Special Education and Teaching at Wayne State University

Detroit, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
44 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
46
Optimistic
44
Base Case
48
Pessimistic
Earnings $44,157/yr (0% vs median)
AI Risk High (44% exposed)
Job Market Large (34,900 openings/yr)
ROI 9.1x earnings multiple (4.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #91 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 $520K $518K $494K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.1x 9.1x 8.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.3x 4.3x 4.1x
Probability of Field Employment 81% 73% 58%
DegreeOutlook Score 46 44 48

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$57,188
Out-of-state: $121,676 (4.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,092
-3% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$35,750
9.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,383
16% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Wayne State University's Special Education and Teaching program produces graduates earning $44,157/yr — within striking distance of the $44,105 national average for this field.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.1x 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 5% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $35,750 represents roughly 10 months of the $44,157 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #91 of 170 Special Education and Teaching programs, Wayne State University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $51,383 are relatively flat compared to the $44,157 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Wayne State University

A 82% acceptance rate means Wayne State University is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 15,676 students in Detroit, MI. With 43% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Wayne State 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

Special Education and Teaching at Other Schools

Other Majors at Wayne State University

Explore the Trade Alternative

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 Wayne State University?
A score of 44/100 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 $493,599 in decade earnings vs $520,324 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →