Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus

Teaching salaries aren't known for making anyone rich, but starting at $34,827 puts IUP's education graduates roughly $8,000 below both the Pennsylvania median ($42,781) and the national benchmark ($41,809) for this degree. That's the bottom quartile for Pennsylvania teacher education programs—concerning in a state where many programs place graduates above $47,000.

The debt load of $29,500 is actually slightly above average, though the 0.85 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests graduates can manage payments. Still, earning nearly $16,000 less than peers from Lebanon Valley College or Elizabethtown College matters when you're on a teacher's salary trying to pay down loans. The gap likely reflects differences in placement—whether graduates land in higher-paying suburban districts versus rural schools with compressed pay scales.

Important caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so these numbers could shift significantly year-to-year. If your child is committed to teaching and cost-conscious about where they train, this deserves a hard look at placement outcomes and which school districts typically hire IUP graduates. At 91% admission and serving many Pell-eligible students, IUP provides access—but the earnings data suggests graduates may face a steeper financial climb than at comparable Pennsylvania programs.