Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion

This associate's program carries $24,906 in debt—nearly double the national median for similar programs—to reach starting earnings of $23,523. That's a full year's salary in debt for a position that typically pays entry-level wages. While the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift with more data, the debt burden here is troubling regardless: it ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of comparable programs nationwide leave students with less debt.

Within Indiana, this program performs at the state median for earnings but carries significantly more debt than typical ($24,906 vs. $18,900 state median). Ivy Tech's comparable program delivers higher starting pay ($26,298) presumably with community college pricing. For parents evaluating this route, the fundamental question is whether the private Christian university experience justifies taking on nearly $25,000 in debt for a career path that often requires a bachelor's degree anyway to reach sustainable wages. Most education careers treat the associate's as a stepping stone, not a destination.

If your child is certain about teaching and this institution's values matter deeply to your family, understand you're paying a premium that won't show up in immediate earnings. Otherwise, a community college path would preserve resources for the bachelor's degree they'll likely need.