Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at Long Island University

Long Island University's teaching program lands graduates squarely in the middle of New York's crowded education market—40th percentile statewide—which means they'll earn slightly less than peers at most other NY schools. That first-year salary of $40,191 trails both state and national medians, though it's competitive with what many Long Island districts actually pay entry-level teachers.

The concerning part? Top CUNY programs like Queens College place graduates earning nearly $59,000—almost 50% more—while charging comparable or lower debt loads. Even Syracuse and Ithaca College, despite higher sticker prices, show significantly better outcomes. The 26% earnings bump from year one to year four suggests teachers here do progress through typical salary scales, but they're starting from a lower base that's hard to overcome.

With only 30 graduates in this dataset, these numbers could swing considerably year to year. The $26,500 debt burden is manageable for a teaching salary—less than one year's starting income—but parents should recognize their child will likely earn less than peers from competing programs, particularly the CUNY system. If your child is set on teaching in Long Island, this might work fine; if flexibility matters, stronger programs exist at similar or lower cost.