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Special Education and Teaching at Ball State University

Muncie, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $47,499/yr (8% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

Job Market Large (34,900 openings/yr)

ROI 11.7x earnings multiple (4.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #42 of 170 Special Education and Teaching programs Top 25%

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	$505K	$504K	$483K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.7x	11.7x	11.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.4x	4.4x	4.2x
Probability of Field Employment	81%	73%	58%
DegreeOutlook Score	51	50	52

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$43,032

Out-of-state: $115,064 (4.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$63,592

-48% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,500

5.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$50,351

6% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $47,499/yr, edging above the $44,105 national average for Special Education and Teaching — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 11.7x 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.

At $22,500 in median debt against $47,499 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #42 out of 170 programs, Ball State University's Special Education and Teaching program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth is modest: $47,499 to $50,351 over five years (6% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About Ball State University

Ball State University has a 72% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 13,770 in Muncie, IN.

See all programs and financial aid at Ball State 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

Other Majors at Ball State University

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

How does Ball State University's Special Education and Teaching program score?

This program scores 50/100, 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 Ball State University rank so high for Special Education and Teaching?

The #42 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 →