Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language: is this graduate/professional certificate worth it?
National picture across 6 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$70,060 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$70,060Median year-4 earnings
$22,526Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$70,060Median reported earnings · year 4
$82,217Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
39thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
6With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 1 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$58,159National median$70,06075th percentile$74,874
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.
6 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1St. John's University-New YorkQueens, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$106,313Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$29,9992Niagara UniversityNiagara University, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$81,188Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$17,2483Olivet Nazarene UniversityBourbonnais, IL · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$74,874Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$20,7294Grand Canyon UniversityPhoenix, AZ · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$65,245Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$22,4725Concordia University-NebraskaSeward, NE · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$58,159Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$23,9656Hamline UniversitySaint Paul, MN · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$55,966Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$20,744
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1St. John's University-New York$106,3132Niagara University$81,1883Olivet Nazarene University$74,8744Grand Canyon University$65,2455Concordia University-Nebraska$58,1596Hamline University$55,966Observed 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. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. John's University-New YorkGraduate/Professional Certificate | Queens, NY | $106,313 | Not available | Baseline needed | $29,999 |
| 2 | Niagara UniversityGraduate/Professional Certificate | Niagara University, NY | $81,188 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,248 |
| 3 | Olivet Nazarene UniversityGraduate/Professional Certificate | Bourbonnais, IL | $74,874 | Not available | Baseline needed | $20,729 |
| 4 | Grand Canyon UniversityGraduate/Professional Certificate | Phoenix, AZ | $65,245 | Not available | Baseline needed | $22,472 |
| 5 | Concordia University-NebraskaGraduate/Professional Certificate | Seward, NE | $58,159 | Not available | Baseline needed | $23,965 |
| 6 | Hamline UniversityGraduate/Professional Certificate | Saint Paul, MN | $55,966 | Not available | Baseline needed | $20,744 |
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.