Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at Saint Michael's College

Saint Michael's College graduates earning $45,489 in their first year out-earn 78% of teaching programs nationally—a genuinely strong result in a field known for modest salaries. That $27,000 in median debt is also well below the national average for education majors, giving graduates a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59. However, those earnings slip slightly to $44,687 by year four, which is unusual but not disastrous in Vermont's relatively stable teaching market where starting salaries often represent the early-career ceiling.

The state-level picture adds an important wrinkle: Saint Michael's ranks in the 60th percentile among Vermont teaching programs, trailing Vermont State University ($42,290) and UVM ($41,720) by smaller margins than the rankings suggest, but commanding a significant premium over alternatives like Champlain. For families paying private school tuition rates at Saint Michael's (admission is highly accessible at 92%), this represents solid preparation but not exceptional returns compared to Vermont's public options. The moderate sample size means these figures are reasonably reliable without being definitive.

The bottom line: your child will likely start with above-average teacher earnings and manageable debt, making this a financially viable path into education. Just recognize you're paying for Saint Michael's campus experience and smaller class sizes rather than a measurable salary advantage over Vermont's state universities.