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Teacher Education at Aquinas College

Grand Rapids, MI · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
53 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
54
Optimistic
53
Base Case
58
Pessimistic
Earnings $45,713/yr (10% vs median)
AI Risk High (30% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (412,300 openings/yr)
ROI 3.3x earnings multiple
Ranked #273 of 679 Teacher Education programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Teacher Education graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $517K $515K $495K
Earnings Multiple 3.4x 3.3x 3.2x
Probability of Field Employment 76% 72% 62%
DegreeOutlook Score 54 53 58

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$154,080
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$75,608
51% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
7.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $45,713/yr, edging above the $41,412 national average for Teacher Education — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

An earnings multiple of 3.3x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Teacher Education's typical career paths, with 30% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 4% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 7 months of the $45,713 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #273 of 679 Teacher Education programs, Aquinas College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

About Aquinas College

Aquinas College has a 71% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a smaller student body of 1,201 in Grand Rapids, MI. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $75,608 — 51% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Aquinas College →

Top Career Paths

Postsecondary teachers, all other $78,490/yr
Education teachers, postsecondary $72,090/yr
Training and development specialists $65,850/yr
View all 11 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 679 schools offering Teacher Education →

Teacher Education at Other Schools

University of Illinois Chicago ($60,917) Stockton University ($59,371) Monroe College ($58,194) Pacific Lutheran University ($57,624) Rider University ($57,145) Seton Hall University ($56,300) The College of New Jersey ($56,231) Pierce College District ($55,849)

Other Majors at Aquinas College

Accounting and Related Services ($63,311) Business/Corporate Communications ($49,378) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($44,913) Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($33,555) Communication and Media Studies ($31,817) Psychology, General ($31,789) Biology, General ($31,787) Sustainability Studies ($29,399)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Teacher Education trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Teacher Education at Aquinas College?
A score of 53/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Teacher Education field.
Will AI replace Teacher Education careers?
With 30% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $495,103 in decade earnings vs $516,595 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Aquinas College a hidden gem for Teacher Education?
After financial aid, the average student pays $75,608 over four years — 51% below the $154,080 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →