Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at Trinity Christian College

Trinity Christian College graduates just under 30 students per year from this program, making these numbers directional rather than definitive. That said, the pattern here is notably different from what most Illinois teaching programs deliver. Starting at $44,538, these graduates earn slightly above the national median but fall below the state median of $44,601—landing in just the 40th percentile among Illinois programs. The debt load of $27,000 matches the state median exactly but is lower than most national programs (25th percentile), creating a reasonable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61.

The real question is whether Trinity's approach—a small, Christian college with an 89% admission rate—is worth choosing over alternatives when Illinois offers considerably stronger outcomes at larger programs. Northeastern Illinois and SIU-Carbondale graduates earn $63,615 and $54,215 respectively, representing 40-50% higher starting salaries. Even mid-tier options like North Central College deliver $48,074. For a field where initial salary matters significantly (teachers often follow structured pay scales that compound early advantages), starting in the middle of the pack could mean thousands less over a career.

If your child values Trinity's specific community and faith-based approach to teacher preparation, these outcomes aren't alarming—the debt is manageable and earnings are respectable. But purely on financial merit, stronger teaching programs exist throughout Illinois at similar or lower cost.