Teacher Education at Rockford University

Rockford, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
40 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
41
Optimistic
40
Base Case
51
Pessimistic
Earnings $38,867/yr (-6% vs median)
AI Risk High (30% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (412,300 openings/yr)
ROI 3.1x earnings multiple
Ranked #596 of 679 Teacher Education programs

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 $462K $464K $451K
Earnings Multiple 3.1x 3.1x 3.0x
Probability of Field Employment 76% 72% 62%
DegreeOutlook Score 41 40 51

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$149,200
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$92,264
38% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,600
8.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$44,321
14% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $38,867 track close to the $41,412 national median for Teacher Education programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

An earnings multiple of 3.1x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Teacher Education's typical career paths, with 30% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 2% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $26,600 represents roughly 8 months of the $38,867 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #596 of 679 Teacher Education programs, Rockford University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $44,321 are relatively flat compared to the $38,867 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Rockford University

With a 57% acceptance rate, Rockford University is moderately selective, a compact campus enrolling 956 students in Rockford, IL. Pell Grant recipients make up 42% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity. The average net cost of $92,264 over four years represents a 38% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Rockford University →

Top Career Paths

Postsecondary teachers, all other $78,490/yr
Education teachers, postsecondary $72,090/yr
Training and development specialists $65,850/yr
View all 11 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Teacher Education at Other Schools

Other Majors at Rockford University

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Teacher Education at Rockford University?
A score of 40/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Teacher Education. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Teacher Education careers?
With 30% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $450,727 in decade earnings vs $462,119 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →