Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at Palm Beach State College

Palm Beach State's associate program in teacher education produces graduates earning $28,641 in their first year—substantially more than the $25,120 national median and competitive with Florida's median of $28,337. While 60th percentile within Florida might sound middling, it's worth noting the program lands in the 78th percentile nationally, and more importantly, graduates carry just $6,725 in debt compared to Florida's typical $16,722. That's less than half the state average and dramatically better than the national benchmark of $13,608.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.23 means graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in under three months of salary—an unusually strong position for early-career educators. This matters particularly for teaching, where salaries start modestly and grow through tenure rather than rapid early jumps. Starting your teaching career with minimal debt provides real financial breathing room that colleagues from more expensive programs won't have.

The caveat: sample size is small here, so individual circumstances vary more than these numbers suggest. Still, for Florida families considering an affordable entry into education, this program delivers competitive earnings with exceptionally manageable debt—a combination that's harder to find than it should be in teacher preparation.