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Teacher Education at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith

Fort Smith, AR · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $40,565/yr (-2% vs median)

AI Risk High (30% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (412,300 openings/yr)

ROI 16.0x earnings multiple (8.0x out-of-state)

Ranked #211 of 679 Teacher Education programs Top 50%

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	$440K	$443K	$432K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	15.9x	16.0x	15.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	8.0x	8.0x	7.8x
Probability of Field Employment	76%	72%	62%
DegreeOutlook Score	57	56	65

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$27,624

Out-of-state: $55,080 (8.0x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$40,388

-46% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,652

5.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$42,085

4% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $40,565/yr, roughly in line with the $41,412 national median for Teacher Education. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Teacher Education programs nationally.

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.

With first-year pay of $40,565 far exceeding the $19,652 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #211 of 679 Teacher Education programs, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $42,085 are relatively flat compared to the $40,565 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About University of Arkansas-Fort Smith

University of Arkansas-Fort Smith accepts 81% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a compact campus enrolling 4,133 students in Fort Smith, AR.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith →

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 University of Arkansas-Fort Smith

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 Teacher Education at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith?

A score of 56/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Teacher Education field.

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 $432,344 in decade earnings vs $439,554 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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