ROI Major

Teacher Education, Specific Levels and Methods at University of New Orleans (The)

LA · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 13.12

Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Teacher Education, Specific Levels and Methods degree from University of New Orleans (The) earn a median salary of $53,676 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in LA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $58,154. The degree typically pays for itself in 11.3 years.

Quick Insights

Slow Burn / High Debt Risk

How this degree looks at a glance

A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.

Salary Ranges

Starting Range

$47,695

Typical Career

$53,676

Top Performers

$59,150

Estimated break-even: 11.3 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$358

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,473. Most students can comfortably afford about a $358 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 1.4x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.7x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Louisiana buys what costs $0.92 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Educational Services, Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, Health Care & Social Assistance.

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Educational Services 14.7%
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 14.4%
Health Care & Social Assistance 12.1%

Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.

5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent

$58,154

Nominal: $53,676 in Louisiana (COL 92.3% of national avg) · 8.3% higher purchasing power

10-Year Earnings Curve

Break-Even Timeline

How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).

11.3 years to break even
Graduation 15 years

Total Investment

$155,168

4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost

HS Graduate Baseline

$38,792/yr

BLS 2023 median, HS diploma

View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
Timeframe 25th Pct. Median (50th) 75th Pct.
1 Year After Graduation $36,052 $44,096 $50,048
5 Years After Graduation $47,695 $53,676 $59,150
10 Years After Graduation $51,048 $56,302 $62,130

Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).

How We Calculate Purchasing Power

The median salary of $53,676 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in LA, which has a cost-of-living index of 92.3% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $53,676 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9230) = $58,154 National Average equivalent.

COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →

Career Verdict

Graduates from the Teacher Education, Specific Levels and Methods program at the University of New Orleans experience a gradual increase in earnings over time. The median earnings one year after graduation stand at $44,096, rising to $53,676 five years post-graduation and reaching $56,302 after ten years. When adjusted for purchasing power, the five-year salary aligns with a national equivalent of $58,153.85, indicating that while initial earnings may be lower than some other fields, the long-term trajectory shows promise, especially considering the cost of living in Louisiana.

The top industries for graduates highlight a strong alignment with educational and social services, with 14.7% entering Educational Services, 14.4% in Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, and 12.1% in Health Care & Social Assistance. The estimated break-even point compared to a high-school-only path is approximately 11.3 years, suggesting that while the initial investment in education may take time to recoup, the long-term benefits in terms of career opportunities and earnings potential can be significant. Overall, the return on investment appears favorable for those committed to a career in education.

AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.

Compare with Another School

See how the Teacher Education, Specific Levels and Methods degree at University of New Orleans (The) stacks up against another institution side-by-side.

Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.

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