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

The small sample size here demands caution, but the numbers tell a troubling story: graduates earn just $18,576 in their first year—roughly $9,000 below Ohio's median for this program and landing in the 10th percentile both statewide and nationally. Compare this to Cincinnati State or Cuyahoga Community College, where associate's degree holders in teacher education earn over $30,000. That $12,000 gap represents real financial struggle, especially when paired with $17,273 in debt. While the debt isn't extreme relative to national standards, it creates a debt-to-earnings ratio near 1.0—meaning graduates owe almost an entire year's salary.

For context, Ohio typically outperforms the national average for this program ($27,408 vs. $25,120), which makes Kent State Tuscarawas's position at the bottom 10% particularly stark. Teaching-related associate's degrees often serve as stepping stones to bachelor's programs or paraprofessional roles, but first-year earnings this low suggest graduates may be stuck in part-time or substitute positions without benefits.

The financial math here is concerning enough that families should seriously consider the stronger-performing community college options elsewhere in Ohio, where graduates earn 60% more right out of the gate. Given the small cohort size, individual circumstances vary widely—but as an investment, this program appears risky compared to readily available alternatives in-state.