Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

LSU's teacher education graduates face a startling reality: they'll earn roughly half the national median for this program in their first year out—ranking in just the 5th percentile nationally. That $24,882 starting salary trails the Louisiana state median by $4,000, placing this program squarely in the middle of Louisiana's offerings but far below what teacher education grads earn elsewhere. Compare this to Southeastern Louisiana or Northwestern State, where starting teachers earn nearly double what LSU graduates make initially.

The dramatic twist comes in year four, when earnings surge to $51,713—a 108% jump that vaults LSU grads well above both state and national medians. This suggests graduates may be starting in substitute or temporary positions before landing full-time teaching contracts with Louisiana's standard salary schedule. The modest $22,728 debt load works in graduates' favor here, becoming quite manageable once that four-year earning level kicks in.

For parents, the question is whether your child can weather those lean first years. If they're entering teaching with family support or minimal expenses, the long-term trajectory looks solid. But that first-year salary barely exceeds $2,000 per month before taxes—a tough proposition for an independent graduate with living expenses. The eventual payoff is real, but the path there requires financial cushioning most young teachers simply don't have.