Education at Southwestern University

First-year earnings of $50,984 place Southwestern's education graduates well above the national median of $38,660 and roughly in line with Texas averages for the field. With estimated debt around $27,000—based on borrowing patterns across similar private institutions—the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53 suggests manageable repayment, though certification costs and required unpaid student teaching can add financial strain during the program. The national benchmark of $26,522 in debt provides some confidence that this estimate reflects typical borrowing for education majors.

The earnings story is more nuanced. While Southwestern performs exceptionally against the national field (95th percentile), it sits in the middle tier among Texas education programs (60th percentile), trailing UT Arlington's $57,410 by a noticeable margin. This reflects Texas's generally strong teacher salaries rather than unique program advantages. Education graduates' earnings also tend to remain relatively flat over time due to standardized pay scales, meaning that first-year figure is close to what your child might earn for several years.

For a family considering a $100,000+ investment at a selective private university, the question is whether Southwestern's smaller classes and personal attention justify costs similar to larger Texas public universities with comparable outcomes. The debt appears reasonable if kept near $27,000, but the career trajectory is predictable: stable, respectable earnings without dramatic growth potential.