Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at Youngstown State University

Youngstown State's teacher education program sits in the middle of Ohio's pack—landing at the 40th percentile statewide—but lags significantly behind national standards at just the 16th percentile. Graduates start at $33,398, roughly $10,000 below the national median and $4,000 below Ohio's typical outcome. To put this in perspective, teachers from Ohio State and Cincinnati earn $8,000-$10,000 more right out of the gate, a gap that compounds over a career.

The debt load of $26,751 is actually typical for teaching programs, but paired with these below-average earnings, it creates a tighter financial picture than at peer institutions. The 0.80 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates face nearly a full year's salary in student loans. While teaching salaries do grow steadily—up 14% by year four to $37,956—this growth merely keeps pace with what other Ohio teaching graduates started at.

For families looking at teaching programs in Ohio, this represents a workable but not optimal path. If staying local in northeast Ohio matters, Youngstown provides access to the profession at a reasonable cost. However, if your student can commute to or afford one of Ohio's stronger programs, the $4,000-$8,000 earnings premium would more than offset any additional investment within a few years of teaching.