Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at Rust College

The numbers here are troubling, even accounting for the small sample size. Graduates from Rust College's education program earn roughly $26,000 in their first year—about $12,000 less than the Mississippi median for education graduates and $16,000 below the national average. That places this program in the bottom 10% both statewide and nationally. Meanwhile, graduates carry $31,000 in debt, which is higher than both state and national medians for education programs. For perspective, every other education program in Mississippi with available data shows stronger first-year earnings, with Jackson State graduates earning $40,448.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.20 means graduates owe more than their entire first year's salary, which creates real financial strain when starting a teaching career. While earnings do grow slightly to $26,831 by year four, that's still well below what new teachers typically earn in Mississippi. Given that nearly 70% of Rust students receive Pell grants, many families here are already financially stretched and can least afford a program with below-market outcomes.

The small sample size warrants caution—these figures could shift with more data. But based on what's available, families should seriously question whether this program justifies $31,000 in debt when other Mississippi colleges are producing teachers who earn $12,000-14,000 more annually right out of the gate.