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Subject-Area Teaching at Pacific Lutheran University

Tacoma, WA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $57,683/yr (38% vs median)

AI Risk High (43% exposed)

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

ROI 3.0x earnings multiple

Ranked #140 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 Subject-Area Teaching graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$624K	$611K	$565K
Earnings Multiple	3.1x	3.0x	2.8x
Probability of Field Employment	78%	70%	55%
DegreeOutlook Score	59	58	58

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$203,856

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$85,480

58% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$29,740

6.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

At $57,683 per year, Subject-Area Teaching graduates from Pacific Lutheran University significantly outpace the $41,690 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

The financial case is thin at 3.0x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

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 10% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $29,740 represents roughly 6 months of the $57,683 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #140 of 348 Subject-Area Teaching programs, Pacific Lutheran University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

About Pacific Lutheran University

With 81% of applicants admitted, Pacific Lutheran University prioritizes broad access, a smaller institution with 2,350 students in Tacoma, WA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $85,480 — 58% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Pacific Lutheran 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

Subject-Area Teaching at Other Schools

Other Majors at Pacific Lutheran 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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Subject-Area Teaching at Pacific Lutheran University?

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

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 $564,823 in decade earnings vs $624,134 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is Pacific Lutheran University a hidden gem for Subject-Area Teaching?

After financial aid, the average student pays $85,480 over four years — 58% below the $203,856 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 →