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

KU's teacher education program trails most Kansas alternatives, with first-year earnings of $40,495 sitting below both the state median ($43,878) and national benchmark ($43,082). Among the 22 Kansas schools offering this program, KU ranks in just the 40th percentile—meaning graduates could reasonably expect higher starting salaries at schools like Wichita State ($47,121) or Kansas State ($45,179). The $6,800 earnings gap compared to Wichita State represents a meaningful difference for new teachers managing student debt.

The financial picture does improve: earnings grow a solid 17% to $47,299 by year four, and the $24,174 debt load is manageable at 0.60 times first-year salary. Still, that debt sits in the 74th percentile nationally—higher than typical for this field. Given teaching's compressed salary schedules, starting behind often means staying behind throughout your career.

The major caveat here is sample size—fewer than 30 recent graduates reported data, which makes these numbers less reliable. If you're considering KU for subject-specific teacher education, investigate whether this small cohort reflects a declining or changing program. For a flagship university charging out-of-state premiums, these outcomes don't justify the investment when Kansas offers multiple programs with stronger track records.