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Special Education and Teaching at Northeastern State University

Tahlequah, OK · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $46,045/yr (4% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

Job Market Large (34,900 openings/yr)

ROI 16.7x earnings multiple (7.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #29 of 170 Special Education and Teaching programs Top 25%

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	$501K	$501K	$480K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	16.7x	16.7x	16.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.5x	7.5x	7.2x
Probability of Field Employment	81%	73%	58%
DegreeOutlook Score	54	53	56

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$30,052

Out-of-state: $66,532 (7.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$47,200

-57% less than sticker · See by income

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$49,771

8% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Northeastern State University's Special Education and Teaching program produces graduates earning $46,045/yr — within striking distance of the $44,105 national average for this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Special Education and Teaching programs nationally.

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 4% gap from the optimistic case.

At #29 of 170 nationally, this is a top-5% Special Education and Teaching program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $49,771 are relatively flat compared to the $46,045 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Northeastern State University

A 99% acceptance rate means Northeastern State University is accessible to most applicants, with a smaller student body of 4,636 in Tahlequah, OK. With 42% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Northeastern 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 Northeastern State University

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 Northeastern State University?

A score of 53/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Special Education and Teaching field.

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 $480,019 in decade earnings vs $501,348 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Northeastern State University's Special Education and Teaching program stand out?

Ranked #29 of 170 programs nationally, Northeastern 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 →