Education at Salem State University

Salem State's education program lands right in the middle of Massachusetts offerings but trails the national pack significantly. At $33,065 in first-year earnings, graduates earn about $5,600 less than the typical education major nationally, though they're close to the Massachusetts median. The $27,000 debt load is roughly average for both state and country, creating a manageable but not impressive debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.82.

The 16% earnings growth over four years tells a more positive story—reaching $38,488 by year four brings graduates nearly to the national first-year median. However, that still puts them well below what graduates from Springfield College ($45,906) or Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts ($39,375) achieve right out of the gate. For context, this program ranks in the 40th percentile among Massachusetts education programs, meaning more than half of state alternatives deliver better early-career outcomes.

For families considering this program, the math works if you're committed to teaching and value Salem State's accessibility and location, but recognize you're trading several thousand dollars in annual earnings compared to peer programs in the state. The debt is reasonable enough that it won't become crushing, but you're not getting the earnings boost that justifies choosing this over stronger Massachusetts alternatives unless geography or admission factors heavily into your decision.