Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at Saint Leo University

Saint Leo University's teacher education program graduates start with earnings above the national average but then lose ground—both to the broader market and to their own Year 1 salaries. The initial $45,065 puts graduates ahead of 75% of similar programs nationwide, but there's a troubling catch: by Year 4, earnings slip to $43,729, a 3% decline that's unusual even in teaching. Meanwhile, Florida-specific data shows Saint Leo graduates earn about $2,600 less than the state median for this program, landing in the 40th percentile statewide.

The debt load sits at $23,937, which is actually better than both national and state averages for teacher education. That 0.53 debt-to-earnings ratio means less than six months of gross income to repay loans—manageable by education standards. However, when you consider that community colleges like Miami Dade and Florida SouthWestern are placing teachers at $51,000+, the opportunity cost becomes clear. Those programs deliver $6,000-8,000 more in starting salary, often with lower debt.

For families willing to pay private university tuition, this program doesn't deliver the Florida teaching market premium you'd expect. If your child is set on Saint Leo for other reasons, the debt is reasonable. But if maximizing teaching income matters, Florida's public universities and community colleges are clearly outperforming here.