Education at Goddard College

Goddard College's education program produces first-year earnings of $56,397—well above the national median of $38,660 for bachelor's-level education programs. But here's what should worry you: those earnings drop 28% by year four, falling to $40,429. That's an unusual trajectory. Most education graduates see modest growth as they gain experience and move up salary schedules, not a sharp decline. This pattern raises questions about job stability or whether graduates are leaving teaching entirely, though with debt estimated at $27,000 based on national patterns at similar institutions, the initial debt burden at least remains manageable.

The strong first-year showing puts Goddard at the 95th percentile nationally, yet only the 60th percentile within Vermont—suggesting that Vermont's small education market pays relatively well across the board. That state context matters: you're comparing against a handful of programs in a small state, not hundreds. The estimated 0.48 debt-to-earnings ratio looks reasonable using that first-year figure, but if your child's earnings follow the downward trend evident here, the burden becomes heavier over time. With 53% of students receiving Pell grants, Goddard clearly serves students who need education to be worth the investment, which makes the earnings decline particularly concerning. Understand that both the debt figure and the unusual earnings pattern need verification before committing.