Education at St Petersburg College

St. Petersburg College's education program delivers earnings that exceed most national education programs—ranking in the 65th percentile—while carrying relatively manageable debt that falls in the bottom 6th percentile nationally. That's a favorable combination for a field not known for high starting salaries. The $35,491 first-year salary beats the national median by $3,000, and graduates see steady 9% growth by year four.

The debt picture deserves attention but shouldn't alarm: while $30,870 represents nearly 87% of first-year earnings, that's actually low for bachelor's programs overall. In education specifically, where many graduates enter public service positions with loan forgiveness options, this level of debt is workable. The state comparison is limited—only two Florida schools reported data for this program—but SPC matches the state median exactly on both earnings and debt, suggesting consistent outcomes across Florida's education graduates.

For parents whose child is committed to teaching, this program offers a relatively straightforward path: competitive starting pay for the field, debt that won't overwhelm them, and a clear career trajectory. The 33% Pell grant population suggests the college serves students effectively across income levels. While no one gets rich teaching elementary school, SPC graduates start ahead of most of their peers nationally and carry less debt doing it.