Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at Oklahoma State University-Main Campus

Oklahoma State graduates teaching specialized subjects start strong at $51,097—beating 95% of similar programs nationally and sitting comfortably above the state median. The $23,102 in typical debt is manageable, representing less than half of first-year earnings. This looks like solid preparation for Oklahoma's teaching market.

The catch is harder to explain: earnings drop to $46,040 by year four, a 10% decline that's unusual even in education. This pattern might reflect career transitions (some graduates moving into related fields or taking time off), or it could signal challenges in Oklahoma's teacher compensation structure. Still, even at year four, graduates earn more than the national median for this degree. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) means individual career paths can skew the numbers.

For families committed to teaching in Oklahoma, this program delivers strong positioning. Your child would enter the workforce ahead of peers from other state schools and carry reasonable debt. The earnings dip warrants a conversation about long-term career plans, but the fundamentals—low debt burden, above-average starting salary, and strong program reputation—suggest this is a sound choice for aspiring educators, particularly those planning to teach high-demand subjects where specialized training commands better pay.