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Teacher Education at Pacific Lutheran University

Tacoma, WA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
58 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
59
Optimistic
58
Base Case
58
Pessimistic
Earnings $57,683/yr (38% vs median)
AI Risk High (43% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (444,600 openings/yr)
ROI 3.0x earnings multiple
Ranked #140 of 348 Teacher Education programs Top 50%

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 $624K $611K $565K
Earnings Multiple 3.1x 3.0x 2.8x
Probability of Field Employment 78% 70% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 59 58 58

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$203,856
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$85,480
58% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$29,740
6.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

At $57,683 per year, Teacher Education graduates from Pacific Lutheran University significantly outpace the $41,690 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

The financial case is thin at 3.0x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

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 10% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $29,740 represents roughly 6 months of the $57,683 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #140 of 348 Teacher Education programs, Pacific Lutheran University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

About Pacific Lutheran University

With 81% of applicants admitted, Pacific Lutheran University prioritizes broad access, a smaller institution with 2,350 students in Tacoma, WA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $85,480 — 58% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Pacific Lutheran 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

Compare this program → View all 348 schools offering Teacher Education →

Teacher Education at Other Schools

Northeastern Illinois University ($63,615) CUNY Queens College ($58,894) William Paterson University of New Jersey ($58,854) Houston Christian University ($58,604) Texas Christian University ($57,665) University of Louisville ($56,188) The College of New Jersey ($56,055) University of California-Irvine ($56,003)

Other Majors at Pacific Lutheran University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($81,761) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($78,055) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($57,624) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($52,919) Chemistry ($44,555) Economics ($43,806) Political Science and Government ($41,518) Biology, General ($36,766)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Teacher Education trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 Teacher Education at Pacific Lutheran University?
A score of 58/100 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 $564,823 in decade earnings vs $624,134 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Pacific Lutheran University a hidden gem for Teacher Education?
After financial aid, the average student pays $85,480 over four years — 58% below the $203,856 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 →