Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at Cameron University

Based on comparable Oklahoma teacher education programs, this degree appears positioned right at the state median—a $44,135 first-year salary and $25,250 in estimated debt. That's a manageable 0.57 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates would owe roughly seven months of their starting salary. For context, similar programs across Oklahoma range from about $44,000 to $51,000 in early earnings, with Cameron's estimates falling at the lower end of that spectrum.

The earnings trajectory deserves attention: while peer programs suggest a $44,135 start, Cameron's actual four-year data shows $41,991—a slight dip rather than the growth you'd typically expect. This could reflect Oklahoma's teacher salary structures or retention patterns, but it suggests new teachers shouldn't bank on significant raises in their first few years. Compare this to Oklahoma State graduates who start around $51,000, nearly $7,000 higher, though Cameron's estimated debt load is somewhat lighter.

For families of first-generation college students (41% receive Pell grants here), the practical calculation is straightforward: roughly $300-350 monthly loan payments on a $44,000 teacher salary is tight but doable, especially given Oklahoma's lower cost of living. The uncertainty around these estimates matters less than the fundamental question of whether your child wants to teach—because across Oklahoma programs, the financial returns cluster tightly around these figures regardless of which school you choose.