Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degree) at Boston College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$43,082

Est. from national median (348 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$27,000

Est. from national median (122 programs)

Analysis

A teaching credential from one of the nation's most selective universities comes with significant uncertainty: neither the earnings nor debt figures here represent actual outcomes for Boston College education graduates, but rather estimates drawn from similar programs nationwide. Given the institution's 16% admission rate and highly credentialed student body, actual outcomes could differ substantially—potentially better, given the school's resources and network.

The estimated numbers suggest a first-year salary around $43,000 against $27,000 in debt, yielding a manageable 0.63 ratio that aligns with national teacher education benchmarks. Massachusetts teaching salaries vary widely by district, with suburban Boston districts often paying considerably more than the state median of $38,734. Boston College's location and reputation could open doors to higher-paying districts, though starting teaching salaries are ultimately constrained by union contracts and experience-based pay scales regardless of where you earned your degree.

The core question is whether Boston College's premium matters in education. Teaching credentials are relatively standardized, and the salary bump from attending a prestigious university may be modest compared to other fields. If your child is receiving significant financial aid or has specific reasons to attend Boston College (location, campus culture, dual major opportunities), the program could work well. Without aid, however, paying full private-school tuition for a teaching credential that peer Massachusetts programs deliver at much lower cost deserves careful consideration of your family's financial situation.

Where Boston College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Massachusetts

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Massachusetts (24 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Boston CollegeChestnut Hill	$67,680	$43,082*	—	$27,000*	—
Massachusetts College of Art and DesignBoston	$14,960	$39,251*	—	$27,000*	0.69
Bridgewater State UniversityBridgewater	$11,389	$38,216*	$47,965	$27,000*	0.71
National Median	—	$43,082*	—	$26,221*	0.61

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas graduates

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in computer science. May specialize in a field of computer science, such as the design and function of computers or operations and research analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to mathematical concepts, statistics, and actuarial science and to the application of original and standardized mathematical techniques in solving specific problems and situations. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in the agricultural sciences. Includes teachers of agronomy, dairy sciences, fisheries management, horticultural sciences, poultry sciences, range management, and agricultural soil conservation. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in biological sciences. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in forestry and conservation science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in the physical sciences, except chemistry and physics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching, and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to the chemical and physical properties and compositional changes of substances. Work may include providing instruction in the methods of qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching, and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in environmental science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Physics Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to the laws of matter and energy. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Geography Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in geography. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in psychology, such as child, clinical, and developmental psychology, and psychological counseling. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Boston College, approximately 13% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 348 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.