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

Boise State's teaching credential program sits squarely in the middle of Idaho's options—at the 40th percentile both statewide and nationally—but manages debt better than most competitors. The $27,880 median debt burden ranks in the 18th percentile nationally, meaning 82% of comparable programs leave graduates with more debt. That's a meaningful advantage when entering a profession where first-year salaries hover around $41,000.

The earnings trajectory tells a familiar story for teaching: modest income starting around $41,100 with steady but unspectacular growth to $43,600 by year four. This puts graduates slightly below both the national average ($43,082) and state median ($41,618), though not dramatically so. For context, University of Idaho graduates earn about $4,000 more annually, while Idaho State's program trails Boise State by roughly $6,000.

For families focused on Idaho public education careers, this represents a solid middle option. The relatively low debt combined with below-average borrowing costs means graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68—manageable on a teacher's salary and better positioned than programs where debt loads approach or exceed first-year income. The moderate sample size suggests reliable data without cherry-picking outliers. If your child is committed to teaching and values staying in Idaho, this delivers the credential without excessive financial burden.