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Special Education and Teaching at University of South Florida

Tampa, FL · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $50,975/yr (16% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

Job Market Large (34,900 openings/yr)

ROI 20.3x earnings multiple (7.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #6 of 170 Special Education and Teaching programs Top 5%

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	$524K	$521K	$496K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	20.4x	20.3x	19.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.6x	7.5x	7.2x
Probability of Field Employment	81%	73%	58%
DegreeOutlook Score	60	59	60

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$25,640

Out-of-state: $69,296 (7.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$40,172

-57% less than sticker · See by income

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$52,875

4% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $50,975 at University of South Florida come in 16% above the national median of $44,105 for Special Education and Teaching programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 20.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Special Education and Teaching programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Special Education and Teaching's typical career paths, with 44% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 5% gap from the optimistic case.

At #6 of 170 nationally, this is a top-5% Special Education and Teaching program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $52,875 are relatively flat compared to the $50,975 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About University of South Florida

A 41% admission rate makes University of South Florida accessible to a wide range of qualified students, serving a student body of 36,299 in Tampa, FL.

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

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

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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 Special Education and Teaching at University of South Florida?

A score of 59/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Special Education and Teaching field.

Will AI replace Special Education and Teaching careers?

With 44% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $496,267 in decade earnings vs $524,048 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes University of South Florida's Special Education and Teaching program stand out?

Ranked #6 of 170 programs nationally, University of South Florida lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

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