Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at Augustana University

Based on comparable teacher education programs in South Dakota, this Augustana degree appears positioned right at the state median, with estimated first-year earnings around $44,084 and debt near $27,000. That 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable for a teaching career, particularly compared to many other bachelor's programs where debt often exceeds annual starting salaries. South Dakota's other reported teaching programs show a fairly tight range—most graduates earn between $40,000 and $47,000—suggesting the state's teacher salary structures create relatively consistent early outcomes regardless of institution.

The challenge with Augustana specifically is that we're working entirely from estimates based on peer programs, both in-state and nationally. The actual outcomes for this university's education graduates could differ meaningfully. What we can say is that if Augustana's results track with similar South Dakota programs, your child would enter teaching with debt that's repayable within a reasonable timeframe on a teacher's salary, especially given South Dakota's relatively low cost of living.

The practical question is whether a private university education at Augustana—with its smaller class sizes and selective admissions—delivers enough value over South Dakota's public options like Black Hills State (which reports slightly higher starting earnings) to justify any additional investment beyond these estimates. If the estimated $27,000 debt figure holds and your child plans to teach in South Dakota long-term, the financial fundamentals work, but you'll want to verify actual costs and aid packages before committing.