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

Rasmussen's associate program in teacher education costs students significantly more than the typical program—with debt at the 93rd percentile nationally—yet delivers earnings that match the state median and beat most competitors. The $23,086 debt load is 70% higher than the national median for this field, which raises real questions about affordability. However, graduates do earn $28,337 in their first year, placing them at the 75th percentile nationally and suggesting the program successfully prepares students for better-paying positions within the teaching field.

The practical math tells a story of manageable leverage. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.81, graduates owe roughly 10 months of their first-year salary—high for an associate degree but not crushing. More encouraging is the fact that over half of students receive Pell grants, indicating the school successfully serves lower-income students who often struggle to access quality teaching credentials. Earnings also show modest but positive growth to $29,279 by year four.

For parents, this comes down to whether the premium pricing delivers enough value through job placement support or credential quality to justify the extra $10,000 in debt compared to alternatives. If your child has no other viable pathway into teaching jobs that pay above $28,000, the premium may be worth it. But exploring lower-cost community college options first makes sense given the earnings ultimately match Kansas's median for this credential.