Teacher Education at Western Oregon University

Monmouth, OR · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
64 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
65
Optimistic
64
Base Case
70
Pessimistic
Earnings $44,845/yr (8% vs median)
AI Risk High (30% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (412,300 openings/yr)
ROI 12.5x earnings multiple (4.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #75 of 679 Teacher Education programs Top 25%

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 $557K $553K $528K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.6x 12.5x 12.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.5x 4.5x 4.3x
Probability of Field Employment 76% 72% 62%
DegreeOutlook Score 65 64 70

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$44,100
Out-of-state: $122,940 (4.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$73,160
-66% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,250
6.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,539
24% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $44,845 at Western Oregon University come in 8% above the national median of $41,412 for Teacher Education programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Teacher Education programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Teacher Education's typical career paths, with 30% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 5% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $44,845 far exceeding the $22,250 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #75 of 679 nationally, this is a top-5% Teacher Education program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $44,845 to $55,539 over five years — a 24% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Western Oregon University

Western Oregon University accepts 99% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 3,211 students in Monmouth, OR.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Oregon University →

Top Career Paths

Postsecondary teachers, all other $78,490/yr
Education teachers, postsecondary $72,090/yr
Training and development specialists $65,850/yr
View all 11 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Teacher Education at Other Schools

Other Majors at Western Oregon University

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 Teacher Education at Western Oregon University?
A score of 64/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Teacher Education field.
Will AI replace Teacher Education careers?
With 30% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $528,087 in decade earnings vs $557,085 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Western Oregon University's Teacher Education program stand out?
Ranked #75 of 679 programs nationally, Western Oregon University lands in the top 25%. 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 →