Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at Ball State University

Ball State turns out teachers earning $46,347 in their first year—notably above the national median and right at Indiana's state average. That places this program in the 76th percentile nationally, making it a strong choice among the thousand-plus colleges offering subject-specific teacher preparation. The debt burden of $25,000 is lighter than typical for education majors, yielding a manageable 0.54 debt-to-earnings ratio that graduates should be able to handle on a teacher's salary.

The flatline in earnings from year one to year four reflects the reality of teacher salary schedules rather than a program weakness. Most Indiana school districts follow rigid pay scales where salary increases come from years of service and additional credentials, not from the passage of time alone. Ball State graduates start strong and maintain that position—they're not falling behind, they're just moving through the same district-level pay structures as everyone else. Within Indiana, this program sits at the 60th percentile, trailing only a handful of private schools like Franklin College that may benefit from regional placement advantages.

For parents, the calculation is straightforward: your child will graduate with less debt than the state average and earn more than most education majors nationally. The earnings plateau is baked into the profession itself, not Ball State's preparation quality. If teaching is the calling, this program delivers solid training at a reasonable cost.