Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at Ashford University

This Teacher Education program at Ashford University presents a concerning financial picture that should give any parent serious pause. While the program ranks in the 60th percentile among California teaching programs—meaning it's actually above the state median of $32,480—it falls dramatically short when compared nationally, landing in just the 5th percentile with earnings of $33,594 versus a national median of $41,809. More troubling, graduates' earnings actually decline by 5% from year one to year four, suggesting limited career progression.

The debt burden compounds these concerns significantly. At $41,274, graduates carry nearly double the national average debt load of $26,000 and almost twice California's median of $22,140. This creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.23, meaning students graduate owing more than their entire first year's salary. When you consider that top California programs like Point Loma Nazarene produce graduates earning $47,000 with likely lower debt burdens, Ashford's value proposition becomes questionable.

For a teaching career—already known for modest starting salaries—taking on this level of debt while earning below-average wages creates a challenging financial foundation. The robust sample size gives confidence in these numbers, making this a case where the financial risk appears to outweigh the credential benefits.