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Special Education and Teaching at Florida Gulf Coast University

Fort Myers, FL · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $46,866/yr (6% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

Job Market Large (34,900 openings/yr)

ROI 22.3x earnings multiple (5.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #9 of 170 Special Education and Teaching programs Top 5%

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	$551K	$546K	$516K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	22.5x	22.3x	21.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.5x	5.4x	5.1x
Probability of Field Employment	81%	73%	58%
DegreeOutlook Score	60	58	61

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$24,472

Out-of-state: $100,648 (5.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$41,276

-69% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$24,249

6.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$55,014

17% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $46,866 at Florida Gulf Coast University come in 6% above the national median of $44,105 for Special Education and Teaching programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 22.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Special Education and Teaching programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Special Education and Teaching's typical career paths, with 44% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 6% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $24,249 represents roughly 6 months of the $46,866 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #9 of 170 nationally, this is a top-5% Special Education and Teaching program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $55,014 are relatively flat compared to the $46,866 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Florida Gulf Coast University

Florida Gulf Coast University accepts 77% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 13,809 in Fort Myers, FL.

See all programs and financial aid at Florida Gulf Coast 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

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Other Majors at Florida Gulf Coast University

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Special Education and Teaching at Florida Gulf Coast University?

A score of 58/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Special Education and Teaching field.

Will AI replace Special Education and Teaching careers?

With 44% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $515,788 in decade earnings vs $551,325 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Florida Gulf Coast University's Special Education and Teaching program stand out?

Ranked #9 of 170 programs nationally, Florida Gulf Coast University lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →