Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at Kent State University at Salem

Kent State Salem's teacher education program graduates start at $33,040—well below both the national median of $41,809 and Ohio's median of $35,926. While this ranks in only the 5th percentile nationally, that 40th percentile state ranking reveals something important: Ohio's teacher education market as a whole pays less than the national average. Still, this program sits toward the bottom even within Ohio, earning nearly $10,000 less than top in-state alternatives like Ohio Dominican or Capital University.

The $26,000 debt load is manageable at first glance—it matches both state and national medians. But paired with starting earnings in the low $30,000s, the 0.79 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates are carrying debt equal to nearly 80% of their first year's salary. The modest 5% earnings growth to $34,702 by year four suggests limited upward mobility in these early teaching years. For context, teachers at higher-performing Ohio programs start closer to $40,000, making that initial salary gap harder to overcome.

If teaching in Ohio is the goal, this program gets you there—but the financial starting point is challenging. The combination of below-state-average earnings and typical debt means tighter budgets in those crucial early career years. Families should compare carefully against other Ohio teacher prep programs where graduates consistently earn $6,000-9,000 more annually from day one.