Program Analysis
Western Michigan University's Special Education and Teaching graduates start at $47,868/yr — above the $44,105 national average, though not by a wide margin.
The earnings-to-cost ratio of 8.2x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.
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 4% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $31,000 represents roughly 8 months of the $47,868 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
At #77 of 170 Special Education and Teaching programs, Western Michigan University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Five-year earnings of $49,952 are relatively flat compared to the $47,868 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.