Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at North Carolina State University at Raleigh

NC State's teaching program starts graduates at $44,979—above both the state and national medians—but earnings slip to $42,750 by year four, an unusual pattern when most teachers see modest increases as they gain seniority and move up salary schedules. At 60th percentile within North Carolina, this program trails several other state schools including NC A&T ($49,099) and Elon ($47,095), though it beats UNC-Greensboro and most other alternatives.

The $21,500 debt load is lighter than typical for this program (national median is $26,000), creating a manageable 0.48 debt-to-earnings ratio. That's the good news. The earnings decline, however, raises questions about whether graduates are leaving teaching, moving to lower-paying districts, or facing other career disruptions that interrupt the normal progression. This isn't necessarily a program problem—teaching careers can be unpredictable—but it's a pattern worth understanding.

For families weighing NC State against other state options, the lower debt is a real advantage, but the starting salary suggests your child might do better at NC A&T or Elon if those are options. If NC State is the choice for other reasons (location, overall university experience, selectivity), the program won't leave graduates underwater financially, but it's not the state's strongest pathway into teaching careers.