Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at Walden University

The small sample size here demands caution, but the numbers tell a troubling story that's hard to ignore: Walden graduates in this program earn $6,000 less than the typical Minnesota teacher education graduate their first year, while carrying nearly double the debt ($47,261 vs. $26,735 state median). That debt burden ranks in the 5th percentile nationally—meaning 95% of teacher education programs leave students with less debt. When you're preparing for a profession with constrained starting salaries, borrowing $47,000 for a degree that leads to $36,000 in first-year earnings creates real financial strain.

The comparison to other Minnesota options is stark. Top programs in the state like Martin Luther College and University of Minnesota-Morris produce graduates earning around $46,000—nearly $10,000 more annually—typically with half the debt load. Even mid-tier Minnesota programs significantly outperform these outcomes. For a family paying out-of-state tuition rates at an online institution, you're not getting a price advantage, and the career results suggest you're not getting an employment network advantage either.

Teaching is an honorable profession, but it requires smart financial planning. Unless this program offers unique flexibility your child absolutely needs (and you've exhausted in-state options), the debt-to-earnings math here makes it difficult to recommend, even with the small sample caveat.