Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at Grays Harbor College

The small sample size here is crucial context, but the pattern is troubling enough to warrant concern: graduates earning $33,763 one year out trail not just the national median by $8,000, but fall a full $11,000 below Washington's state median of $44,922. In a state where teacher education programs at places like Pacific Lutheran and Western Washington launch graduates into the mid-$50,000s, ranking in just the 25th percentile statewide suggests limited earning potential even accounting for regional cost-of-living differences in the Aberdeen area.

The low debt load of $12,303—far below both state and national medians—does provide meaningful protection. At a 0.36 debt-to-earnings ratio, graduates can manage their loans even on these modest starting salaries. For students who need an affordable path into teaching and plan to stay in the region where these earnings may stretch further, this program won't bury them in unmanageable debt. However, Washington teachers with bachelor's degrees typically earn significantly more than what we're seeing here, which raises questions about whether graduates are finding full-time teaching positions or working in lower-paying educational support roles.

Given the limited data and substantial earnings gap, families should verify current graduate outcomes directly with the college, particularly placement rates in full-time teaching positions and whether these figures reflect the typical experience or an unrepresentative year.