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

Syracuse's teacher education program posts numbers that significantly outpace both national and New York state medians, though you'll want to understand the small sample caveat here. At $49,186 in first-year earnings, graduates earn about $8,400 more than the state median and $6,100 above the national average—landing this program in the 94th percentile nationally. Among New York's 60 programs, it ranks at the 60th percentile, which places it solidly in the upper half but below CUNY's standout Queens and Hunter College programs. Earnings grow a healthy 17% by year four, suggesting steady career progression rather than a compensation ceiling.

The debt picture is reasonable for a private university: $26,664 creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54, meaning graduates owe just over half their first-year salary. This matches closely with typical debt loads both nationally and across New York, making it manageable on a teacher's salary. That said, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly with more data—a few outliers can skew results either way.

For families weighing private university costs against teaching salaries, Syracuse delivers stronger starting earnings than most alternatives. If your child is committed to teaching in New York and can limit borrowing to around $27,000, the investment appears sound, though CUNY options offer comparable outcomes at lower sticker prices.