Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at Indiana University-Indianapolis

Indiana University-Indianapolis produces some of the strongest-earning education graduates in the nation, with first-year salaries of $47,755 placing them in the 85th percentile nationally—well above the $43,082 typical for this field. That's a meaningful advantage in a profession where starting salaries vary dramatically by district and specialization. Within Indiana specifically, these graduates earn slightly above the state median but trail programs like Franklin College and University of Indianapolis by a couple thousand dollars.

The concerning pattern here is the earnings trajectory: graduates actually see a 3% decline by year four, earning $46,384 compared to their starting salary. While this isn't catastrophic given the solid starting point, it's unusual for any field and suggests either job changes during those early years or district-specific salary structures that don't reward early-career growth as expected. The $26,000 debt load is right at the national median—manageable with a 0.54 debt-to-earnings ratio, but it means graduates need that higher starting salary to stay financially comfortable.

For parents considering this program, the value lies in that strong launch: their child will likely start with better pay than most education graduates. Just be aware that the early career progression may be flat rather than climbing steadily, which is atypical but workable given the decent starting position and reasonable debt.