Education, General: is this non-credential program (preparatory coursework/teacher certification) worth it?
National picture across 12 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$62,656 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$62,656Median year-4 earnings
$18,237Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$62,656Median reported earnings · year 4
Not availableAverage reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
62thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
12Reporting programs
12With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $58,162
- Federal debt
- $14,250
- Reporting programs
- 2
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $42,127
- Federal debt
- $11,025
- Reporting programs
- 34
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $49,250
- Federal debt
- $26,525
- Reporting programs
- 88
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $60,429
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $63,909
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 217
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $95,543
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 36
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $83,429
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $68,300
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 8
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $62,656
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 12
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$53,424National median$62,65675th percentile$65,151
12 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1California State University, Northridge$113,4932California State University, Fresno$81,0763Mercer University$77,6184California State University, Chico$65,1515Walden University$64,5496California State University, Stanislaus$63,7297University of Minnesota-Twin Cities$61,5828Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College$57,6469Bethel University$55,69610Western Governors University$53,424Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Education Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1081 · 1 crosswalk linksTeaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special EducationSOC 25-9042 · 1 crosswalk linksTeaching Assistants, Special EducationSOC 25-9043 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California State University, NorthridgeNon-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification) | Northridge, CA | $113,493 | Not available | Baseline needed | $7,021 |
| 2 | California State University, FresnoNon-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification) | Fresno, CA | $81,076 | Not available | Baseline needed | $7,000 |
| 3 | Mercer UniversityNon-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification) | Macon, GA | $77,618 | Not available | Baseline needed | $23,847 |
| 4 | California State University, ChicoNon-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification) | Chico, CA | $65,151 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,480 |
| 5 | Walden UniversityNon-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification) | Minneapolis, MN | $64,549 | Not available | Baseline needed | $33,817 |
| 6 | California State University, StanislausNon-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification) | Turlock, CA | $63,729 | Not available | Baseline needed | $6,067 |
| 7 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesNon-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification) | Minneapolis, MN | $61,582 | Not available | Baseline needed | $16,778 |
| 8 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeNon-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification) | Baton Rouge, LA | $57,646 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,151 |
| 9 | Bethel UniversityNon-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification) | Saint Paul, MN | $55,696 | Not available | Baseline needed | $28,556 |
| 10 | Western Governors UniversityNon-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification) | Salt Lake City, UT | $53,424 | Not available | Baseline needed | $12,548 |
| 11 | Westminster UniversityNon-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification) | Salt Lake City, UT | $48,358 | Not available | Baseline needed | $27,094 |
| 12 | Meredith CollegeNon-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification) | Raleigh, NC | $48,203 | Not available | Baseline needed | $22,488 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.