Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at West Virginia University at Parkersburg

This program's standout feature is its remarkably low debt load—at $11,182, graduates carry less than half what's typical for teacher education programs in West Virginia ($24,810). That translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.31, meaning monthly loan payments will consume a small fraction of a new teacher's paycheck. For families worried about education debt, this is genuinely exceptional.

The earnings picture is more complicated. First-year salaries of $35,543 trail both the state median ($41,630) and what graduates earn from WV's top programs—Shepherd University teachers start around $46,500. Among West Virginia teacher education programs, this ranks at the 40th percentile, placing it slightly below average statewide. However, the sample size here is quite small (under 30 graduates), which means a few outliers could significantly skew these numbers. The 14% earnings growth to $40,341 by year four suggests graduates find their footing, though they remain behind peers from other state schools.

For families prioritizing debt avoidance, this program delivers: your child can become a certified teacher without the financial burden that typically accompanies the degree. Just recognize they'll likely start at lower salaries than teachers from WVU-Morgantown or Shepherd. If keeping student loans minimal matters more than maximizing starting salary—and for many teaching families, it should—this program accomplishes that goal effectively.