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Special Education and Teaching at Southwest Minnesota State University

Marshall, MN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
46 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
47
Optimistic
46
Base Case
49
Pessimistic
Earnings $44,510/yr (1% vs median)
AI Risk High (44% exposed)
Job Market Large (34,900 openings/yr)
ROI 12.3x earnings multiple
Ranked #78 of 170 Special Education and Teaching programs Top 50%

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 $507K $506K $484K
Earnings Multiple 12.3x 12.3x 11.7x
Probability of Field Employment 81% 73% 58%
DegreeOutlook Score 47 46 49

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$41,216
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,040
-43% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,883
6.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $44,510/yr, roughly in line with the $44,105 national median for Special Education and Teaching. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 12.3x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 44% task exposure — and the 5% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $24,883 debt-to-$44,510 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #78 out of 170 programs, Southwest Minnesota State University's Special Education and Teaching offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

About Southwest Minnesota State University

A 69% admission rate makes Southwest Minnesota State University accessible to a wide range of qualified students, a compact campus enrolling 2,045 students in Marshall, MN.

See all programs and financial aid at Southwest Minnesota 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

Compare this program → View all 170 schools offering Special Education and Teaching →

Special Education and Teaching at Other Schools

Pace University ($62,346) Utah State University ($61,474) University of Hawaii at Manoa ($60,396) Florida Atlantic University ($56,009) Syracuse University ($55,881) Miami Dade College ($53,935) Towson University ($53,331) Nevada State University ($53,159)

Other Majors at Southwest Minnesota State University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($71,933) Agricultural Business and Management ($49,521) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($49,245) Marketing ($48,939) Finance and Financial Management Services ($47,734) Social Work ($46,368) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($43,875) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($41,333)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Special Education and Teaching trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

How does Southwest Minnesota State University's Special Education and Teaching program score?
This program scores 46/100 — on the lower end for Special Education and Teaching. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Special Education and Teaching to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Special Education and Teaching careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 44% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →