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Teacher Education at Western Illinois University

Macomb, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
58 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
59
Optimistic
58
Base Case
61
Pessimistic
Earnings $44,376/yr (6% vs median)
AI Risk High (43% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (444,600 openings/yr)
ROI 8.6x earnings multiple
Ranked #133 of 348 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 $520K $517K $491K
Earnings Multiple 8.7x 8.6x 8.2x
Probability of Field Employment 78% 70% 55%
DegreeOutlook Score 59 58 61

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$59,808
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$46,368
22% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,486
16% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Western Illinois University's Teacher Education graduates start at $44,376/yr — above the $41,690 national average, though not by a wide margin.

At 8.6x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 43% task exposure — and the 5% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Ranked #133 out of 348 programs, Western Illinois University's Teacher Education offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth is modest: $44,376 to $51,486 over five years (16% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About Western Illinois University

A 75% acceptance rate means Western Illinois University is accessible to most applicants, a smaller institution with 4,939 students in Macomb, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Illinois University →

Top Career Paths

Health specialties teachers, postsecondary $105,620/yr
Atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary $101,390/yr
Forestry and conservation science teachers, postsecondary $100,830/yr
View all 30 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 348 schools offering Teacher Education →

Teacher Education at Other Schools

Northeastern Illinois University ($63,615) CUNY Queens College ($58,894) William Paterson University of New Jersey ($58,854) Houston Christian University ($58,604) Pacific Lutheran University ($57,683) Texas Christian University ($57,665) University of Louisville ($56,188) The College of New Jersey ($56,055)

Other Majors at Western Illinois University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($74,490) Construction Management ($70,789) Engineering, General ($66,112) Engineering Technology, General ($64,762) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($62,578) Accounting and Related Services ($49,900) Agriculture, General ($48,509) Human Resources Management and Services ($47,467)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Teacher Education trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

How does Western Illinois University's Teacher Education program score?
This program scores 58/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Teacher Education graduates.
How vulnerable is Teacher Education to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Teacher Education careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 43% 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 →