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

Monroe University's teaching program delivers something rare: graduates who significantly out-earn both state and national peers right out of the gate. At $58,194 in first-year earnings, these graduates rank in the 95th percentile nationally and statewide—about $21,000 above the NY median and well ahead of competitive programs at Manhattan University ($47,564) and NYU ($46,445). With debt of $21,450, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37 is manageable by any standard.

The major red flag is impossible to ignore: earnings drop to $34,490 by year four, a 41% decline that's highly unusual for any career path. This could reflect graduates moving from full-time to part-time work, pursuing graduate degrees, or leaving the profession—all common patterns in education. However, even at that lower figure, they're still earning close to the state median. The program serves a predominantly Pell-eligible population (58%) in the Bronx, so it's delivering strong initial outcomes for students who need them most.

If your child is committed to teaching in New York and needs affordable preparation, this program offers better-than-average debt and exceptional starting salaries. Just recognize that the four-year earnings data suggests a career trajectory that differs from the strong launch, whether due to part-time work, career changes, or other factors the data can't capture.