Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at Flagler College

Flagler College's teaching program starts graduates at $43,358—above the national average but $3,000 below Florida's typical teacher preparation program. More concerning, graduates earn slightly less four years out than they did at graduation, an unusual pattern when most Florida teaching programs show steady growth. Among the state's 57 education programs, this ranks at only the 40th percentile, while nearby alternatives like Florida Gulf Coast and Stetson University consistently place graduates earning $50,000+.

The $27,000 debt load hits at the 75th percentile nationally for education programs (meaning lower than most), which matters given teaching's modest salaries. Still, Florida's state college programs typically send graduates out with around $21,000 in debt while achieving better earnings outcomes. The question isn't whether Flagler produces employable teachers—clearly it does—but whether the combination of middling in-state earnings and slightly higher debt justifies choosing this private college over Florida's strong public alternatives.

For families paying in-state tuition at a Florida public university, those programs deliver better outcomes at lower cost. Flagler might make sense if your child values the small-campus experience or has substantial merit aid, but purely as a teaching credential, Florida's data suggests looking at the state universities first.