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

University of Memphis graduates from this teaching program enter classrooms earning about $6,000 less than the typical Tennessee teacher with the same degree—a meaningful gap that places them in the bottom half statewide. The $38,000 starting salary, while disappointing compared to state peers, does come with notably lower debt: graduates carry $21,747 versus the $27,350 Tennessee median. Still, even with this lighter debt load, the initial earnings lag behind what you'd find at schools like Lee University or Carson-Newman.

The trajectory shows some improvement—earnings climb to $41,173 by year four—but the program's position in the 25th percentile nationally suggests structural challenges rather than just a slow start. For a family weighing options, the lower debt is a real advantage, and the 0.57 debt-to-earnings ratio remains manageable for teaching. However, graduates here start further behind their Tennessee peers, which compounds over a career.

One important caveat: these figures come from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual experiences may vary considerably. If your child is committed to teaching in Memphis specifically, the local connections might offset the earnings difference. But if starting salary matters—and in teaching, where raises are incremental, it should—exploring the state's stronger-performing programs would be worth the effort, particularly if they don't significantly increase the debt burden.