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Special Education and Teaching at University of St Francis

Joliet, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $45,323/yr (3% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

Job Market Large (34,900 openings/yr)

ROI 3.5x earnings multiple

Ranked #116 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	$514K	$512K	$489K
Earnings Multiple	3.5x	3.5x	3.3x
Probability of Field Employment	81%	73%	58%
DegreeOutlook Score	40	39	42

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$148,000

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$65,136

56% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,500

6.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $45,323 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.

An earnings multiple of 3.5x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

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 $22,500 in median debt against $45,323 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #116 of 170 Special Education and Teaching programs, University of St Francis falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About University of St Francis

With a 64% acceptance rate, University of St Francis is moderately selective, a smaller institution with 1,292 students in Joliet, IL. The average net cost of $65,136 over four years represents a 56% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at University of St Francis →

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 St Francis

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 St Francis?

A score of 39/100 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 $489,428 in decade earnings vs $514,498 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is University of St Francis a hidden gem for Special Education and Teaching?

After financial aid, the average student pays $65,136 over four years — 56% below the $148,000 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →