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Special Education and Teaching at Lewis University

Romeoville, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $45,831/yr (4% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

Job Market Large (34,900 openings/yr)

ROI 3.4x earnings multiple

Ranked #112 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	3.4x	3.4x	3.3x
Probability of Field Employment	81%	73%	58%
DegreeOutlook Score	41	40	42

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$151,528

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$73,480

52% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,500

5.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Lewis University's Special Education and Teaching program produces graduates earning $45,831/yr — within striking distance of the $44,105 national average for this field.

An earnings multiple of 3.4x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

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.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $22,500 in median debt clears quickly against $45,831 in annual earnings.

Ranked #112 of 170 Special Education and Teaching programs, Lewis University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Lewis University

A 73% acceptance rate means Lewis University is accessible to most applicants, a compact campus enrolling 3,665 students in Romeoville, IL. The average net cost of $73,480 over four years represents a 52% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Lewis 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 Lewis 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 Special Education and Teaching at Lewis University?

A score of 40/100 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 $492,808 in decade earnings vs $519,219 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is Lewis University a hidden gem for Special Education and Teaching?

After financial aid, the average student pays $73,480 over four years — 52% below the $151,528 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.

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