Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at Southeast Missouri State University

Southeast Missouri State's teacher education program lands squarely in the middle of Missouri options but significantly trails both state and national benchmarks. Starting at $34,206, graduates earn about $1,300 less than the typical Missouri teacher education graduate and nearly $9,000 below the national median. Within Missouri, this places the program at the 40th percentile—meaning six out of ten comparable programs produce better outcomes. Top state programs like Mizzou and Missouri State consistently deliver $4,000-5,000 higher starting salaries.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $21,748, graduates borrow roughly $4,000 less than state and national norms, creating a manageable 0.64 debt-to-earnings ratio. However, the earnings trajectory is essentially flat, with just 2% growth over four years to $34,781. This stagnation is concerning in a field where most teachers see regular step increases.

For Missouri families, this program works if you're staying local and prioritizing lower debt over higher earning potential. But if your child has acceptance letters from Mizzou or Missouri State, the $5,000 annual earnings advantage—which compounds over a 30-year career—likely outweighs any marginal cost difference. The combination of below-median earnings and minimal growth makes this a harder sell than programs that better position graduates for long-term financial stability in education.