Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at Stetson University

Stetson's teaching program produces graduates earning $48,139 their first year—solid performance that beats the national median by about $5,000 and ranks in the 87th percentile among similar programs nationwide. However, in Florida's competitive landscape, this lands at the 60th percentile, trailing larger public universities like Florida State ($50,610) and FAU ($53,524) while carrying slightly higher debt than the state median. The $27,000 debt load remains manageable with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off loans in about seven months of gross earnings.

The real caveat here is sample size—with fewer than 30 graduates in the data, these numbers could shift significantly year to year. That said, the fundamentals look reasonable for an aspiring teacher: you're getting earnings above the national benchmark without crushing debt. The school's 86% admission rate and mid-range SAT scores suggest it's accessible, and 35% of students receive Pell grants, indicating some economic diversity.

For parents weighing this investment, the question is whether the private school premium justifies a mid-tier position among Florida teaching programs. If your child values smaller class sizes and the private college experience, the debt level won't derail their teaching career. But if maximizing first-year earnings matters most, Florida's public universities offer a clearer financial edge at likely lower tuition.