Teacher Education at Shepherd University

Shepherdstown, WV · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
65 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
65
Optimistic
65
Base Case
69
Pessimistic
Earnings $46,549/yr (12% vs median)
AI Risk High (30% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (412,300 openings/yr)
ROI 14.2x earnings multiple (6.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #67 of 679 Teacher Education programs Top 10%

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 $491K $491K $474K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.2x 14.2x 13.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.4x 6.4x 6.2x
Probability of Field Employment 76% 72% 62%
DegreeOutlook Score 65 65 69

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$34,568
Out-of-state: $76,328 (6.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$49,564
-43% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,813
5.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,740
5% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $46,549 per year, Teacher Education graduates from Shepherd University earn slightly above the $41,412 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.2x 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 30% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 3% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $19,813 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #67 of 679 programs, Shepherd University's Teacher Education program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $48,740 are relatively flat compared to the $46,549 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Shepherd University

With 96% of applicants admitted, Shepherd University prioritizes broad access, a smaller institution with 2,375 students in Shepherdstown, WV.

See all programs and financial aid at Shepherd University →

Top Career Paths

Postsecondary teachers, all other $78,490/yr
Education teachers, postsecondary $72,090/yr
Training and development specialists $65,850/yr
View all 11 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Teacher Education at Other Schools

Other Majors at Shepherd 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 Teacher Education at Shepherd University?
A score of 65/100 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 30% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $474,266 in decade earnings vs $491,016 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →