Teacher Education at Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
62 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
63
Optimistic
62
Base Case
64
Pessimistic
Earnings $45,184/yr (8% vs median)
AI Risk High (43% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (444,600 openings/yr)
ROI 10.5x earnings multiple
Ranked #91 of 348 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 $536K $532K $503K
Earnings Multiple 10.6x 10.5x 9.9x
Probability of Field Employment 78% 70% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 63 62 64

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$50,800
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,636
-2% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,500
6.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,340
18% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $45,184/yr, edging above the $41,690 national average for Teacher Education — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 10.5x 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 6% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $22,500 in median debt against $45,184 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #91 out of 348 programs, Northern Illinois University's Teacher Education offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth is modest: $45,184 to $53,340 over five years (18% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois University has a 70% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a mid-sized student body of 11,277 in Dekalb, IL. Pell Grant recipients make up 46% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Northern Illinois 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

Other Majors at Northern Illinois University

Consider the Trade Route?

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

How does Northern Illinois University's Teacher Education program score?
This program scores 62/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Teacher Education graduates.
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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →