Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at Franklin University

Franklin University's education program faces a fundamental challenge: similar Ohio programs suggest first-year earnings around $37,000—roughly $6,000 below the national median for this credential. That gap matters when you're carrying an estimated $27,000 in debt, especially since teaching salaries typically climb slowly in the early years.

The debt figure itself sits right at the national median for education bachelor's degrees, but paired with below-average earnings, it creates a tighter financial picture than at peer institutions. Graduates from Ohio State and Cincinnati, for instance, report starting salaries in the low $40,000s with comparable debt loads. For a profession where starting salary often sets the trajectory, that $4,000-6,000 difference compounds over time. The 0.73 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't alarming on its own, but it doesn't leave much cushion for graduates entering a field not known for rapid income growth.

The bigger question is whether Franklin's format—designed for working adults and transfer students—provides enough flexibility or career support to offset the earnings disadvantage. For someone already working in education who needs to complete their degree, that trade-off might work. For a traditional student choosing where to start, the data from comparable Ohio programs suggests looking hard at the state universities that are producing stronger early earnings outcomes.