Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degree) at Lenoir-Rhyne University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$42,137

Est. from NC median (10 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$27,000

Est. from national median (122 programs)

Analysis

Teaching is one of those professions where the financial picture stays remarkably consistent whether you attend a private university or a state school. Based on comparable programs in North Carolina, Lenoir-Rhyne's subject-area teaching program should lead to first-year earnings around $42,137—essentially identical to the state median and just slightly below the national benchmark. The estimated $27,000 in debt aligns closely with both state and national norms as well, producing a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64 that's manageable for a teaching salary.

What's worth noting is that even top-performing NC teaching programs—including major state universities—only show earnings a few thousand dollars higher. This reflects the reality of teacher pay scales in North Carolina, which are largely standardized regardless of where you earned your degree. The private school premium you might see in business or engineering simply doesn't materialize in K-12 education, where starting salaries are determined by district pay schedules rather than your alma mater.

The practical takeaway: if your child is committed to teaching in North Carolina, the financial outcomes at Lenoir-Rhyne appear comparable to state alternatives, with the debt load within reasonable bounds for the profession. The deciding factors should center on teaching preparation quality, student teaching placements, and campus fit rather than expected salary differences, which peer programs suggest will be minimal regardless of which NC school you choose.

Where Lenoir-Rhyne University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in North Carolina

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas bachelors's programs at peer institutions in North Carolina (37 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Lenoir-Rhyne UniversityHickory	$30,900	$42,137*	—	$27,000*	—
University of Mount OliveMount Olive	$25,950	$45,316*	$40,485	$26,889*	0.59
North Carolina State University at RaleighRaleigh	$8,895	$45,211*	$49,401	$25,000*	0.55
East Carolina UniversityGreenville	$7,361	$43,607*	$41,902	$26,000*	0.60
University of North Carolina at GreensboroGreensboro	$7,593	$43,033*	—	$26,000*	0.60
University of North Carolina at PembrokePembroke	$3,571	$42,829*	$39,023	$26,660*	0.62
National Median	—	$43,082*	—	$26,221*	0.61

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas graduates

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in computer science. May specialize in a field of computer science, such as the design and function of computers or operations and research analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to mathematical concepts, statistics, and actuarial science and to the application of original and standardized mathematical techniques in solving specific problems and situations. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in the agricultural sciences. Includes teachers of agronomy, dairy sciences, fisheries management, horticultural sciences, poultry sciences, range management, and agricultural soil conservation. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in biological sciences. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in forestry and conservation science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in the physical sciences, except chemistry and physics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching, and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to the chemical and physical properties and compositional changes of substances. Work may include providing instruction in the methods of qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching, and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in environmental science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Physics Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to the laws of matter and energy. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Geography Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in geography. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in psychology, such as child, clinical, and developmental psychology, and psychological counseling. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Lenoir-Rhyne University, approximately 40% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 10 similar programs in NC. Actual outcomes may vary.