Program Analysis
Graduates earn $41,018/yr, roughly in line with the $41,690 national median for Teacher Education. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Teacher Education programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Teacher Education's typical career paths, with 43% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 4% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $21,729 represents roughly 6 months of the $41,018 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
At #116 of 348 Teacher Education programs, Appalachian State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Five-year earnings of $46,827 are relatively flat compared to the $41,018 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.