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

Saint Xavier graduates earn $46,377 their first year—solidly above the national median for teaching programs and competitive with most Illinois schools. More importantly, they carry just $29,854 in debt, which ranks in the 5th percentile nationally (meaning 95% of comparable programs leave students with higher debt loads). This combination creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64, meaning graduates owe roughly eight months' salary—manageable territory for an educator's budget.

The earnings picture does flatten after year one, dipping slightly to $45,479 by year four. This isn't unusual for teaching given standardized salary schedules, though the modest decline suggests graduates may be staying in lower-paying districts or taking time off. Still, Saint Xavier sits at the 60th percentile among Illinois education programs, meaning it outperforms two-fifths of in-state alternatives while charging less than elite competitors like UIC or Loyola.

For families concerned about the financial realities of teaching careers, Saint Xavier threads an important needle: competitive starting salaries without the debt burden that makes those salaries feel inadequate. The slight earnings decline warrants a conversation about career trajectory, but the low debt load gives graduates flexibility that many teaching programs don't offer.