Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at Guilford Technical Community College

The numbers here initially look promising—graduates from Guilford Tech's teaching program earn significantly more than typical associate-level education graduates both nationally (95th percentile) and within North Carolina (80th percentile). That first-year figure of $31,215 beats the state median by nearly $7,000. However, the dramatic earnings drop to $21,404 by year four demands explanation, and with fewer than 30 graduates in this cohort, these figures may not tell a reliable story.

The debt picture adds another wrinkle. At $24,500, graduates carry substantially more debt than the national median ($13,608), though it's close to what other NC programs charge. Combined with that steep earnings decline, the economics shift considerably: what starts as a manageable debt load becomes harder to justify when earnings fall below $22,000. It's worth noting this pattern could reflect graduates moving into part-time positions, leaving the field, or pursuing bachelor's degrees while working reduced hours—all common in education careers.

For parents, the small sample size is the critical caveat here. These numbers might represent a few graduates whose specific career paths don't reflect what your student would experience. Before making decisions based on this data, talk directly with Guilford Tech's education department about graduate outcomes, whether students typically transfer to four-year programs, and what explains the earnings trajectory. The strong initial placement suggests value, but you need more context than these numbers alone can provide.