Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 742 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$227,637 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
93.4 yrsModeled economic break-even
−89%Modeled 10-year ROI
$47,730Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$47,730Median reported earnings · year 4
$47,149Average reported earnings · year 5
$26,000Median federal debt
15thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
742Reporting programs
701With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $35,034
- Federal debt
- $15,500
- Reporting programs
- 46
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $38,349
- Federal debt
- $13,568
- Reporting programs
- 184
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $47,730
- Federal debt
- $26,000
- Reporting programs
- 742
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $58,135
- Federal debt
- $20,089
- Reporting programs
- 7
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $58,916
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 385
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $87,754
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 7
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $59,670
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $54,842
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 7
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $54,617
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 9
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$44,177National median$47,73075th percentile$51,784
701 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1College of Staten Island CUNY$75,6372CUNY Hunter College$73,8573Monroe University$73,5374St. John's University-New York$69,4395University of the Pacific$69,3426CUNY York College$67,8627Hofstra University$67,8478CUNY Queens College$67,2219Pacific Lutheran University$66,84810American University$66,160Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Education Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1081 · 11 crosswalk linksElementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationSOC 25-2021 · 8 crosswalk linksSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationSOC 25-2031 · 8 crosswalk linksMiddle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationSOC 25-2022 · 7 crosswalk linksKindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationSOC 25-2012 · 6 crosswalk linksPreschool Teachers, Except Special EducationSOC 25-2011 · 6 crosswalk linksTeachers and Instructors, All OtherSOC 25-3099 · 3 crosswalk linksSelf-Enrichment TeachersSOC 25-3021 · 2 crosswalk linksAdult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language InstructorsSOC 25-3011 · 1 crosswalk linksNO MATCHSOC 99-9999 · 1 crosswalk linksPostsecondary Teachers, All OtherSOC 25-1199 · 1 crosswalk linksTeaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special EducationSOC 25-9042 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | College of Staten Island CUNYBachelor's Degree | Staten Island, NY | $75,637 | $11,854 | +51% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | CUNY Hunter CollegeBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $73,857 | $10,500 | +50% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Monroe UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bronx, NY | $73,537 | $21,450 | +20% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | St. John's University-New YorkBachelor's Degree | Queens, NY | $69,439 | $27,000 | -19% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | University of the PacificBachelor's Degree | Stockton, CA | $69,342 | $23,562 | -14% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | CUNY York CollegeBachelor's Degree | Jamaica, NY | $67,862 | Not available | +16% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | Hofstra UniversityBachelor's Degree | Hempstead, NY | $67,847 | $25,359 | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | CUNY Queens CollegeBachelor's Degree | Queens, NY | $67,221 | $13,100 | +13% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | Pacific Lutheran UniversityBachelor's Degree | Tacoma, WA | $66,848 | $19,500 | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | American UniversityBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $66,160 | $27,000 | -39% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | New York UniversityBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $64,640 | $19,455 | -40% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | University of Illinois ChicagoBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $64,100 | $16,750 | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Elon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Elon, NC | $63,041 | $20,000 | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Western Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bellingham, WA | $62,500 | $22,000 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Molloy UniversityBachelor's Degree | Rockville Centre, NY | $62,479 | $27,000 | -37% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Seton Hall UniversityBachelor's Degree | South Orange, NJ | $62,399 | $27,000 | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | State University of New York at CortlandBachelor's Degree | Cortland, NY | $62,275 | $25,902 | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Saint Peter's UniversityBachelor's Degree | Jersey City, NJ | $62,040 | $26,627 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | Boston CollegeBachelor's Degree | Chestnut Hill, MA | $61,719 | $18,000 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Centenary UniversityBachelor's Degree | Hackettstown, NJ | $61,358 | $27,000 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Washington State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pullman, WA | $61,304 | $22,960 | -32% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | North Seattle CollegeBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $61,250 | $13,404 | -27% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | Assumption UniversityBachelor's Degree | Worcester, MA | $61,136 | $27,000 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | University of UtahBachelor's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $61,081 | $25,472 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | Heritage UniversityBachelor's Degree | Toppenish, WA | $60,999 | $20,049 | -33% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | University of ScrantonBachelor's Degree | Scranton, PA | $60,846 | $27,000 | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Bowie State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bowie, MD | $60,746 | Not available | -39% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | University of Alaska AnchorageBachelor's Degree | Anchorage, AK | $60,612 | $27,750 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Caldwell UniversityBachelor's Degree | Caldwell, NJ | $60,433 | Not available | -45% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | Fresno Pacific UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fresno, CA | $60,338 | $25,000 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | Rider UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lawrenceville, NJ | $60,178 | $26,466 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | Texas Christian UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fort Worth, TX | $60,125 | $22,287 | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | Whitworth UniversityBachelor's Degree | Spokane, WA | $60,010 | $27,000 | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | Whitworth University-Adult Degree ProgramsBachelor's Degree | Spokane, WA | $60,010 | $27,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 35 | San Francisco State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $59,993 | $12,692 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $59,736 | $17,342 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | Saint Joseph's University - PhiladelphiaBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $59,717 | $27,000 | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Central Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ellensburg, WA | $59,659 | $20,205 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | Mount St. Mary's UniversityBachelor's Degree | Emmitsburg, MD | $59,630 | $23,250 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | Saint Martin's UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lacey, WA | $59,433 | Not available | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | The College of New JerseyBachelor's Degree | Ewing, NJ | $59,328 | $26,000 | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | Chicago State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $59,296 | $53,774 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | Salve Regina UniversityBachelor's Degree | Newport, RI | $59,178 | $27,000 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | Kean UniversityBachelor's Degree | Union, NJ | $58,885 | $27,000 | -40% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | CUNY Brooklyn CollegeBachelor's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $58,828 | $10,862 | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | Endicott CollegeBachelor's Degree | Beverly, MA | $58,749 | Not available | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | SUNY OneontaBachelor's Degree | Oneonta, NY | $58,496 | $21,500 | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | North American UniversityBachelor's Degree | Stafford, TX | $58,363 | Not available | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | Northwest UniversityBachelor's Degree | Kirkland, WA | $58,134 | $23,168 | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended EducationBachelor's Degree | Kirkland, WA | $58,134 | $23,168 | -59% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | Florida Gulf Coast UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fort Myers, FL | $58,115 | $19,489 | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | Saint Xavier UniversityBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $58,097 | $29,854 | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | University of Maryland-College ParkBachelor's Degree | College Park, MD | $58,086 | $19,500 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | Florida SouthWestern State CollegeBachelor's Degree | Fort Myers, FL | $57,918 | $12,750 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | Utah Tech UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint George, UT | $57,758 | $27,565 | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | Iona UniversityBachelor's Degree | New Rochelle, NY | $57,669 | $24,990 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | State University of New York at OswegoBachelor's Degree | Oswego, NY | $57,622 | $23,742 | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | SUNY Old WestburyBachelor's Degree | Old Westbury, NY | $57,360 | $23,250 | -45% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | University of Rhode IslandBachelor's Degree | Kingston, RI | $56,999 | $24,026 | -55% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | Marquette UniversityBachelor's Degree | Milwaukee, WI | $56,955 | $23,250 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | Stockton UniversityBachelor's Degree | Galloway, NJ | $56,838 | $39,000 | -55% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | George Fox UniversityBachelor's Degree | Newberg, OR | $56,768 | $25,000 | -62% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | Jackson State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Jackson, MS | $56,747 | $31,000 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | Salem State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Salem, MA | $56,509 | Not available | -53% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | Moravian UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bethlehem, PA | $56,484 | $27,000 | -62% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | Baylor UniversityBachelor's Degree | Waco, TX | $56,476 | $22,250 | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | University of Massachusetts-BostonBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $56,460 | $29,000 | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | Martin Luther CollegeBachelor's Degree | New Ulm, MN | $56,435 | $21,500 | -55% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | St. John Fisher UniversityBachelor's Degree | Rochester, NY | $56,411 | $27,000 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | University of DelawareBachelor's Degree | Newark, DE | $56,301 | $26,000 | -55% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | University of ConnecticutBachelor's Degree | Storrs, CT | $56,268 | $25,081 | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | University of Connecticut-Waterbury CampusBachelor's Degree | Waterbury, CT | $56,268 | $25,081 | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | University of Connecticut-Avery PointBachelor's Degree | Groton, CT | $56,268 | $25,081 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | University of Connecticut-StamfordBachelor's Degree | Stamford, CT | $56,268 | $25,081 | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusBachelor's Degree | Hartford, CT | $56,268 | $25,081 | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | Towson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Towson, MD | $56,254 | $18,750 | -55% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | Point Loma Nazarene UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Diego, CA | $56,198 | $25,000 | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 78 | University of Nevada-Las VegasBachelor's Degree | Las Vegas, NV | $56,095 | $24,913 | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | Florida Atlantic UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boca Raton, FL | $56,073 | $17,661 | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 80 | Saint Anselm CollegeBachelor's Degree | Manchester, NH | $56,049 | $27,000 | -65% | Negative payoff |
| 81 | State University of New York at PlattsburghBachelor's Degree | Plattsburgh, NY | $55,996 | Not available | -56% | Negative payoff |
| 82 | Boricua CollegeBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $55,959 | $10,334 | -55% | Negative payoff |
| 83 | Coppin State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $55,944 | $33,865 | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 84 | CUNY City CollegeBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $55,895 | $9,916 | -44% | Negative payoff |
| 85 | Emmanuel CollegeBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $55,866 | $27,000 | -62% | Negative payoff |
| 86 | Morgan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $55,837 | $30,604 | -55% | Negative payoff |
| 87 | Salisbury UniversityBachelor's Degree | Salisbury, MD | $55,807 | $22,804 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 88 | Eastern Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cheney, WA | $55,671 | $20,885 | -55% | Negative payoff |
| 89 | Point UniversityBachelor's Degree | West Point, GA | $55,626 | Not available | -62% | Negative payoff |
| 90 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoBachelor's Degree | San Luis Obispo, CA | $55,543 | $18,090 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 91 | University of Nevada-RenoBachelor's Degree | Reno, NV | $55,532 | $22,700 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 92 | Temple UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $55,494 | $26,000 | -64% | Negative payoff |
| 93 | University of Hawaii at ManoaBachelor's Degree | Honolulu, HI | $55,490 | $19,334 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 94 | La Salle UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $55,322 | Not available | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 95 | Weber State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ogden, UT | $55,299 | $18,670 | -53% | Negative payoff |
| 96 | Miami Dade CollegeBachelor's Degree | Miami, FL | $55,276 | Not available | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 97 | Vanderbilt UniversityBachelor's Degree | Nashville, TN | $55,188 | Not available | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 98 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignBachelor's Degree | Champaign, IL | $55,105 | $19,500 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 99 | Georgia State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $54,899 | $26,750 | -59% | Negative payoff |
| 100 | Boston UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $54,766 | $27,000 | -65% | Negative payoff |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.