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Subject-Area Teaching at Buena Vista University

Storm Lake, IA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
50 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
51
Optimistic
50
Base Case
53
Pessimistic
Earnings $44,551/yr (7% vs median)
AI Risk High (43% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (444,600 openings/yr)
ROI 3.3x earnings multiple
Ranked #232 of 348 Teacher Education programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Subject-Area Teaching graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $532K $528K $500K
Earnings Multiple 3.3x 3.3x 3.1x
Probability of Field Employment 78% 70% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 51 50 53

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$160,760
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$73,284
54% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$28,900
7.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,766
18% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Buena Vista University's Subject-Area Teaching graduates start at $44,551/yr — above the $41,690 national average, though not by a wide margin.

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 Subject-Area Teaching's typical career paths, with 43% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 6% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $28,900 represents roughly 8 months of the $44,551 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #232 of 348 Subject-Area Teaching programs, Buena Vista University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $52,766 are relatively flat compared to the $44,551 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Buena Vista University

A 72% acceptance rate means Buena Vista University is accessible to most applicants, a smaller institution with 1,378 students in Storm Lake, IA. Pell Grant recipients make up 43% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity. The average net cost of $73,284 over four years represents a 54% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Buena Vista University →

Top Career Paths

Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $105,620/yr
Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary $101,390/yr
Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary $100,830/yr
View all 30 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 348 schools offering Subject-Area Teaching →

Subject-Area Teaching at Other Schools

Northeastern Illinois University ($63,615) CUNY Queens College ($58,894) William Paterson University of New Jersey ($58,854) Houston Christian University ($58,604) Pacific Lutheran University ($57,683) Texas Christian University ($57,665) University of Louisville ($56,188) The College of New Jersey ($56,055)

Other Majors at Buena Vista University

Accounting and Related Services ($53,280) Finance and Financial Management Services ($52,226) Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations ($49,099) Business/Commerce, General ($48,810) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($47,385) Marketing ($42,972) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($42,834) Health and Physical Education/Fitness ($38,356)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Subject-Area Teaching trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Subject-Area Teaching at Buena Vista University?
This program scores 50/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Subject-Area Teaching programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Subject-Area Teaching careers?
With 43% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $499,933 in decade earnings vs $531,869 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Buena Vista University a hidden gem for Subject-Area Teaching?
After financial aid, the average student pays $73,284 over four years — 54% below the $160,760 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 →