Education at Pacific University

Pacific University's education program starts notably behind most Oregon teaching programs, with first-year earnings of $34,067 falling below the state median of $38,812. This 40th percentile ranking means more than half of Oregon's education programs launch graduates into better-paying positions. Even four years out, when earnings reach $51,090, graduates are still playing catch-up to peers who started at nearby programs like Western Oregon or Corban, where first-year salaries already exceed $43,000.

The $27,000 debt load sits above Oregon's typical $23,514 for education programs, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.79—workable but tighter than you'd want for a teaching career. The 50% earnings jump from year one to year four is impressive on paper, but it primarily reflects moving from a challenging starting point to a more typical mid-career teaching salary. For a field where starting salaries largely determine your trajectory due to union contracts and salary schedules, beginning $5,000 below state norms matters.

With fewer than 30 graduates in this dataset, these numbers could shift significantly year to year. But if your child is Oregon-bound for teaching, this investment looks less compelling than state alternatives that combine similar debt with stronger starting positions in the job market.