Special Education and Teachingat Western Washington University
Graduates earn $52,912/yr in their first year — about 20.0% above the national Special Education and Teaching average. Base-case 10-year earnings $642K; scenarios range from $592K to $658K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Western Washington University
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.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Western Washington University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Special Education and Teaching
How Western Washington University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Western Washington University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Western Washington University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Special Education and Teaching offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Special Education and Teaching trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Special Education and Teaching at Western Washington University
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.