Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at University of Wisconsin-Superior

UW-Superior's teaching program comes with an unusual tradeoff: below-average starting salaries but remarkably low debt. Graduates earn $39,475 in their first year—about $5,000 less than the Wisconsin median for education programs and trailing most other UW campuses. Within Wisconsin's competitive teacher education landscape, this places the program at the 40th percentile, with graduates from Wisconsin Lutheran and UW-Madison earning $10,000+ more annually. Yet the program's $32,774 median debt sits well above both state and national norms, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.83 that's higher than you'd want for a profession with predictable, modest compensation.

The 9% earnings growth over four years suggests graduates are securing teaching positions with standard salary progression, but they're starting from a lower baseline than peers across Wisconsin. This matters in teaching because most districts use lockstep salary schedules—your starting rung on the ladder determines your trajectory. The higher debt burden means UW-Superior graduates will spend more years paying down loans while earning less than counterparts from other state programs.

For families prioritizing in-state tuition at a regional campus, understand that you're trading earnings potential for accessibility. If your child has competitive credentials, examining programs at UW-Madison or the private colleges that lead Wisconsin's teacher education rankings could deliver significantly better financial outcomes despite potentially higher sticker prices.