Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at Mount Marty University

Based on comparable teaching programs in South Dakota, this degree typically produces first-year earnings around $44,000—right at the state median but with estimated debt of $27,000 that exceeds what most SD education programs report. That 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't alarming for teaching, but it's worth noting that the state's largest programs—Black Hills State and South Dakota State—report actual outcomes $1,400 to $3,400 higher while their graduates carry similar or lower debt loads.

The teaching market in South Dakota is straightforward: starting salaries cluster tightly in the low-to-mid $40,000s regardless of which university you attend. What matters more is the debt you carry into those predictable salaries. At $27,000, Mount Marty's estimated debt sits near the national median for this degree, making monthly payments manageable on a teacher's salary. However, peer programs with actual reported data suggest you might achieve slightly better outcomes at SD's public universities.

The caveat here is significant: without reported outcomes specific to Mount Marty's program, you're relying on state-level patterns that may not reflect this school's particular graduate success. If Mount Marty offers scholarships that could bring debt below $20,000, or if your child values the smaller campus environment (just 826 students), those factors could outweigh the marginal earnings difference seen at larger state schools.