Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at Edgecombe Community College

The earnings here lag behind both state and national averages, with first-year graduates earning about $2,000 less than the typical North Carolina teacher education associate. More concerning, Edgecombe graduates start nearly $3,000 below the national median for this program. Among North Carolina's 59 schools offering this degree, Edgecombe lands at the 40th percentile—solidly below average. The debt picture offers a bright spot: at $25,703, it's actually lower than you'd expect given how many community colleges in this space carry similar debt loads, placing it in the 5th percentile nationally for debt burden.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.15 means graduates owe slightly more than they'll earn in their first year, which isn't unusual for teacher education programs but becomes problematic when starting salaries are already below market rates. The 12% earnings growth to $24,822 by year four helps, but graduates still trail peers from nearby schools like Stanly Community College (where grads earn $32,147) by nearly $10,000. With a small graduating class, these numbers could shift significantly year to year, making this program's outcomes less predictable than larger programs.

For a family considering this route into teaching, understand that you're looking at below-average starting pay in a field that doesn't pay exceptionally well to begin with. If your child is committed to teaching in this region and values staying local, the relatively contained debt helps. But exploring programs at Guilford Tech or Stanly could mean substantially higher earnings that justify any modest increase in cost.