Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at South Carolina State University

South Carolina State graduates in this teaching program earn $30,676 their first year—about $10,000 less than the state median for similar programs and nearly $13,000 below the national average. Ranking in just the 10th percentile nationally and 25th percentile statewide, these earnings trail behind every comparison school in South Carolina, including the state median of $40,394. The modest 10% earnings growth to $33,661 by year four doesn't close this gap meaningfully.

The debt picture compounds the challenge. At $31,841, graduates carry more debt than 95% of comparable programs nationally, despite South Carolina State serving a predominantly low-income student population (68% receive Pell grants). With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.04, new teachers would owe more than their entire first-year salary—a financially precarious position when entering a profession with limited income growth potential.

For families considering this program, the math is difficult to ignore: graduates earn $10,000 less annually than peers at other South Carolina schools while carrying higher debt loads. Unless your child has compelling reasons to attend South Carolina State specifically—strong family ties, unique support systems, or scholarship opportunities that dramatically reduce the debt burden—exploring other in-state options like North Greenville, Charleston Southern, or USC-Columbia would likely provide better financial outcomes for the same teaching career.