Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at University of Michigan-Dearborn

UM-Dearborn's teacher education program shows graduates earning above both state and national medians—landing in the 60th percentile in Michigan—though the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could swing considerably year to year. First-year earnings of $44,845 beat the state median by nearly $2,000, positioning graduates competitively against programs at schools like Central Michigan and Saginaw Valley State. The $31,000 debt load sits slightly above state norms but remains manageable with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69.

The unusual aspect here is the slight earnings dip between years one and four, though with such a small cohort, this could reflect a few graduates pursuing additional education or changing districts rather than a systemic issue. Teacher salaries typically rise with experience through contractual step increases, so this pattern likely doesn't represent the long-term trajectory most graduates will follow.

For families comfortable with a regional public university serving a substantial first-generation population (44% receive Pell grants), this program offers reasonable value. The debt is modest by teaching standards, earnings exceed state benchmarks, and UM-Dearborn's location provides access to diverse school districts in metropolitan Detroit. Just remember these numbers could look different with a larger graduating class.