Special Education and Teaching at Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
47
Optimistic
46
Base Case
48
Pessimistic
Earnings
$47,868/yr (9% vs median)
AI Risk
High (44% exposed)
Job Market
Large (34,900 openings/yr)
ROI
8.2x earnings multiple (6.5x out-of-state)
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 | $501K | $500K | $479K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 8.2x | 8.2x | 7.8x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 6.6x | 6.5x | 6.3x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 81% | 73% | 58% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 47 | 46 | 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)
$61,192
Out-of-state: $76,392 (6.5x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$31,000
7.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$49,952
4% growth from Year 1
About Western Michigan University
A 85% acceptance rate means Western Michigan University is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 12,704 students in Kalamazoo, MI.
See all programs and financial aid at Western Michigan 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
Compare & Explore
Special Education and Teaching at Other Schools
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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 Western Michigan University?
A score of 46/100 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 $479,476 in decade earnings vs $500,589 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →