Subject-Area Teaching at Southwest Minnesota State University

Marshall, MN · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
59 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
60
Optimistic
59
Base Case
62
Pessimistic
Earnings $43,875/yr (5% vs median)
AI Risk High (43% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (444,600 openings/yr)
ROI 12.1x earnings multiple
Ranked #127 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 $501K $500K $478K
Earnings Multiple 12.1x 12.1x 11.6x
Probability of Field Employment 78% 70% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 60 59 62

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$41,216
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,040
-43% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$29,000
7.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $43,875/yr, edging above the $41,690 national average for Subject-Area Teaching — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Subject-Area Teaching programs nationally.

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 5% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $29,000 represents roughly 8 months of the $43,875 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #127 of 348 Subject-Area Teaching programs, Southwest Minnesota State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

About Southwest Minnesota State University

With a 69% acceptance rate, Southwest Minnesota State University is moderately selective, a compact campus enrolling 2,045 students in Marshall, MN.

See all programs and financial aid at Southwest Minnesota State 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 Southwest Minnesota State 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 Subject-Area Teaching at Southwest Minnesota State University?
A score of 59/100 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 $478,026 in decade earnings vs $500,722 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →