Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 8 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Negative payoff
−$287,175 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.
With these assumptions, the added earnings do not recover the cost within ten years.
—Modeled economic break-even
−112%Modeled 10-year ROI
$42,019Observed earnings · year 4
Not reachedMaximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
Observed national outcomes
$42,019Median reported earnings · year 4
$37,631Average reported earnings · year 5
$26,625Median federal debt
7thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
1IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
6With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 2 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
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
- $43,694
- Federal debt
- $25,750
- Reporting programs
- 8
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $42,019
- Federal debt
- $26,625
- Reporting programs
- 8
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $62,193
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 53
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $70,060
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 6
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $57,842
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
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$35,900National median$42,01975th percentile$44,270
6 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Find the colleges that fit your constraints
Keep this exact federal field and credential fixed, then narrow the reporting colleges by location, sector and federal debt.
8 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1CUNY Queens CollegeQueens, NY · PublicYear-4 earnings$79,175Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$4,1952Liberty UniversityLynchburg, VA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$46,899Federal debt$27,000Annual net price$29,3573Miami University-OxfordOxford, OH · PublicYear-4 earnings$44,270Federal debt$24,500Annual net price$28,3844University of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu, HI · PublicYear-4 earnings$39,768Federal debt$17,750Annual net price$15,6645Kent State University at KentKent, OH · PublicYear-4 earnings$35,900Federal debt$29,345Annual net price$20,7876University of Puerto Rico-Rio PiedrasSan Juan, PR · PublicYear-4 earnings$33,207Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$9,1757The University of Arizona Global CampusChandler, AZ · PublicYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$35,391Annual net price$31,2668University of Northern IowaCedar Falls, IA · PublicYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$26,250Annual net price$15,901
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1CUNY Queens College$79,1752Liberty University$46,8993Miami University-Oxford$44,2704University of Hawaii at Manoa$39,7685Kent State University at Kent$35,9006University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras$33,2077The University of Arizona Global CampusNot available8University of Northern IowaNot availableObserved year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-16%Projected employment growth →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$72,040 median wage1,065,210 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-2031-0.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 63.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$48,780–$107,600 10th–90th percentileMiddle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$64,370 median wage620,090 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-2022-0.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 38.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$48,080–$102,540 10th–90th percentileElementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$63,970 median wage1,388,390 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-2021-0.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 87.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$47,960–$104,340 10th–90th percentileKindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$62,680 median wage108,870 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-2012-0.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 11.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$46,990–$101,830 10th–90th percentileAdult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors$61,540 median wage37,310 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-3011-13.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 3.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$41,810–$98,030 10th–90th percentilePreschool Teachers, Except Special Education$38,140 median wage478,780 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-2011+4.5% projected employment, 2025–35 · 66.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: Associate's degree$28,990–$61,390 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
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 | CUNY Queens CollegeBachelor's Degree | Queens, NY | $79,175 | Not available | +74% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | Liberty UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lynchburg, VA | $46,899 | $27,000 | -94% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | Miami University-OxfordBachelor's Degree | Oxford, OH | $44,270 | $24,500 | -102% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | University of Hawaii at ManoaBachelor's Degree | Honolulu, HI | $39,768 | $17,750 | -122% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Kent State University at KentBachelor's Degree | Kent, OH | $35,900 | $29,345 | -135% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | University of Puerto Rico-Rio PiedrasBachelor's Degree | San Juan, PR | $33,207 | Not available | -154% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | The University of Arizona Global CampusBachelor's Degree | Chandler, AZ | Not available | $35,391 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $31,266 |
| 8 | University of Northern IowaBachelor's Degree | Cedar Falls, IA | Not available | $26,250 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $15,901 |
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.