Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at University of Cincinnati-Clermont College

At $29,867 in first-year earnings, UC Clermont's teacher education program outperforms 90% of similar programs nationally—a remarkable position given that the national median sits at just $25,120. However, the 60th percentile ranking among Ohio programs tells a more nuanced story: this strong showing is partly because teacher education associate degrees nationwide tend to produce modest initial earnings. Within Ohio's more competitive landscape, where the state median is $27,408, UC Clermont performs solidly but not exceptionally.

The financial picture is straightforward and manageable. With debt of $15,625 and first-year earnings just under $30,000, graduates face a debt load of about half their annual salary—reasonable for an associate degree that leads to education paraprofessional roles. The 20% earnings growth to $35,733 by year four suggests steady career progression, likely as graduates gain classroom experience or complete bachelor's degrees to become full teachers.

For families considering this path, the key question is career trajectory. This associate degree positions graduates well for paraprofessional work or as a stepping stone toward a teaching license, and UC Clermont delivers comparable outcomes to Cincinnati's main campus at likely lower cost. If your child plans to continue to a bachelor's degree in education, this provides a solid, affordable foundation. If this represents the final degree, understand that earnings will remain modest even with experience.