Teacher Educationat University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
Graduates earn $40,565/yr in their first year — about 2.0% below the national Teacher Education average. Base-case 10-year earnings $443K; scenarios range from $432K to $440K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
Graduates earn $40,565/yr, roughly in line with the $41,412 national median for Teacher Education. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.0x 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 2% gap from the optimistic case.
With first-year pay of $40,565 far exceeding the $19,652 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #211 of 679 Teacher Education programs, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Five-year earnings of $42,085 are relatively flat compared to the $40,565 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Arkansas-Fort Smith's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Teacher Education
How University of Arkansas-Fort Smith stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Teacher Education offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Teacher Education trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Teacher Education at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Teacher Education at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith?
A score of 56/100 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 $432,344 in decade earnings vs $439,554 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.