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Special Education and Teaching at The University of Alabama

Tuscaloosa, AL · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $45,631/yr (3% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

Job Market Large (34,900 openings/yr)

ROI 10.6x earnings multiple (3.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #65 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	$505K	$504K	$483K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.6x	10.6x	10.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.8x	3.8x	3.6x
Probability of Field Employment	81%	73%	58%
DegreeOutlook Score	48	47	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)

$47,600

Out-of-state: $132,800 (3.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$88,600

-86% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,473

6.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$50,092

10% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $45,631/yr, roughly in line with the $44,105 national median for Special Education and Teaching. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.6x 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.

Median debt of $25,473 represents roughly 7 months of the $45,631 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #65 of 170 Special Education and Teaching programs, The University of Alabama scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $50,092 are relatively flat compared to the $45,631 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About The University of Alabama

The University of Alabama accepts 76% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 32,323 in Tuscaloosa, AL.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Alabama →

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 The University of Alabama

Consider the Trade Route?

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 Special Education and Teaching at The University of Alabama?

A score of 47/100 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 $482,671 in decade earnings vs $505,058 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →