Education at University of Virginia's College at Wise

At $39,659 in first-year earnings, graduates from this program outpace most education majors in Virginia, where the state median sits at just $32,426. While the debt figure is estimated based on comparable bachelor's programs nationally, the resulting debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61 falls comfortably within manageable territory—especially compared to Virginia's state median debt for education majors of $42,160. If this estimate holds, graduates would be borrowing roughly $18,000 less than typical for the state while earning substantially more.

The national perspective reinforces this advantage: these graduates earn slightly above the national median for education majors and do so with estimated debt below the national norm. Education degrees rarely produce dramatic early earnings growth, but starting in the mid-$30s with moderate debt positions graduates reasonably well for a teaching career. The program serves a significant population of Pell Grant recipients in rural Virginia, and the outcomes suggest it's delivering solid value for students entering a profession where earnings stability matters more than rapid salary growth.

Given the limited actual data, verify the true debt load during financial aid discussions—estimates can miss program-specific scholarships or institutional aid patterns. But if the debt falls anywhere near this projection, you're looking at a program that appears to produce better-than-average outcomes for future Virginia educators.