U.S. median for this major: $47,823.
College Scorecard field of study; 114 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 53% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $26,000.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $20,468. College Scorecard.
VCSU Education (Elementary / Secondary): pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Education (Elementary / Secondary) nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses VCSU's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $7,879 | $34,037 | 4.1 years |
| $30–48k | $7,787 | $33,640 | 4.1 years |
| $48–75k | $10,841 | $46,833 | 5.7 years |
| $75–110k | $12,538 | $54,164 | 6.6 years |
| $110k+ | $14,570 | $62,942 | 7.6 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (36% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Education (Elementary / Secondary) graduates 4 years after graduating ($48,841) minus $40,610 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in ND (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $8,231 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Education (Elementary / Secondary) at North Dakota colleges
Every North Dakota college we cover that reports Education (Elementary / Secondary) graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Jamestown | $49,410 | $27,000 | $19,567 | 49% |
| 2 | Valley City State University | $48,841 | $26,000 | $11,890 | 53% |
| 3 | Mayville State University | $47,852 | $27,000 | $11,456 | 41% |
| 4 | University of Mary | $46,121 | $27,000 | $17,770 | 67% |
| 5 | University of North Dakota | $45,955 | $27,000 | $18,551 | 60% |
| 6 | Minot State University | $45,941 | $25,823 | $12,703 | 45% |
6 more North Dakota colleges offer Education (Elementary / Secondary) but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Education (Elementary / Secondary) graduates
Elementary school teacher
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -0.4% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -0.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Training and Development Specialists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +10.8% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at VCSU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About VCSU
- Acceptance rate: 99% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 53% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $52,725
- Full cost breakdown · all 25 majors · overview
Related majors at VCSU
- Education (Subject Teaching)$52,500
VCSU Education (Elementary / Secondary) questions
How much do VCSU Education (Elementary / Secondary) graduates earn?
Education (Elementary / Secondary) graduates of Valley City State University earn a median $48,841 four years after graduating and $44,179 one year after. The U.S. median for Education (Elementary / Secondary) graduates across 671 colleges is $47,823.
How much debt do VCSU Education (Elementary / Secondary) graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Education (Elementary / Secondary) graduates of Valley City State University is $26,000, about 53% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,000.
Is VCSU a good school for Education (Elementary / Secondary) in North Dakota?
On pay, Education (Elementary / Secondary) graduates of Valley City State University earn $48,841 four years out, $1,855 above the median for the same major across 6 North Dakota colleges ($46,986) and $1,018 above the U.S. median ($47,823). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does VCSU rank for Education (Elementary / Secondary) in North Dakota?
Of 6 North Dakota colleges reporting Education (Elementary / Secondary) graduate earnings, Valley City State University ranks 2nd. The highest is University of Jamestown at $49,410.
What jobs do Education (Elementary / Secondary) graduates get?
A common career is elementary school teacher, with a median wage of $60,030 in North Dakota and $63,970 nationally. Others include secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education and training and development specialists.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Valley City State University Education (Elementary / Secondary): earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/valley-city-state-university/majors/education-elementary-secondary (College Scorecard and BLS data).