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

Cleveland State's teaching program leaves graduates earning significantly less than they would at most other Ohio schools. While the median starting salary of $32,823 isn't unusual for teaching—and the debt load of $27,000 is manageable—the concerning part is the comparison: this program ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally and sits below the median for Ohio programs. Graduates from Ohio Dominican and Capital University, for instance, earn $10,000 more right out of the gate doing essentially the same work in the same state.

The silver lining is that earnings grow 20% by year four, reaching $39,354, which narrows the gap somewhat. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.82 is also reasonable for education—you're looking at monthly payments your child can likely handle on a teacher's salary. But here's the question: if your child is committed to teaching in Ohio, why accept starting $3,000-$7,000 behind peers from Bowling Green, Cincinnati, or other state schools?

The practical issue may be Cleveland State's open admission policy and the credentials of incoming students. If your child is a strong student who could get into more selective Ohio programs, those alternatives would likely position them better in the job market. If Cleveland State is the accessible option that gets them into teaching, the debt is manageable—just know they'll be playing catch-up on salary from day one.