michigan University?
A score of 43/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Special Education and Teaching. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Special Education and Teaching careers?
With 44% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $492,805 in decade earnings vs $519,214 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →