Subject-Area Teaching at Washington State University

Pullman, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
65 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
66
Optimistic
65
Base Case
65
Pessimistic
Earnings $55,864/yr (34% vs median)
AI Risk High (43% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (444,600 openings/yr)
ROI 11.5x earnings multiple (5.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #63 of 348 Teacher Education programs Top 25%

Program Analysis

The impressive earning potential for this program reflects its focus on preparing you to teach specialized subjects at the postsecondary level, rather than general K-12 education. Washington State University’s robust research environment and strong programs across health sciences, natural sciences, and engineering create a natural pipeline for graduates who can effectively instruct in these specific, often technical, fields. You'll be leveraging deep subject matter expertise alongside pedagogical skills, which is highly valued in higher education. This path often leads to faculty positions at universities, community colleges, or professional schools, where roles typically combine instruction with research, curriculum development, and mentorship. To maximize your success, actively pursue opportunities for research or advanced study within your chosen subject during your program, building credentials that appeal to academic institutions.

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Subject-Area Teaching graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $608K $597K $553K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.7x 11.5x 10.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.2x 5.1x 4.8x
Probability of Field Employment 78% 70% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 66 65 65

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$51,988
Out-of-state: $116,292 (5.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$57,604
-11% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (4 Year)
$62,752
12% growth from Year 1

About Washington State University

Washington State University has a 85% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving a student body of 21,583 in Pullman, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Washington State University →

Top Career Paths

Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $105,620/yr
Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary $101,390/yr
Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary $100,830/yr
View all 30 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Subject-Area Teaching at Other Schools

Other Majors at Washington State University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Subject-Area Teaching at Washington State University?
A score of 65/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Subject-Area Teaching field.
Will AI replace Subject-Area Teaching careers?
With 43% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $553,387 in decade earnings vs $607,876 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Washington State University's Subject-Area Teaching program stand out?
Ranked #63 of 348 programs nationally, Washington State University 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 →