Analysis
Teaching careers come with predictable, modest starting salaries, and based on comparable education bachelor's programs nationwide, Marian's graduates likely begin around $38,660βright at the national median for this field. With an estimated $27,000 in debt (also typical for education majors nationally), you're looking at a debt burden equivalent to about 70% of first-year earnings. That ratio sits in reasonable territory for a profession with stable employment prospects and structured salary schedules, though it means your child would likely be managing loan payments of roughly $300 monthly on an entry-level teacher's income.
The bigger consideration is whether your child is committed to teaching specifically. Education degrees are vocational credentials that lead to a fairly narrow career path with earnings that grow slowly over time through seniority rather than dramatic jumps. Marian's 95% admission rate and modest Pell population suggest it serves a broad range of students, and the unavailability of school-specific data makes it harder to assess whether this particular program is delivering better or worse outcomes than peer institutions. If your child is passionate about education and understands the financial realities of the profession, the estimated debt load here shouldn't be unmanageable. But if there's uncertainty about the career path, taking on $27,000 for a degree tied to a single, modestly-paid profession deserves serious conversation.
Where Marian University Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all education bachelors's programs nationally
Compare to Similar Programs Nationally
Education bachelors's programs at top institutions nationally
Scroll to see more β
| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr)* | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt* | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $39,100 | $38,660* | β | $27,000* | β | |
| $8,886 | $68,730* | β | $26,556* | 0.39 | |
| $12,186 | $60,288* | β | β* | β | |
| $11,728 | $57,410* | β | $13,250* | 0.23 | |
| $19,568 | $56,397* | $40,429 | β* | β | |
| $44,850 | $55,579* | $54,660 | $27,000* | 0.49 | |
| National Median | β | $38,660* | β | $26,522* | 0.69 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with education graduates
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 Marian University, approximately 23% 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 national median of 66 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.