Special Education and Teaching at University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
38 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
39
Optimistic
38
Base Case
44
Pessimistic
Earnings $41,217/yr (-7% vs median)
AI Risk High (44% exposed)
Job Market Large (34,900 openings/yr)
ROI 8.9x earnings multiple (3.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #121 of 170 Special Education and Teaching programs

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 $466K $469K $455K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.8x 8.9x 8.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.5x 3.5x 3.4x
Probability of Field Employment 81% 73% 58%
DegreeOutlook Score 39 38 44

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$52,848
Out-of-state: $133,624 (3.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$68,872
-30% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,250
7.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$45,328
10% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $41,217 track close to the $44,105 national median for Special Education and Teaching programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 8.9x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 2% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $25,250 represents roughly 7 months of the $41,217 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #121 of 170 Special Education and Teaching programs, University of Kentucky falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $45,328 are relatively flat compared to the $41,217 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About University of Kentucky

University of Kentucky has a 92% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with 23,189 students enrolled in Lexington, KY.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Kentucky →

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

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Explore the Trade Alternative

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Special Education and Teaching at University of Kentucky?
A score of 38/100 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 $454,720 in decade earnings vs $466,008 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →