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Special Education and Teaching at SUNY Buffalo State University

Buffalo, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
35 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
36
Optimistic
35
Base Case
38
Pessimistic
Earnings $16,737/yr (-62% vs median)
AI Risk High (44% exposed)
Job Market Large (34,900 openings/yr)
ROI 22.7x earnings multiple (10.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #138 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 $798K $769K $693K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 23.5x 22.7x 20.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 10.6x 10.2x 9.2x
Probability of Field Employment 81% 73% 58%
DegreeOutlook Score 36 35 38

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$33,944
Out-of-state: $75,624 (10.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$56,916
-68% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,450
13.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,972
222% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $16,737 place SUNY Buffalo State University below the $44,105 national median for Special Education and Teaching — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 22.7x 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 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $19,450 debt load exceeds a year of the $16,737 starting salary, suggesting a multi-year repayment window before graduates break even financially.

At #138 out of 170 programs, SUNY Buffalo State University's financial outcomes for Special Education and Teaching trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $16,737 to $53,972 over five years (222% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About SUNY Buffalo State University

SUNY Buffalo State University accepts 76% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 5,358 in Buffalo, NY. 53% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at SUNY Buffalo State 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

Compare this program → View all 170 schools offering Special Education and Teaching →

Special Education and Teaching at Other Schools

Pace University ($62,346) Utah State University ($61,474) University of Hawaii at Manoa ($60,396) Florida Atlantic University ($56,009) Syracuse University ($55,881) Miami Dade College ($53,935) Towson University ($53,331) Nevada State University ($53,159)

Other Majors at SUNY Buffalo State University

Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians ($71,894) Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians ($57,431) Information Science/Studies ($49,686) Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians ($48,355) Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services ($46,519) Economics ($41,547) Social Work ($39,695) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($38,283)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Special Education and Teaching trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 SUNY Buffalo State University's Special Education and Teaching program score?
This program scores 35/100 — on the lower end for Special Education and Teaching. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Do SUNY Buffalo State University Special Education and Teaching graduates earn enough to justify the loans?
The debt-to-income ratio of 1.2x suggests an extended repayment window. Whether it's 'worth it' depends on career trajectory, not just first-year pay.
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.
Why are Special Education and Teaching earnings lower at SUNY Buffalo State University?
Lower starting pay at SUNY Buffalo State University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →