Bachelor's · Wayne, New Jersey

Is Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at William Paterson University of New Jersey worth it?

Low confidence Low confidence: fewer than 40 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 3.8 years.

Earnings 1 year after graduating: $68,090; Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating: $67,888; Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation: $22,651; NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Net cost to graduate, all families: $79k (likely $79k – $106k); AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4: $28k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in NJ; 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback: 3.8 years (likely 2.6–6.7); Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return: −$2k (likely −$124k – $122k); Today's dollars
20-year net return: $247k (likely $18k – $491k); Today's dollars
Odds of finishing (school-wide): 44%; 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.