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Teacher Education at Central Washington University

Ellensburg, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $49,177/yr (18% vs median)

AI Risk High (43% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (444,600 openings/yr)

ROI 16.6x earnings multiple (5.7x out-of-state)

Ranked #6 of 348 Teacher Education programs Top 5%

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	$622K	$610K	$564K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	16.9x	16.6x	15.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.8x	5.7x	5.3x
Probability of Field Employment	78%	70%	55%
DegreeOutlook Score	75	74	75

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$36,768

Out-of-state: $107,084 (5.7x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$58,860

-60% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,068

5.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$62,919

28% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $49,177 per year, Teacher Education graduates from Central Washington University earn slightly above the $41,690 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

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 — 43% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $22,068 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #6 out of 348 programs, Central Washington University's Teacher Education program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $49,177 to $62,919 shows 28% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Central Washington University

With 90% of applicants admitted, Central Washington University prioritizes broad access, serving 8,081 students in Ellensburg, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Central Washington 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

Teacher Education at Other Schools

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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Central Washington University's Teacher Education program score?

A score of 74/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Central Washington University's Teacher Education graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.

How vulnerable is Teacher Education to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Teacher Education careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 43% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does Central Washington University rank so high for Teacher Education?

The #6 ranking out of 348 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 →