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

Louisiana Lafayette's Teacher Education program tells two contradictory stories. The first-year salary of $28,746 ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally—well below the national median of $43,082. Yet within Louisiana, this program sits at the 60th percentile, which tells you something important about teacher compensation across the state. The real story emerges in year four: earnings jump 47% to $42,221, bringing graduates nearly to national parity and well above Louisiana peers at LSU ($24,882) and Grambling ($22,864).

The $26,000 debt load is reasonable for teaching, creating a 0.90 debt-to-earnings ratio that improves significantly as salaries climb. This growth trajectory likely reflects Louisiana's teacher pay scales, which reward experience and additional certifications more substantially than many states. While competing Louisiana programs like Southeastern ($47,684) and Northwestern ($46,458) show higher earnings, those numbers may reflect different subject specializations or geographic markets within the state.

For families committed to teaching in Louisiana, this program delivers acceptable value—the debt is manageable and earnings growth is strong by state standards. The concern is that first year: making $28,746 in Lafayette requires careful budgeting or supplemental income. If your child is considering out-of-state opportunities or has significant additional debt beyond the median, those national rankings become harder to ignore.