Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at Eastern Oregon University

Eastern Oregon University's teacher education program delivers slightly above-average outcomes at a reasonable price—a solid combination for a field where the financial calculus rarely favors students. The $44,558 first-year salary beats the national median by about $2,750 and places graduates in the 71st percentile nationally, though it's worth noting that in Oregon's education market, this sits right around the middle of the pack at the 60th percentile. The $27,000 in debt matches the state median but stays well below the typical national burden for this degree, landing in the 25th percentile (meaning 75% of programs saddle graduates with more debt).

The 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe roughly seven months of their first-year salary—manageable territory for teachers, whose salaries typically rise with experience and whose career paths often include loan forgiveness programs. With 36% of students receiving Pell grants, this program serves a substantial population of lower-income students who might otherwise struggle to access teaching careers.

For Oregon families, this represents a straightforward value proposition: your child will earn what teachers typically earn in the state, without taking on excessive debt to get there. The 99% admission rate means access isn't an issue, making this a viable path into teaching for students who might not gain admission to more selective programs that don't necessarily deliver better financial outcomes anyway.