Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at Bryan College-Dayton

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74 suggests manageable borrowing for a teaching career, though the figures themselves deserve scrutiny. Based on four comparable subject-area education programs in Tennessee, graduates can expect first-year salaries around $40,100—slightly below the national median for this credential but right at the state average. The estimated debt of $29,625 from similar Tennessee programs at private institutions runs about $2,300 higher than the state median, though it's still within the range where teacher loan forgiveness programs could make a meaningful dent.

The real uncertainty here is how Bryan College's specific program compares to its Tennessee peers. Lee University graduates in this field earn $45,248 in their first year—13% more than the state baseline these estimates draw from—while Carson-Newman sits at $42,222. Without knowing where Bryan College falls in that range, you're working with an incomplete picture. Teaching salaries in Tennessee vary by district and certification area, so the subject specialization your child chooses matters significantly.

If your child is committed to teaching in Tennessee and Bryan College offers the certification and subject focus they want, the estimated debt load appears serviceable on a teacher's salary. But confirm that the program leads to proper state certification and investigate whether graduates are actually landing teaching positions—that matters more than any earnings estimate.