Compare 14 Art Teacher Education. programs in Missouri. Average earnings: $35,465.
With top graduates earning $40,028, Art Teacher Education stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $5K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Missouri State University-Springfield's Art Teacher Education program leads with graduates earning $40,028, well above the state average of $35,161. University of Missouri-Columbia follows at $38,721, while Northwest Missouri State delivers $37,306—demonstrating that regional publics dominate this specialized field.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Missouri State graduates borrow $21,992 and face a 17.3% payment burden, landing in the 'Manageable' category. But when parent loans are included, all three top programs show concerning family debt levels exceeding 30% of discretionary income.
Highest program earnings: $40,028
Strong outcomes with 91% acceptance
17.3% payment burden | Manageable - payment 12-18% of discretionary
30.9% family burden | High burden - payment over 25% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $40,028 | 22 | $21,992 | Manageable | $15,092 | High | |
| #2 | $38,721 | 16 | $20,500 | Manageable | $32,529 | High | |
| #3 | $37,306 | 62 | $21,500 | Challenging | $15,803 | High | |
| #4 | Culver-Stockton CollegePrivate | $37,077 | 13 | $26,000 | Challenging | $29,500 | High |
| #5 | $36,057 | 35 | $21,000 | Challenging | $14,000 | High | |
| #6 | $35,772 | 9 | $18,750 | Challenging | $18,462 | High | |
| #7 | Evangel UniversityPrivate | $35,570 | 13 | $24,736 | High | $20,473 | High |
| #8 | Lindenwood UniversityPrivate | $35,420 | 24 | $26,000 | High | $18,445 | High |
| #9 | $34,781 | 61 | $21,500 | Challenging | $15,000 | High | |
| #10 | Southwest Baptist UniversityPrivate | $34,701 | 17 | $20,957 | Challenging | $17,747 | High |
| #11 | $33,993 | 8 | $20,000 | Challenging | $15,027 | High | |
| #12 | College Of The OzarksPrivate | $33,654 | 16 | — | — | — | — |
| #13 | Lincoln UniversityPublic | $33,015 | 6 | $28,875 | High | $14,000 | High |
| #14 | $30,409 | 17 | $19,968 | High | $11,334 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →