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Special Education and Teaching at Illinois State University

Normal, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $48,358/yr (10% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

Job Market Large (34,900 openings/yr)

ROI 8.7x earnings multiple (4.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #48 of 170 Special Education and Teaching programs Top 50%

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	$561K	$554K	$523K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	8.8x	8.7x	8.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.0x	4.9x	4.7x
Probability of Field Employment	81%	73%	58%
DegreeOutlook Score	51	49	51

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$64,084

Out-of-state: $112,344 (4.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$75,984

-19% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,500

4.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$56,275

16% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $48,358/yr, edging above the $44,105 national average for Special Education and Teaching — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

At 8.7x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 44% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $19,500 in median debt against $48,358 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #48 out of 170 programs, Illinois State University's Special Education and Teaching offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth is modest: $48,358 to $56,275 over five years (16% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About Illinois State University

Illinois State University has a 89% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, enrolling 18,414 students in Normal, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at Illinois State 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

Other Majors at Illinois State 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

How does Illinois State University's Special Education and Teaching program score?

This program scores 49/100 — on the lower end for Special Education and Teaching. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Special Education and Teaching to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Special Education and Teaching careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 44% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →