Because Mondays aren’t depressing enough as is ...
A new study from Bankrate.com finds that, when it comes to return-on-investment for professional degrees, teachers are getting a raw deal.
In weighing the cost of a degree against the median annual salary for a career in that field, teaching ranked 17th out of 20 careers for “value.” According to the analysis, teachers spend about $53,000 to get a degree and only make a median salary of $42,000. Under this breakdown, teachers who put 10 percent of their annual salary toward student loans need nearly 22 years to pay off their debt.
By comparison, those in advertising and marketing appear to be getting the best deal, paying $53,000 for a degree and earning $108,000 per year. According to the analysis, it takes those professionals about six years to pay off their debt. Economists, civil engineers, and political scientists can all pay off their loans in about eight years, while pharmacists, microbiologists, and family physicians can do so in less than 11.
The professions that ranked below teacher for ROI were veterinarian, journalist, and marriage and family therapist. (So for those of us with education degrees who went from teaching to journalism, it’s really not looking good.)
The analysis used a fairly unsophisticated method of calculation, however. A Bankrate.com spokesperson explained that it was based on 2012 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and did not account for salary adjustments over time, possible changes in repayment rates, or other varying factors.
For a more in-depth look at the numbers (if you’re interested in playing “should have,” “could have” for the rest of the day), see the full list of careers below.
Also, to learn more about what teachers are and aren’t getting with those degrees, check out this Commentary piece and the new OpEducation blog, both of which cover teacher-preparation issues.
What is the ROI of your college degree? | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Occupation | Minimum required years in college, graduate school and professional programs | Cost of degree (tuition, fees, room, board) | Median pay | Annual repayment (if 10 percent of salary goes to repaying school loans) | Years needed to repay education investment (assuming 6 percent student loan interest) |
| Advertising, marketing, promotions | 4 | $52,596 | $107,950 | $10,795 | 5.83 |
| Economist | 4 | $52,596 | $91,860 | $9,186 | 7.08 |
| Civil engineer | 4 | $52,596 | $79,340 | $7,934 | 8.50 |
| Political scientist | 6 | $68,010 | $102,000 | $10,200 | 8.58 |
| Pharmacist | 7 | $92,421 | $116,670 | $11,667 | 10.83 |
| Microbiologist | 4 | $52,596 | $66,260 | $6,626 | 10.83 |
| Physician: family or general practicioner | 8 | $136,861 | $172,020 | $17,202 | 10.92 |
| Accountant | 4 | $52,596 | $63,550 | $6,355 | 11.50 |
| Market research analyst | 4 | $52,596 | $60,300 | $6,030 | 12.42 |
| Lawyer | 7 | $103,677 | $113,530 | $11,353 | 13.33 |
| Dentist | 8 | $139,298 | $149,310 | $14,931 | 13.75 |
| Political science teacher: post-secondary | 6 | $68,010 | $72,170 | $7,217 | 14.00 |
| Public relations specialist | 4 | $52,596 | $54,170 | $5,417 | 14.67 |
| English language/literature teacher: post-secondary | 6 | $68,010 | $60,040 | $6,004 | 19.08 |
| Zoologist, wildlife biologist | 6 | $68,010 | $57,710 | $5,771 | 20.58 |
| Librarian | 6 | $68,010 | $55,370 | $5,537 | 22.33 |
| Teacher (full-time) | 4 | $52,596 | $43,400 | $4,340 | 21.75 |
| Veterinarian | 8 | $114,268 | $84,460 | $8,446 | 27.92 |
| News analyst, reporter, correspondent | 4 | $52,596 | $37,090 | $3,709 | 31.83 |
| Marriage and family therapist | 6 | $68,010 | $46,670 | $4,667 | 34.67 |
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center for Education Statistics, FinAid.org. Compiled by Bankrate.com.