Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at Rasmussen University-Florida

A teaching associate's degree with $23,000 in debt deserves scrutiny, even when earnings look decent on paper. Rasmussen-Florida graduates start at $28,337—matching both the state median and the 75th percentile nationally—but they're carrying 38% more debt than the typical Florida student in this program. That debt load matters more than the percentile rankings suggest: you're paying premium pricing for middle-of-the-pack outcomes within Florida's early childhood education market.

The earnings trajectory tells an uncomfortable story. After four years, graduates see only a 3% bump to $29,279, suggesting limited room for advancement without additional credentials. Meanwhile, Palm Beach State College delivers comparable starting salaries ($28,641) at a debt level likely far below Rasmussen's private-college pricing. With 55% of Rasmussen students receiving Pell grants, many families here are taking on significant debt relative to their resources for a credential that typically leads to preschool or paraprofessional roles.

For parents, the math is clear: this debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.81 means nearly a full year's salary devoted to loans. If your child is committed to early childhood education, community college alternatives in Florida offer similar career outcomes without the financial weight. Rasmussen works if you value its flexibility and support systems enough to justify the premium—but strictly as a financial investment, cheaper paths exist to the same destination.