Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at Owens Community College

Starting at $22,645 one year out, this associate's program falls well behind both Ohio's median ($27,408) and lands in the bottom quarter of Ohio's education programs. That $5,000 gap matters when you're already earning entry-level wages, and the fact that top programs in the state—including several other community colleges—produce graduates earning $30,000+ suggests this isn't simply a field-wide ceiling.

The debt load of $15,250 isn't crushing relative to first-year earnings, and there's decent growth to $26,438 by year four. But even with that improvement, graduates remain below what peers at comparable Ohio schools earn right out of the gate. For an associate's degree that typically leads to paraprofessional education roles, the modest earnings trajectory means it'll take time to build financial stability.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, making these figures less reliable than programs with larger cohorts. If your child is considering this path, reach out to the program directly about job placement specifics and consider whether transferring credits toward a bachelor's degree might be the real endgame. As a standalone credential, the numbers suggest exploring other Ohio community colleges with stronger track records in education programs.