Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at Bob Jones University

Bob Jones University's teaching program shows earnings $7,000 below South Carolina's median for teacher education—landing at the 40th percentile statewide. While graduates here earn $36,109 their first year, teachers from nearby North Greenville start at $43,644, and even the state median sits at $40,394. The debt load of $17,000 is admirably low (among the best 5% nationally), creating a manageable 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio. However, that calculation matters less when the earnings themselves lag significantly behind what teachers make elsewhere in the state.

The concerning part isn't just being below average—it's being $4,000 below what teachers typically earn at other South Carolina schools while starting from a similar credential. For a profession where salaries are often set by district-wide scales, these gaps suggest graduates may be entering lower-paying districts or positions. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift with more data, but the pattern is worth noting when comparable programs across South Carolina consistently produce higher starting salaries.

If your child is committed to teaching in South Carolina, investigate why this program's graduates earn notably less than peers from other state schools. The debt advantage helps, but it doesn't offset starting $4,000-$7,000 behind—a gap that compounds over a teaching career.