Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degree) at Ottawa University-Online

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$43,878

Est. from KS median (6 programs)

Median Debt

$30,125

15% above national median

Analysis

Ottawa University-Online's online teacher education bachelor's carries debt of $30,125—roughly $6,000 more than the Kansas median for this field and about $4,000 above the national benchmark. Based on comparable programs across Kansas, first-year earnings hover around $43,878, which means graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69. That's manageable territory for teaching, though the extra borrowing compared to state peers deserves scrutiny.

The estimated earnings align closely with what other Kansas teacher education programs produce—Emporia State and Pittsburg State graduates earn nearly identical first-year salaries, while Wichita State and K-State graduates pull slightly ahead. The real question is whether the online format justifies the higher debt load. If you're already working as a paraprofessional or need the flexibility of distance learning, that premium might make sense. But if your child can attend a traditional campus program, schools like Fort Hays State or Emporia State offer similar earning potential with less borrowing.

Teaching salaries are what they are—predictable, modest, and capped by district schedules. The debt here won't derail a teaching career, but it will take longer to pay down than it would at lower-cost Kansas programs. For families weighing an online bachelor's against in-person alternatives, run the numbers on total program cost and consider whether the convenience advantage is worth roughly $250-300 more per month in loan payments over the standard repayment period.

Where Ottawa University-Online Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Kansas

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Kansas (22 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Ottawa University-OnlineOverland Park	—	$43,878*	—	$30,125	—
Wichita State UniversityWichita	$9,322	$47,121*	$41,417	$22,145	0.47
Kansas State UniversityManhattan	$10,942	$45,179*	—	$22,814	0.50
Emporia State UniversityEmporia	$7,356	$43,954*	$43,184	$22,500	0.51
Pittsburg State UniversityPittsburg	$8,008	$43,802*	$43,273	$24,125	0.55
Fort Hays State UniversityHays	$5,633	$43,273*	$45,225	$23,082	0.53
National Median	—	$43,082*	—	$26,221	0.61

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas graduates

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in computer science. May specialize in a field of computer science, such as the design and function of computers or operations and research analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to mathematical concepts, statistics, and actuarial science and to the application of original and standardized mathematical techniques in solving specific problems and situations. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in the agricultural sciences. Includes teachers of agronomy, dairy sciences, fisheries management, horticultural sciences, poultry sciences, range management, and agricultural soil conservation. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in biological sciences. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in forestry and conservation science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in the physical sciences, except chemistry and physics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching, and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to the chemical and physical properties and compositional changes of substances. Work may include providing instruction in the methods of qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching, and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in environmental science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Physics Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to the laws of matter and energy. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Geography Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in geography. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in psychology, such as child, clinical, and developmental psychology, and psychological counseling. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Ottawa University-Online, approximately 30% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 6 similar programs in KS. Actual outcomes may vary.