Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at University of Arizona

University of Arizona's education program produces teachers earning slightly above the national median, but the small sample size (under 30 graduates) makes these numbers less reliable than data from larger programs. That caveat aside, first-year earnings of $44,450 exceed the national benchmark by about $1,400, placing graduates right at the state median—though Northern Arizona University's program shows teachers can earn roughly $2,000 more annually in Arizona.

The debt load of $25,340 is manageable for education, translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57. Teachers typically carry this level of debt for years, but it's not crushing—especially in Arizona, where public school districts often offer loan forgiveness programs for specific shortage areas. The concerning detail here is the slight earnings decline by year four, dropping to $43,618. While education salaries are notoriously flat early in careers, a 2% drop is unusual and might reflect some graduates leaving classroom teaching or working in lower-paying districts.

For Arizona families, this program delivers middle-of-the-pack results among state options. The modest debt burden is appropriate for teaching salaries, and U of A's proximity to Tucson's school districts provides solid student teaching opportunities. Just recognize that teaching in Arizona means below-average salaries nationally, and these specific numbers come from a limited sample that may not represent future outcomes.