Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $43,283 track close to the $44,105 national median for Special Education and Teaching programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
The 16.6x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.
AI risk is moderate — 44% task exposure — and the 4% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The $24,096 debt-to-$43,283 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.
Ranked #43 out of 170 programs, Appalachian State University's Special Education and Teaching program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.
Earnings growth is modest: $43,283 to $49,424 over five years (14% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.