Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at Central Connecticut State University

Central Connecticut State's teacher education program earns graduates $44,487 in their first year—about $2,700 above the national median but roughly $1,500 below Connecticut's typical teacher education graduate. That matters because you're competing for the same Connecticut teaching positions regardless of which state school you choose. The program ranks in just the 40th percentile among Connecticut's teacher education programs, meaning six out of ten alternatives in-state produce higher-earning graduates. Eastern Connecticut State, for instance, places graduates earning $3,000 more annually.

The debt picture tells a more favorable story: $29,000 is manageable for teaching, resulting in a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. That's actually higher than both state and national medians, but still reasonable for a helping profession. The concerning element is the nearly flat earnings trajectory—just a 2% increase from year one to year four. Most Connecticut teachers see more substantial salary growth as they progress through district pay scales, suggesting either retention challenges or concentration in lower-paying districts.

The bottom line: This program gets you into Connecticut classrooms without crushing debt, but you'll likely start behind peers from higher-ranked state schools. If Central Connecticut is significantly cheaper than Eastern Connecticut or other alternatives, that gap narrows the concern. Otherwise, investigate why graduates here earn less—it could be geographic placement patterns or program reputation among hiring districts.