Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at Southeastern University

Southeastern's teaching program starts graduates near the national median salary, but there's a troubling disconnect with Florida's market. While this program lands at the 56th percentile nationally, it falls to just the 40th percentile among Florida teaching programs—meaning six out of ten similar programs in the state produce better-earning graduates. The gap is substantial: Florida's state median for this program is $46,328, nearly $5,000 more than what Southeastern graduates earn in their fourth year. Top Florida programs like Miami Dade College and Florida SouthWestern State College place graduates earning over $50,000, demonstrating what's possible for teachers in this state.

The modest $27,000 debt load is manageable on an absolute basis, but it doesn't offset the earnings disadvantage. That slight earnings decline from year one to year four—unusual for any profession—suggests limited salary progression or career mobility for graduates. Given Florida's teacher salary schedules and the demand for educators statewide, the performance gap relative to other Florida programs raises questions about placement networks or geographic concentration of job opportunities.

For Florida families, this is a case where staying in-state matters, but choosing the *right* in-state program matters more. Community colleges and state universities are producing better outcomes for future teachers in Florida, often with lower debt burdens. Unless Southeastern offers specific advantages like location or program structure, families should compare carefully against higher-performing Florida teaching programs.