Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at Carson-Newman University

Carson-Newman graduates earn about $2,700 more than the typical Tennessee teacher education graduate and nearly $2,000 above the national median—a meaningful advantage in a field where starting salaries are largely determined by state pay scales. That 60th percentile ranking among Tennessee programs suggests this school's preparation translates to slightly better initial placement outcomes, though the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means a few high earners could be skewing the picture.

The $26,500 debt load sits right at the national median but above Tennessee's typical $23,125, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61—manageable for education majors but not exceptional. Given that first-year teachers in Tennessee typically start around $40,000, these graduates appear to be accessing slightly better districts or grade levels. The real question is sustainability: teaching salaries grow slowly, so that $26,500 will take years to pay down even with loan forgiveness programs.

For families committed to education careers, Carson-Newman positions graduates reasonably well within Tennessee's competitive teacher job market. But with 39% of students receiving Pell grants, lower-income families should carefully consider whether the extra $3,400 in debt over the state median is worth the modest earnings bump—especially if their child might qualify for similar outcomes at a public university with lower sticker prices.