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Special Education and Teaching at University of West Florida

Pensacola, FL · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $46,643/yr (6% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

Job Market Large (34,900 openings/yr)

ROI 18.8x earnings multiple (6.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #22 of 170 Special Education and Teaching programs Top 25%

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	$477K	$479K	$463K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	18.8x	18.8x	18.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.2x	6.2x	6.0x
Probability of Field Employment	81%	73%	58%
DegreeOutlook Score	55	54	56

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$25,440

Out-of-state: $76,964 (6.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$32,620

-28% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$24,013

6.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$47,301

1% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $46,643 per year, Special Education and Teaching graduates from University of West Florida earn slightly above the $44,105 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 18.8x 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 $24,013 debt-to-$46,643 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #22 out of 170 programs, University of West Florida's Special Education and Teaching program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth is modest: $46,643 to $47,301 over five years (1% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About University of West Florida

University of West Florida accepts 57% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, with a mid-sized student body of 9,042 in Pensacola, FL.

See all programs and financial aid at University of West 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

Special Education and Teaching at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of West Florida

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 West Florida's Special Education and Teaching program score?

This program scores 54/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Special Education and Teaching graduates.

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 does University of West Florida rank so high for Special Education and Teaching?

The #22 ranking out of 170 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

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