Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at Buena Vista University

Buena Vista's teacher education program carries nearly $42,000 in debt—almost double both the national and Iowa medians of around $26,000-$27,000—which would be manageable if earnings followed suit, but they don't. Graduates start just above the Iowa median at $42,834, placing them around the 60th percentile statewide, then see earnings dip to under $40,000 by year four. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.98 means graduates are borrowing nearly a full year's salary, which is concerning when several Iowa programs—including Iowa State and the University of Iowa—produce similar or better outcomes with significantly less debt.

The earnings decline between years one and four is worth examining closely. While some variation is normal in education careers depending on district placement and whether graduates pursue additional credentials, a 7% drop suggests graduates may be finding it difficult to secure stable teaching positions or are moving into roles with compressed salary scales. At the same time, Buena Vista serves a largely lower-income student body (43% Pell-eligible), so for some families this may still represent meaningful social mobility despite the debt burden.

For Iowa families specifically, this program falls in the middle of the pack on earnings but at the expensive end on debt. If your child is committed to teaching in Iowa, look hard at public options like Iowa State or UNI, where similar earnings typically come with substantially lower borrowing.