Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at College of Coastal Georgia

College of Coastal Georgia's teacher education program delivers earnings slightly below Georgia's median for the field, but its exceptional advantage lies in debt management. With a median debt of just $17,125—roughly one-third of what Georgia teacher education graduates typically carry—students here start their careers with unusual financial breathing room. That's the 95th percentile nationally for low debt, meaning only 5% of comparable programs nationwide leave students with less to repay.

The earnings picture is more modest. First-year salaries of $40,747 trail the state median by about $1,000 and remain essentially flat through year four. Among Georgia's 40 teacher education programs, this ranks in the 40th percentile—decidedly middle-of-the-pack. Top programs like Georgia Gwinnett and Georgia College produce graduates earning $6,000-$7,000 more annually. However, in teaching, where salary schedules are often standardized across districts, location and district choice matter as much as your degree source.

The real calculation here is straightforward: your child enters teaching with minimal debt burden in a profession where earnings are predictable but not lucrative. The 0.42 debt-to-earnings ratio means they could realistically pay off loans within a year or two of frugal living. For students committed to teaching—especially those planning to stay in Georgia's smaller districts or coastal communities—the program offers a financially sensible path into the profession, even if it won't maximize starting salary.