Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at Brigham Young University-Idaho

BYU-Idaho's teacher education program offers an unusual tradeoff: exceptionally low debt paired with declining earnings that should concern prospective teachers. While graduates leave with just $15,335 in debt—among the lowest 5% nationally for this field—their earnings actually drop 11% between year one and year four, from $41,342 to $36,811. This backward trajectory is particularly troubling in a profession where early-career teachers typically see steady, if modest, salary growth as they gain experience and advance on district pay scales.

Within Idaho, this program ranks in the 60th percentile for earnings, essentially middle-of-the-pack despite being affiliated with a well-established university. Graduates from Idaho State and Boise State earn roughly $5,000-$6,000 more after four years, which compounds significantly over a teaching career. The earnings decline here suggests graduates may be facing challenges with job stability, moving to lower-paying districts, or leaving classroom teaching altogether—none of which bode well for long-term career satisfaction.

The silver lining is genuine: graduating with under $16,000 in debt means monthly payments around $170, manageable even on a declining salary. For families prioritizing minimal debt above all else, particularly those within the LDS community where BYU-Idaho offers substantial tuition advantages, this could still work. But parents should ask hard questions about why earnings drop when they should be rising.