Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degree) at Seattle University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$49,177

Est. from WA median (5 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$27,000

Est. from national median (122 programs)

Analysis

Washington State's teacher education programs cluster tightly around $49,000 in first-year earnings, and Seattle University appears positioned right in that middle range based on comparable programs. While specific outcomes for SU graduates aren't available, similar programs in Washington suggest starting salaries that exceed the national median for teaching credentials by about $6,000—a meaningful advantage reflecting the region's higher cost of living and teacher compensation.

The estimated $27,000 debt load translates to a 0.55 debt-to-earnings ratio, which sits comfortably in sustainable territory for an education career. Teaching salaries follow predictable salary schedules rather than market variations, so the debt burden matters more here than in fields with unpredictable earning trajectories. Programs like Pacific Lutheran and Washington State achieve notably higher first-year numbers (around $56,000-$58,000), suggesting that school choice does influence early placement or which districts hire new teachers.

For parents weighing this investment, the fundamentals look reasonable: teacher salaries in Washington exceed national norms, the estimated debt won't be crushing, and Seattle University's stronger admissions profile (SAT 1266, 22% Pell) suggests well-supported students. However, you're paying private school tuition to enter a profession with public sector salary caps. The practical question is whether SU's network, student teaching placements, or preparation justify costs that likely exceed public alternatives like Central Washington, which appears to produce similar early earnings at lower debt levels.

Where Seattle University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Washington

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Washington (16 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Seattle UniversitySeattle	$54,285	$49,177*	—	$27,000*	—
Pacific Lutheran UniversityTacoma	$50,964	$57,683*	—	$29,740*	0.52
Washington State UniversityPullman	$12,997	$55,864*	$62,752	—*	—
Central Washington UniversityEllensburg	$9,192	$49,177*	$55,716	$23,377*	0.48
Western Washington UniversityBellingham	$9,286	$42,795*	$58,602	$26,000*	0.61
Eastern Washington UniversityCheney	$8,353	$41,914*	$53,164	$23,009*	0.55
National Median	—	$43,082*	—	$26,221*	0.61

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas graduates

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in computer science. May specialize in a field of computer science, such as the design and function of computers or operations and research analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to mathematical concepts, statistics, and actuarial science and to the application of original and standardized mathematical techniques in solving specific problems and situations. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in the agricultural sciences. Includes teachers of agronomy, dairy sciences, fisheries management, horticultural sciences, poultry sciences, range management, and agricultural soil conservation. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in biological sciences. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in forestry and conservation science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in the physical sciences, except chemistry and physics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching, and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to the chemical and physical properties and compositional changes of substances. Work may include providing instruction in the methods of qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching, and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in environmental science. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Physics Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to the laws of matter and energy. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Geography Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in geography. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in psychology, such as child, clinical, and developmental psychology, and psychological counseling. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Seattle University, approximately 22% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 5 similar programs in WA. Actual outcomes may vary.