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Special Education and Teaching at Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, KY · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $40,333/yr (-9% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

Job Market Large (34,900 openings/yr)

ROI 10.8x earnings multiple (5.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #118 of 170 Special Education and Teaching programs

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	$468K	$470K	$456K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.7x	10.8x	10.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.4x	5.5x	5.3x
Probability of Field Employment	81%	73%	58%
DegreeOutlook Score	40	39	46

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$43,584

Out-of-state: $85,920 (5.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$28,672

34% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$27,000

8.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $40,333/yr, roughly in line with the $44,105 national median for Special Education and Teaching. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 10.8x 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 3% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $27,000 debt-to-$40,333 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #118 out of 170 programs, Northern Kentucky University's financial outcomes for Special Education and Teaching trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Northern Kentucky University

Northern Kentucky University accepts 96% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 8,065 in Highland Heights, KY. The average net cost of $28,672 over four years represents a 34% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Northern Kentucky 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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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 Northern Kentucky University's Special Education and Teaching program score?

This program scores 39/100 — on the lower end for Special Education and Teaching. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

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.

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