Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at Mississippi College

Mississippi College's teacher education program graduates start at $37,051—about $4,800 below the national median for teacher education majors and $800 below Mississippi's typical teacher prep graduate. More troubling, earnings actually drop to $35,386 by year four, placing this program in the bottom quarter nationally while sitting right at Mississippi's median. When the top-performing program in the state (Jackson State) produces graduates earning $40,448, the $5,000 gap suggests structural disadvantages in either placement support or the school districts where MC graduates land.

The $23,021 debt load looks reasonable at first glance—slightly below both state and national medians. But paired with below-average and declining earnings, the 0.62 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates face nearly eight months of their entire salary in debt. For a profession already known for modest pay, starting behind your Mississippi peers matters when you're budgeting for loan payments.

If your child is committed to teaching in Mississippi, this program won't necessarily derail their career—the debt is manageable and starting salaries cluster tightly across the state. However, given that half of Mississippi's teacher prep programs produce better outcomes, it's worth exploring why MC graduates earn less and whether alumni secure positions in the state's better-paying districts. The earnings decline suggests graduates may struggle to advance or transition to higher-paying roles within education.