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Special Education and Teaching at University of South Dakota

Vermillion, SD · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $46,439/yr (5% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

Job Market Large (34,900 openings/yr)

ROI 12.7x earnings multiple (9.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #50 of 170 Special Education and Teaching programs Top 50%

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	$476K	$477K	$462K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.6x	12.7x	12.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	9.2x	9.2x	8.9x
Probability of Field Employment	81%	73%	58%
DegreeOutlook Score	50	49	51

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$37,728

Out-of-state: $51,768 (9.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$76,620

-103% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,000

6.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$47,089

1% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of South Dakota's Special Education and Teaching graduates start at $46,439/yr — above the $44,105 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 12.7x 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 3% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $25,000 debt-to-$46,439 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #50 out of 170 programs, University of South Dakota's Special Education and Teaching offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth is modest: $46,439 to $47,089 over five years (1% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About University of South Dakota

A 99% acceptance rate means University of South Dakota is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 5,239 in Vermillion, SD.

See all programs and financial aid at University of South Dakota →

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

Special Education and Teaching at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of South Dakota

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

How does University of South Dakota's Special Education and Teaching program score?

This program scores 49/100 — on the lower end for Special Education and Teaching. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

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.

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