Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at DePaul University

DePaul's teacher education program carries moderate debt ($27,000) but produces earnings that look better on paper than in practice. While graduates earn slightly above the national median at $43,326, they fall below the Illinois state median—ranking only in the 40th percentile among the state's 48 teacher prep programs. More concerning, earnings barely budge over the first four years, growing just $778 total. Chicago-area alternatives like Loyola ($55,652) and UIC ($60,917) produce substantially higher outcomes, suggesting DePaul graduates may face challenges accessing higher-paying districts or specialized roles that drive teacher salaries upward.

The debt load itself is manageable at 62% of first-year earnings, roughly in line with what's typical for teacher education programs nationwide. But when earnings stagnate this early, that initial ratio becomes the long-term reality. Teachers typically rely on steady salary schedule increases and advanced degree bumps to improve their financial position—the flat trajectory here suggests DePaul graduates aren't experiencing that typical progression, at least not in the critical first years.

For families paying DePaul's private tuition, this represents questionable value. Your child would enter teaching with similar debt to state school graduates but earn less than peers from other Chicago-area programs. If teaching in Illinois is the goal, investigate why other local programs—some with comparable admission profiles—consistently produce better-earning graduates.