Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at Columbia College

Columbia College's teacher education program shows an unusual earnings pattern that warrants close examination: graduates earn $39,489 in their first year but see that drop to $34,568 by year four—a 12% decline that runs counter to typical career trajectories. With only about two dozen graduates in the data sample, these numbers could reflect timing issues (perhaps some graduates take time to find full-time positions) or the small cohort's specific employment circumstances rather than a systemic problem. Still, even at the higher first-year mark, this program trails the state median of $40,233 and ranks in just the 40th percentile among South Carolina's 32 teacher education programs.

The $28,000 debt load sits right at the national median for education majors and is slightly higher than South Carolina's typical $27,000. That creates a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71, which is reasonable for a teaching career. However, the declining earnings trajectory makes that debt harder to manage in practice. For context, nearby programs at Winthrop University and College of Charleston place graduates earning over $41,000—a $5,000+ difference that compounds significantly over a teaching career.

Given the small sample size and earnings decline, this program carries more uncertainty than most. Parents should request employment outcome details directly from Columbia College to understand whether recent graduates are finding full-time teaching positions promptly and what explains the year-four dip.