TESOLat University of Northern Iowa
Graduates earn $41,267/yr in their first year — about 18.0% above the national TESOL average. Base-case 10-year earnings $480K; scenarios range from $462K to $479K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Northern Iowa
This specialized program at UNI, a strong regional institution renowned for teacher education, prepares you for a distinct and impactful career. The earnings potential reflects a steady demand for qualified ESL/EFL teachers, particularly in K-12 public school settings across Iowa and the Midwest. Your training will equip you to support diverse student populations, a critical and growing need in many school districts experiencing demographic shifts. You’ll be positioned to help students not just learn English, but also navigate new cultural contexts. While the data notes a high AI risk for certain aspects of language instruction, consider how you can integrate these tools into your teaching to enhance learning, rather than seeing them as a replacement for the essential human connection and cultural understanding you’ll provide. To maximize your prospects, actively pursue student teaching placements in districts with high English language learner populations, or explore international teaching opportunities.
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 Northern Iowa'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 TESOL
How University of Northern Iowa stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Northern Iowa
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Northern Iowa, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in TESOL offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare TESOL trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about TESOL at University of Northern Iowa
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for TESOL at University of Northern Iowa?
A score of 52/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the TESOL field.
Will AI replace TESOL careers?
With 31% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $461,656 in decade earnings vs $479,187 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.