Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith

The standout feature here is the debt load: at $16,500, it's dramatically lower than both the state median ($25,559) and national median ($26,221), placing graduates in the 95th percentile for low debt. For a teaching career—where salaries start modest and grow slowly—graduating with roughly $9,000 less debt than peers statewide makes a tangible difference in monthly budgets and financial flexibility.

The earnings picture is more sobering. At just over $40,000 in year one, graduates trail both state and national medians by a few thousand dollars, landing in the 37th percentile nationally. More concerning, earnings actually dip slightly by year four rather than growing, though this likely reflects the realities of teaching schedules and contract structures rather than career stagnation. Comparing to other Arkansas programs, UAFS sits in the middle of the pack—behind Southern Arkansas and University of Central Arkansas, but competitive with several other state schools.

For families prioritizing affordability, this program delivers its core value: you can become a certified teacher without shouldering crushing debt. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41 is extremely manageable. Just understand that earnings here reflect typical Arkansas teaching salaries, which lag behind more affluent states. If your child is committed to teaching in Northwest Arkansas and values keeping student loans minimal, this program accomplishes that goal efficiently.