Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at Arkansas Tech University

Arkansas Tech's teacher education program sits in the middle of Arkansas options but lags significantly behind the state's top performers. First-year graduates earn $37,244—about $2,500 below the state median and roughly $10,000 less than what University of Arkansas grads make in the same field. That gap widens by year four, when earnings actually drop to $35,227, a decline that's unusual even for education programs where modest growth is typical.

The debt load of $24,351 is reasonable and slightly below Arkansas averages, keeping the program financially manageable with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. For students committed to teaching in Arkansas who need an accessible entry point (the school admits 96% of applicants), this provides a path to certification without crushing debt. However, the earnings trajectory raises questions about career progression or employment stability that warrant investigation—are graduates moving to higher-paying districts, taking on additional roles, or facing job market challenges?

If your child is set on teaching in Arkansas, consider whether paying slightly more to attend University of Arkansas or Harding University might yield returns worth the investment. Those programs produce graduates earning $5,000-$10,000 more annually, which compounds significantly over a 30-year career. Arkansas Tech works as a budget-conscious option, but the declining earnings pattern suggests graduates may need to be proactive about seeking advancement opportunities or additional certifications to boost their earning potential.