Education at University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

UC Denver's education program delivers exactly what most families hope for: below-average debt paired with above-average earnings. At $27,936, graduates carry about $1,400 more than the national median for education degrees, but they're earning $3,660 more than their peers nationally. That 0.66 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe roughly eight months of their first-year salary—a manageable burden for teachers entering a profession with relatively modest starting pay.

The Colorado context matters here. Among the six schools offering education degrees in the state, UC Denver sits right at the median for both earnings and debt. This makes sense given the program's accessibility (78% admission rate) and its mix of students, with about a quarter receiving Pell grants. The first-year salary of $42,320 aligns closely with typical Colorado teacher pay scales, suggesting graduates are finding jobs in their field locally.

For parents wondering if this is worth it: your child will likely graduate with debt they can realistically pay down on a teacher's salary, especially if they stay in Colorado where these earnings are competitive. The moderate sample size indicates a stable program without the volatility you sometimes see in smaller offerings. This won't make anyone rich, but it's a solid path into teaching without the debt trap that plagues some education programs.