Special Education and Teaching at University of North Carolina Wilmington

Wilmington, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree
51 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
52
Optimistic
51
Base Case
56
Pessimistic
Earnings $42,584/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk High (44% exposed)
Job Market Large (34,900 openings/yr)
ROI 17.9x earnings multiple (5.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #40 of 170 Special Education and Teaching programs Top 25%

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 $526K $523K $498K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.0x 17.9x 17.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.7x 5.7x 5.4x
Probability of Field Employment 81% 73% 58%
DegreeOutlook Score 52 51 56

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$29,268
Out-of-state: $91,940 (5.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$77,888
-166% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,039
5.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,603
21% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $42,584 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.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 17.9x 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 5% gap from the optimistic case.

At $19,039 in median debt against $42,584 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #40 of 170 nationally, this is a top-5% Special Education and Teaching program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $42,584 to $51,603 over five years — a 21% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of North Carolina Wilmington

University of North Carolina Wilmington has a 74% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving 14,176 students in Wilmington, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at University of North Carolina Wilmington →

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 University of North Carolina Wilmington

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 University of North Carolina Wilmington?
A score of 51/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Special Education and Teaching field.
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 $497,575 in decade earnings vs $525,878 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of North Carolina Wilmington's Special Education and Teaching program stand out?
Ranked #40 of 170 programs nationally, University of North Carolina Wilmington lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →