CollegeCostWise

Bachelor's · Cullowhee, North Carolina

Is Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at Western Carolina University worth it?

Medium confidence Medium confidence: 40–99 graduates behind the earnings figures.

The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans

Pays back in time: graduates typically recover the cost in about 5.5 years.

Earnings 1 year after graduating
$46,749
Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating
$51,807
Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation
$25,000
NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Net cost to graduate, all families
$55k (likely $55k – $72k)
AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4
$15k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in NC
2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback
5.5 years (likely 4.1–7.6)
Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return
−$72k (likely −$137k – −$11k)
Today's dollars
20-year net return
$115k (likely −$4k – $260k)
Today's dollars
Odds of finishing (school-wide)
61%
Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26

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🍎 Getting ready in high school

Students heading toward teaching & helping people majors like this one often take these classes. Every school offers a different mix, so check with your counselor.

AP classes

  • AP Psychology
  • AP English Language and Composition
  • AP Statistics

IB Higher Level

  • Psychology HL
  • Language A HL

Build my roadmap 🗺️ Middle school to career, plus high schools near you that offer these classes.

Other majors at Western Carolina University

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at other schools in North Carolina