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

Cedarville's education program delivers something unexpected: graduates out-earn most Ohio competitors while carrying substantially less debt. With first-year earnings at $38,378, this program ranks in the 60th percentile statewide—ahead of schools like Miami University—yet debt loads run $6,000 below the state median. That 0.55 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates can realistically manage their monthly payments on a teacher's salary, a genuine advantage in a field where financial strain is common.

The national picture looks weaker at the 26th percentile, but that's misleading for an Ohio family. Your child will likely teach in-state where these earnings are competitive, and the lighter debt burden creates breathing room that matters more than an extra $2,000 in starting salary. The modest 2% earnings growth over four years is typical for education—teachers generally start near their eventual salary range—so these numbers reflect the field's reality rather than a program-specific problem.

The caveat: fewer than 30 recent graduates means this data could shift with the next cohort. But if your student plans to teach in Ohio and values graduating with manageable debt, this program delivers better financial positioning than most alternatives in the state. The lower debt matters more than topping the earnings charts, especially when you're already beating 60% of in-state competition.