Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at Lesley University

Lesley's teacher education program sits squarely in the middle of Massachusetts offerings—40th percentile statewide—but comes with notably lower debt than most alternatives. With $17,918 in median borrowing compared to the state median of $27,000, graduates here leave with roughly $9,000 less debt than typical Bay State teaching candidates. That lower debt load helps offset starting salaries that trail both state and national medians by about $5,000.

The earnings trajectory shows healthy growth, climbing from $36,897 to $48,667 over four years—a 32% increase that eventually surpasses both benchmarks. This pattern makes sense for teaching: Massachusetts pays educators well once they advance past entry-level positions and gain seniority. The catch is that small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could swing significantly year to year.

For families weighing this program, the lower debt burden matters more than the modest earnings gap. Massachusetts teaching salaries are largely determined by district contracts and experience rather than where you earned your degree. Lesley gets you credentialed at lower cost than most state alternatives, which is genuinely valuable in a field where everyone's pay scale looks similar after a few years.