Special Education and Teaching at Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
63 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
64
Optimistic
63
Base Case
64
Pessimistic
Earnings $52,912/yr (20% vs median)
AI Risk High (44% exposed)
Job Market Large (34,900 openings/yr)
ROI 17.3x earnings multiple (5.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #2 of 170 Special Education and Teaching programs Top 1%

Program Analysis

Your strong performance in this major at Western Washington University reflects a robust regional demand for skilled educators, particularly in special education. Washington state generally offers competitive teacher salaries, and Bellingham's location provides access to a range of school districts, from local options to the larger, well-resourced systems of the Puget Sound area. The program's reputation likely establishes strong recruitment pipelines directly into these schools, where the need for dedicated special education professionals is consistently high. You’ll be prepared for a deeply rewarding career focused on individualized student support and collaborative work with families and colleagues. To truly leverage this advantage, actively seek out diverse field experiences and build a strong network during your studies; these connections are invaluable for securing your ideal placement.

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 $658K $642K $592K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.7x 17.3x 15.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.9x 5.8x 5.3x
Probability of Field Employment 81% 73% 58%
DegreeOutlook Score 64 63 64

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$37,144
Out-of-state: $111,412 (5.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$74,720
-101% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
6.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$66,702
26% growth from Year 1

About Western Washington University

With 91% of applicants admitted, Western Washington University prioritizes broad access, enrolling 13,574 students in Bellingham, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Washington 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

Compare Special Education and Teaching

Other Majors at Western Washington 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

How does Western Washington University's Special Education and Teaching program score?
This program scores 63/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Special Education and Teaching graduates.
How vulnerable is Special Education and Teaching to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Special Education and Teaching careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 44% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does Western Washington University rank so high for Special Education and Teaching?
The #2 ranking out of 170 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →