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

A $22,670 debt load for a degree that leads to $20,979 in earnings is immediately concerning—you're borrowing more than a full year's salary. While the debt burden here is significantly lower than many associate's programs nationally (9th percentile), the earnings tell a more troubling story. Gwinnett Technical grads earn roughly $4,000 less than the national median for this field and fall in just the 40th percentile among Georgia schools, meaning most comparable programs in-state deliver better outcomes.

The minimal earnings growth—just $323 over four years—suggests graduates aren't advancing much beyond entry-level paraprofessional roles. In Georgia's education landscape, you're looking at virtually identical outcomes to what other technical colleges offer, making the higher-than-state-average debt ($4,500 above Georgia's median for this program) harder to justify. The sample size under 30 adds uncertainty, but the pattern is clear enough: this combination of below-average earnings and above-average debt creates a financial squeeze right at career start.

For parents considering this path, understand that this associate's degree likely positions graduates as classroom assistants or childcare workers rather than teachers—roles that typically require bachelor's degrees and pay substantially more. If your child is set on education, this might be a stepping stone, but you'll want a clear plan for completing a four-year degree without accumulating significantly more debt along the way.