Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at University of St Francis

Teaching salaries in Illinois cluster tightly, which makes University of St Francis's position in the middle of the pack worth examining closely. New graduates here earn $43,864—just slightly below the state median but actually above the national average for teacher education programs. While top-tier programs like UIC and Loyola place graduates into starting positions paying $55,000-$61,000, those often require teaching in challenging urban districts or specialized roles. St Francis graduates are clearing the crucial $40,000 threshold that makes teacher debt manageable.

The debt picture looks reasonable at $23,878, translating to monthly payments around $270 on a standard plan—sustainable on a teacher's salary. This is notably lower than both state and national medians for teacher education programs. However, the small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means a few graduates landing assistant principal positions or corporate training roles could be skewing these numbers upward.

For families considering St Francis, this looks like a solid path into teaching without excessive debt, but verify these outcomes with the education department directly given the limited data. The real question is whether your student wants to teach in the Chicago suburbs versus pursuing opportunities in higher-paying districts that might justify attending one of Illinois's more expensive programs.