Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at Bryan College-Dayton

Based on peer programs across Tennessee, this teaching degree carries an estimated $23,832 in debt—about $3,000 less than the national median for education programs. That's a meaningful advantage when you're entering a profession where first-year salaries hover around $41,000. The estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58 suggests graduates could manage repayment on a typical teacher's salary, though it won't be effortless.

The challenge lies in Tennessee's teaching market itself. While similar programs in the state produce first-year earnings around $41,000, that's essentially the same as the national median, meaning location doesn't provide any salary premium. More concerning, nearby competitors like Lipscomb and Lee University see their graduates earning $47,000-$44,000 in their first year—a difference of $3,000-$6,000 annually that compounds over a career. Whether that gap reflects program quality, graduate school districts, or placement support isn't clear from this data.

For families considering this investment, the relatively modest debt load works in your favor, particularly if your child is committed to teaching in Tennessee. But you're taking on uncertainty: these figures come from peer programs because Bryan College's graduate cohort is too small for the Department of Education to publish actual outcomes. That means you're making a financial decision without knowing whether this specific program matches, exceeds, or falls short of those state averages.