Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at Culver-Stockton College

Culver-Stockton's teacher education program tells two very different stories depending on your frame of reference. While graduates earn $36,666—below the national median by about $5,000—they're actually performing better than most Missouri teaching programs, landing in the 60th percentile statewide. More importantly, the program keeps debt remarkably low at $28,750, which sits in just the 12th percentile nationally (meaning 88% of similar programs saddle students with more debt).

That debt management matters significantly in teaching, where salaries remain relatively flat. The 0.78 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than one year's salary, making loan payments more manageable on a teacher's income. Compare this to programs like University of Missouri-Kansas City that generate $3,000 more in earnings but likely require comparable or higher debt loads. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) provides reasonable confidence in these figures.

For families committed to teaching as a career, this represents a financially sensible path—you're not paying premium prices for outcomes that are competitive within Missouri's teaching market. The $36,666 starting salary aligns with what many Missouri districts actually pay new teachers, and the controlled debt load means your child won't be choosing between rent and loan payments. Just understand they're entering a field with inherently modest earning potential, regardless of where they attend.