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

McKendree's education program graduates enter the workforce slightly above the national median for teaching programs, but the earnings trajectory tells a troubling story. Within four years, median pay drops to $39,318—a 10% decline that runs counter to typical salary progression in education. While Illinois teachers generally see steady growth as they move up district salary schedules, these graduates appear to be struggling to maintain their initial salary levels.

The state context reveals this program's weakness more clearly. At the 40th percentile among Illinois education programs, McKendree falls well below the state median of $44,143, and dramatically trails top performers like UIC ($60,917) and Loyola ($55,652). The $20,500 debt load seems modest compared to the national median, but at 0.47 times first-year earnings—and climbing to 0.52 times fourth-year earnings—it becomes less manageable as salaries decline rather than grow.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) is crucial context here. With so few data points, a handful of graduates taking career breaks, moving out of education, or facing district budget cuts could skew the entire picture. That said, the pattern of declining earnings combined with below-state-median starting salaries suggests this program may not be positioning graduates for the strongest teaching positions in Illinois. Families should investigate where graduates typically find employment and whether the school's network connects students to districts with competitive pay scales.