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

Wingate's teacher education program starts graduates around $40,000—slightly below both the national and North Carolina medians for teaching programs. While that might sound disappointing, the $25,925 in typical debt means graduates face a manageable 0.65 debt-to-earnings ratio, close to the often-cited one-to-one "safe" threshold. The modest 2% earnings growth over four years is typical for teaching, where salaries follow rigid schedules rather than merit or experience curves.

What's concerning is the 40th percentile ranking among North Carolina's 46 teaching programs. Graduates from NC A&T, Elon, and NC Central start $6,000-9,000 higher annually—a meaningful difference on a teacher's salary that compounds over an entire career. Given Wingate's 85% admission rate and relatively accessible profile, families might reasonably expect competitive outcomes, but the data suggests this program lags behind many state alternatives, including public universities that often cost less upfront.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) is a real caveat—a few outliers could skew these numbers significantly. Still, if your child is set on teaching in North Carolina, compare job offers carefully. The debt load won't crush them, but starting several thousand below peers from other state programs means catching up will be slow in a field where salary progression is standardized. Consider whether Wingate's specific approach or connections justify accepting below-median starting pay.