Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach

This program's numbers require careful interpretation because the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates—makes them less reliable than data from larger programs. That caveat matters because the earnings figure of $19,888 looks alarming at first glance, sitting in just the 11th percentile nationally for teacher education certificates.

Here's the nuance: among Virginia's limited options for this certificate (only six schools offer it), this program actually ranks at the 60th percentile—meaning it's performing above the state median for the same credential. The broader issue is that teacher education certificates in Virginia appear to lead to significantly lower initial earnings than the national average ($28,038). The debt load of $17,579 is modest in absolute terms, and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.88 means a graduate would owe less than one year's salary—though that calculation matters less when the salary itself is barely above $20,000.

The fundamental question is whether this certificate serves as a stepping stone to better-paying teaching positions that require additional credentials, or if these earnings represent the ceiling. Given that 62% of Bryant & Stratton students receive Pell grants, many families here need this to lead somewhere quickly. At under $20,000 in first-year earnings, this program likely makes sense only if it's part of a clear pathway to full teacher licensure and substantially higher pay within a couple years.