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

Rasmussen's associate program in teacher education costs 35% more in debt than the typical Minnesota program—$23,086 versus $17,043 statewide—yet delivers earnings that land at the 60th percentile in Minnesota. You're paying above-average debt for above-average but not exceptional earnings. The national picture looks rosier (75th percentile), but parents should focus on the state comparison since education careers are highly localized.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.81 means your child would owe roughly 10 months of their first year's salary, which is manageable by national standards (this program ranks in the 7th percentile for debt nationally—meaning 93% of similar programs nationwide carry more debt). The bigger concern is the trajectory: earnings barely budge over four years, growing just 3% from $28,337 to $29,279. For context, Alexandria Technical's program produces similar outcomes at likely lower cost.

For a Pell-eligible family especially, this matters. The program works as a stepping stone into education careers, but shop carefully. If your child can access a community college alternative with comparable placement rates, the lower debt load could provide more breathing room during those early career years when every dollar counts.