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Teacher Education at Iowa State University

Ames, IA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $47,559/yr (14% vs median)

AI Risk High (43% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (444,600 openings/yr)

ROI 12.9x earnings multiple (4.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #42 of 348 Teacher Education programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Teacher Education graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$546K	$541K	$510K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.0x	12.9x	12.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.9x	4.9x	4.6x
Probability of Field Employment	78%	70%	55%
DegreeOutlook Score	68	67	68

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$41,988

Out-of-state: $110,732 (4.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$72,660

-73% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$17,750

4.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$54,845

15% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $47,559/yr, edging above the $41,690 national average for Teacher Education — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.9x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Teacher Education programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Teacher Education's typical career paths, with 43% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 7% gap from the optimistic case.

At $17,750 in median debt against $47,559 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #42 of 348 nationally, this is a top-5% Teacher Education program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $54,845 are relatively flat compared to the $47,559 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Iowa State University

Iowa State University has a 89% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, one of the larger campuses at 25,033 students in Ames, IA.

See all programs and financial aid at Iowa State 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

Teacher Education at Other Schools

Other Majors at Iowa State University

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Teacher Education at Iowa State University?

A score of 67/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Teacher Education field.

Will AI replace Teacher Education careers?

With 43% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $509,974 in decade earnings vs $546,145 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Iowa State University's Teacher Education program stand out?

Ranked #42 of 348 programs nationally, Iowa State University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

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