Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at Oral Roberts University

At $46,069 in starting salary with just $27,000 in debt, Oral Roberts University's subject-specific teaching program delivers solid value—though these numbers come from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes may vary more than usual. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59 beats both the state and national medians, meaning graduates carry manageable debt loads relative to what they'll earn. That's critical for teachers, whose salaries grow slowly and predictably over time.

The program sits at the 60th percentile among Oklahoma's 22 teaching programs—respectable but not exceptional. Graduates earn about $4,000 less than those from Oklahoma State but roughly match outcomes at Oklahoma Baptist. Nationally, it performs better, ranking in the 73rd percentile, suggesting it prepares teachers competitively despite the university's 99% admission rate. The relatively low debt (25th percentile nationally) matters more here than at many other institutions, since starting teacher salaries are what they are regardless of where you train.

For families considering this program, the math works: graduates can expect to owe roughly half a year's salary, which is manageable on an educator's income. The small cohort size means more variable outcomes and possibly closer faculty relationships, but also less statistical certainty. If your student is committed to teaching and connects with ORU's mission-driven environment, the financials support that choice without creating undue burden.