Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at University of South Carolina-Columbia

USC-Columbia's education program sits right at the state median for earnings but with substantially lower debt than most South Carolina alternatives—$23,780 versus the state median of $27,000. Among in-state options, this program ranks in the 60th percentile for earnings despite trailing the national median by about $2,500. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59 suggests manageable repayment, though the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift considerably with more data.

The backwards earnings trajectory—from $40,596 to $38,368 over four years—deserves attention. This could reflect graduates moving into teaching positions with compressed salary schedules or the timing of when respondents entered their first full-time roles. For context, North Greenville grads earn about $3,000 more initially, but that comes with likely higher debt loads at a private institution.

The key advantage here is combining flagship university credentials with below-average debt for a teaching career. If your child is committed to education and wants to stay in South Carolina, USC delivers that without the financial burden you'll find at many competitor schools. Just understand that teaching salaries in the state start modest and don't climb dramatically—this is about sustainable debt, not high earnings potential.