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Special Education and Teaching at Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $52,912/yr (20% vs median)

AI Risk High (44% exposed)

Job Market Large (34,900 openings/yr)

ROI 17.3x earnings multiple (5.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #2 of 170 Special Education and Teaching programs Top 1%

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	$658K	$642K	$592K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	17.7x	17.3x	15.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.9x	5.8x	5.3x
Probability of Field Employment	81%	73%	58%
DegreeOutlook Score	64	63	64

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$37,144

Out-of-state: $111,412 (5.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$74,720

-101% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$27,000

6.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$66,702

26% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $52,912 per year, Special Education and Teaching graduates from Western Washington University earn slightly above the $44,105 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 17.3x 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 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $27,000 debt-to-$52,912 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

A #2 ranking out of 170 programs puts Western Washington University in the top 1% for Special Education and Teaching. By our composite measure, very few programs deliver stronger results.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $52,912 to $66,702 shows 26% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Western Washington University

With 91% of applicants admitted, Western Washington University prioritizes broad access, enrolling 13,574 students in Bellingham, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Washington University →

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

Compare Special Education and Teaching

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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 Western Washington University's Special Education and Teaching program score?

This program scores 63/100, 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 Western Washington University rank so high for Special Education and Teaching?

The #2 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 →