Teacher Education at University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
58 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
59
Optimistic
58
Base Case
64
Pessimistic
Earnings $42,790/yr (3% vs median)
AI Risk High (30% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (412,300 openings/yr)
ROI 12.2x earnings multiple (5.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #168 of 679 Teacher Education programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Teacher Education graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $473K $475K $460K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.2x 12.2x 11.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.6x 5.6x 5.4x
Probability of Field Employment 76% 72% 62%
DegreeOutlook Score 59 58 64

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$38,912
Out-of-state: $85,088 (5.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$58,436
-50% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,200
6.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$46,217
8% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of Northern Iowa's Teacher Education program produces graduates earning $42,790/yr — within striking distance of the $41,412 national average for this field.

The 12.2x 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 — 30% task exposure — and the 3% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,200 debt-to-$42,790 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #168 out of 679 programs, University of Northern Iowa's Teacher Education program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth is modest: $42,790 to $46,217 over five years (8% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About University of Northern Iowa

A 94% acceptance rate means University of Northern Iowa is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 7,599 in Cedar Falls, IA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Northern Iowa →

Top Career Paths

Postsecondary teachers, all other $78,490/yr
Education teachers, postsecondary $72,090/yr
Training and development specialists $65,850/yr
View all 11 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Teacher Education at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Northern Iowa

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

How does University of Northern Iowa's Teacher Education program score?
This program scores 58/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Teacher Education graduates.
How vulnerable is Teacher Education to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Teacher Education careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 30% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does University of Northern Iowa rank so high for Teacher Education?
The #168 ranking out of 679 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →