Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degree) at Florida SouthWestern State College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$47,698

Est. from FL median (11 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$20,732

Est. from FL median (6 programs)

Analysis

Starting earnings around $48,000 might not sound impressive, but for Florida's education sector, it's right in line with what similar teaching programs produce across the state. Based on comparable subject-specific education programs in Florida, this bachelor's degree appears positioned in the middle of the pack—not far off from what graduates at Florida State or St. Petersburg College are earning in their first year. The estimated debt of roughly $21,000 creates a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43, meaning graduates would owe less than half their first-year salary.

What matters here is understanding teaching salaries in context. Peer programs nationally show median earnings of $43,000, so Florida's teacher pay starts higher than many states. The challenge is that even the top-performing education programs in Florida—like Florida Atlantic at $53,500—don't show dramatic salary advantages, reflecting how compressed teacher compensation tends to be regardless of where you train. This isn't a field where your program choice significantly boosts earning potential.

The practical takeaway: if your child is committed to teaching, Florida SouthWestern's program offers a financially sensible entry point with below-average debt. Just recognize that limited first-year earnings growth is the reality across all teaching programs, not a shortcoming of this particular school. The career trajectory will depend more on school district placement and years of service than where the degree came from.

Where Florida SouthWestern State College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Florida

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Florida (37 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Florida SouthWestern State CollegeFort Myers	$3,401	$47,698*	—	$20,732*	—
Florida Atlantic UniversityBoca Raton	$4,879	$53,524*	$49,874	$27,516*	0.51
Florida State UniversityTallahassee	$5,656	$50,610*	$47,072	$22,500*	0.44
St Petersburg CollegeSt. Petersburg	$2,682	$49,435*	—	—*	—
Stetson UniversityDeLand	$55,220	$48,139*	—	$27,000*	0.56
Southeastern UniversityLakeland	$31,732	$47,966*	—	$26,000*	0.54
National Median	—	$43,082*	—	$26,221*	0.61

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas graduates

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in computer science. May specialize in a field of computer science, such as the design and function of computers or operations and research analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to mathematical concepts, statistics, and actuarial science and to the application of original and standardized mathematical techniques in solving specific problems and situations. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in the agricultural sciences. Includes teachers of agronomy, dairy sciences, fisheries management, horticultural sciences, poultry sciences, range management, and agricultural soil conservation. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in biological sciences. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in forestry and conservation science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in the physical sciences, except chemistry and physics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching, and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to the chemical and physical properties and compositional changes of substances. Work may include providing instruction in the methods of qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching, and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in environmental science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Physics Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to the laws of matter and energy. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Geography Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in geography. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in psychology, such as child, clinical, and developmental psychology, and psychological counseling. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Florida SouthWestern State College, approximately 34% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 11 similar programs in FL. Actual outcomes may vary.