Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at Howard Payne University

Howard Payne graduates start above the national average for teacher education programs, but there's a concerning gap: they earn about $5,500 less than the typical Texas teacher education graduate in their first year. That 40th percentile state ranking puts this program solidly in the bottom half statewide—meaningful context since most teaching jobs will be in Texas. The earnings trajectory makes this trickier: graduates actually see their income drop 13% by year four, unusual in a profession where salary schedules typically reward experience.

The $24,467 debt load is manageable compared to many programs, sitting below both state and national medians. That 0.53 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests graduates can handle their loan payments without major hardship. However, with 42% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are price-sensitive, and cheaper alternatives exist within Texas that deliver stronger outcomes—several state universities place their education graduates $7,000-12,000 ahead by year one.

The small sample size here is critical: we're looking at fewer than 30 graduates, so a few outliers could skew these numbers significantly. For a family considering this program, the question is whether Howard Payne's smaller campus experience justifies accepting below-average Texas outcomes. If your child wants to teach in Texas and cost matters, exploring state schools or the higher-performing regional privates would likely deliver better returns.