Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at University of Minnesota-Crookston

Based on comparable Minnesota teacher education programs, this bachelor's degree carries an estimated $27,992 in debt against first-year earnings of around $44,360—a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63 that aligns closely with both state and national medians for the field. That ratio suggests graduates would dedicate roughly 63% of their first year's salary to debt if paying it all at once, or more practically, manageable monthly payments over a standard repayment period. Teaching credentials historically lead to steady if modest income growth, and the estimated figures here don't raise immediate red flags compared to peer programs.

The challenge is that these are projections based on similar Minnesota programs, not tracked outcomes from Crookston graduates specifically. The school's smaller cohort size means the Department of Education suppresses actual data, leaving parents without confirmation of how this campus's particular students fare in the job market. Several comparable Minnesota programs—including Concordia Moorhead and St. Olaf—report actual first-year earnings in the $47,000-$48,000 range, suggesting there may be room for variation based on school-specific factors like employer networks or student teaching placements.

For families comfortable with teaching's known salary constraints, the estimated debt load appears serviceable. But without verifiable graduate outcomes from Crookston itself, you're making this investment based on statewide averages rather than demonstrated results from this campus. If your student is committed to teaching, confirm what job placement support and licensure pass rates look like here specifically.