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

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$43,878

Est. from KS median (6 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$30,125

Est. from KS median (3 programs)

Analysis

Borrowing $30,125 for a teaching credential is a meaningful investment, especially when comparable Kansas programs suggest first-year salaries around $43,900. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69 sits noticeably above the state median of $24,125 in borrowing for similar programs—roughly $6,000 more than peers typically take on. For a profession where salaries follow predictable schedules and rarely surge dramatically, that difference matters over the years of repayment ahead.

Kansas teacher education programs cluster tightly in their earnings outcomes, with Southwestern's estimated figures landing right in the middle of the pack. Similar programs across the state, from Fort Hays to Wichita State, all place graduates in the $43,000-$47,000 range—a narrow band that reflects the reality of public school salary schedules. The estimated earnings here align with both state and national medians for the field, suggesting competitive placement for graduates entering Kansas classrooms.

The core question is whether the extra debt load at Southwestern—about 25% higher than the typical Kansas teacher education program—creates manageable or burdensome repayment terms on a teacher's starting salary. Given that nearly 40% of students here receive Pell grants, that premium matters particularly for students without family financial support. Before committing, compare actual loan offers against those from Fort Hays or Emporia State, where similar career outcomes might come with lighter debt burdens.

Where Southwestern College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Kansas

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Kansas (22 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Southwestern CollegeWinfield	$38,480	$43,878*	—	$30,125*	—
Wichita State UniversityWichita	$9,322	$47,121*	$41,417	$22,145*	0.47
Kansas State UniversityManhattan	$10,942	$45,179*	—	$22,814*	0.50
Emporia State UniversityEmporia	$7,356	$43,954*	$43,184	$22,500*	0.51
Pittsburg State UniversityPittsburg	$8,008	$43,802*	$43,273	$24,125*	0.55
Fort Hays State UniversityHays	$5,633	$43,273*	$45,225	$23,082*	0.53
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 Southwestern College, approximately 39% 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 6 similar programs in KS. Actual outcomes may vary.