Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus

Southern Arkansas University graduates leave with just $12,000 in debt—less than half the Arkansas median and among the lowest debt loads in the state for this program. While first-year earnings of $44,843 don't lead the pack in Arkansas (ranking around the 60th percentile), they still beat both state and national medians. That translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27, meaning graduates can realistically pay off their loans within a year or two of teaching. Compare that to the national debt burden of over $26,000, and the financial advantage becomes clear.

The small sample size here—fewer than 30 graduates—means these numbers could shift year to year. But the pattern makes sense: Southern Arkansas serves a largely in-state, working-class student body (45% receive Pell grants), and the school appears to prioritize affordability over prestige. For a teaching degree, where salaries are relatively standardized by district pay scales, graduating with minimal debt matters more than squeezing out a few extra thousand in starting salary.

If your child wants to teach in Arkansas and needs to keep costs down, this program delivers exactly what matters: a credential that opens classroom doors without the debt burden that drives teachers out of the profession. Just don't expect dramatic salary growth—teaching rarely provides that anywhere.