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

Starting at just under $32,000, Drury's teacher education graduates earn about $10,000 less than the national median for this program—placing them in the bottom 5% nationally. While they're closer to Missouri's median of $33,760 (40th percentile in-state), they still trail most comparable programs: University of Missouri-Kansas City graduates earn $39,942, and even mid-tier state schools like Northwest Missouri State place graduates at $37,066. The modest debt of $26,262 keeps the burden manageable with a 0.83 debt-to-earnings ratio, but that's cold comfort when starting salaries are this low.

The real concern is stagnation. After four years in the classroom, earnings inch up to just $32,827—barely a $1,100 raise. Teaching salaries in Missouri clearly limit upward mobility, but Drury graduates appear to start lower on district pay scales than peers from other state programs. Whether this reflects placement in lower-paying districts or differences in credential preparation is unclear, but the gap matters for lifetime earnings.

For families paying private school tuition, this is a hard sell. Unless your child has compelling reasons to attend Drury specifically—tight-knit community, location, or particular program features—Missouri's public universities deliver significantly better employment outcomes for future teachers. The state school premium here is real and substantial.