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

Based on comparable teacher education programs in Oklahoma, graduates can expect around $44,135 in first-year earnings—a figure that falls right at the state median. With an estimated $26,000 in student debt, that creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59, which is manageable for teaching careers that value job security over high starting salaries. The challenge is that this estimate comes from peer Oklahoma programs, not University of Tulsa's specific outcomes, so families are making a decision with incomplete information about this particular pathway.

The uncertainty matters here because other Oklahoma schools with reported data show a noticeable range. Oklahoma State's subject-area teaching graduates earn over $51,000 their first year out—about $7,000 more than the state median this program appears to track. That gap raises the question of whether Tulsa's more selective admissions (58% acceptance rate, 1325 average SAT) translate into better teaching placements or if graduates see similar outcomes to less selective state universities.

For parents considering this program, the fundamental issue is betting on a private university price tag without school-specific outcome data. If Tulsa performs like typical Oklahoma teaching programs, the debt load is reasonable for the field. But if you're paying more in total cost of attendance than at OU or OSU—which show stronger reported earnings—you need confidence that Tulsa's smaller program, connections, or preparation justify that premium. Without actual graduate data, that's a leap of faith rather than an evidence-based decision.