Special Education and Teaching at Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
49
Optimistic
48
Base Case
50
Pessimistic
Earnings
$47,610/yr (8% vs median)
AI Risk
High (44% exposed)
Job Market
Large (34,900 openings/yr)
ROI
9.9x earnings multiple (4.3x out-of-state)
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 | $502K | $501K | $481K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 9.9x | 9.9x | 9.5x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.3x | 4.3x | 4.2x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 81% | 73% | 58% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 49 | 48 | 50 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$50,608
Out-of-state: $115,600 (4.3x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,057
5.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$50,073
5% growth from Year 1
About Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University accepts 91% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, one of the larger campuses at 23,041 students in Flagstaff, AZ.
See all programs and financial aid at Northern Arizona 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
Compare & Explore
Special Education and Teaching at Other Schools
Other Majors at Northern Arizona 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 Special Education and Teaching at Northern Arizona University?
A score of 48/100 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 $480,520 in decade earnings vs $502,051 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →