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Special Education and Teaching at Upper Iowa University

Fayette, IA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
42 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
43
Optimistic
42
Base Case
45
Pessimistic
Earnings $44,304/yr (0% vs median)
AI Risk High (44% exposed)
Job Market Large (34,900 openings/yr)
ROI 6.6x earnings multiple
Ranked #98 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 $505K $504K $483K
Earnings Multiple 6.6x 6.6x 6.4x
Probability of Field Employment 81% 73% 58%
DegreeOutlook Score 43 42 45

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$76,000
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$92,688
-22% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,812
7.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

At $44,304/yr, Special Education and Teaching graduates from Upper Iowa University land near the $44,105 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 6.6x 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 4% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,812 represents roughly 8 months of the $44,304 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #98 of 170 Special Education and Teaching programs, Upper Iowa University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Upper Iowa University

With 93% of applicants admitted, Upper Iowa University prioritizes broad access, with a smaller student body of 2,021 in Fayette, IA.

See all programs and financial aid at Upper Iowa University →

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

Compare this program → View all 170 schools offering Special Education and Teaching →

Special Education and Teaching at Other Schools

Pace University ($62,346) Utah State University ($61,474) University of Hawaii at Manoa ($60,396) Florida Atlantic University ($56,009) Syracuse University ($55,881) Miami Dade College ($53,935) Towson University ($53,331) Nevada State University ($53,159)

Other Majors at Upper Iowa University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($70,224) Public Administration ($61,104) Social Sciences, General ($56,221) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($55,854) Accounting and Related Services ($54,152) Marketing ($52,313) Health and Medical Administrative Services ($49,916) Human Resources Management and Services ($49,106)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Special Education and Teaching trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 Upper Iowa University?
A score of 42/100 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 $482,649 in decade earnings vs $505,027 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →