Compare 77 Montessori Teacher Education. programs in the West. Average earnings: $43,060.
With top graduates earning $59,112, Montessori Teacher Education stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $16K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Western Washington University's Montessori Teacher Education program leads with graduates earning $59,112, well above the $43,060 average across all 77 programs. Heritage University follows at $58,046, demonstrating how regional institutions compete effectively in specialized education fields regardless of overall university rankings.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Heritage University graduates borrow $14,573 and face just a 5.6% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.25.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $59,112 | 70 | $18,500 | Excellent | $23,123 | Manageable | |
| #2 | Heritage UniversityPrivate | $58,046 | 30 | $14,573 | Excellent | $18,542 | Manageable |
| #3 | Pacific Lutheran UniversityPrivate | $57,442 | 23 | $22,578 | Good | $25,000 | Challenging |
| #4 | Saint Martin's UniversityPrivate | $57,230 | 6 | $22,500 | Good | $22,678 | Challenging |
| #5 | $57,136 | 207 | $19,500 | Excellent | $22,000 | Manageable | |
| #6 | $55,469 | 186 | $19,500 | Good | $29,968 | Challenging | |
| #7 | University Of The PacificPrivate | $54,497 | 23 | $19,500 | Good | $50,438 | High |
| #8 | Pacific Oaks CollegePrivate | $52,982 | 61 | $29,105 | Manageable | $12,485 | Challenging |
| #9 | University Of PortlandPrivate | $52,469 | 42 | $21,370 | Good | $57,555 | High |
| #10 | Whitworth UniversityPrivate | $51,521 | 47 | $25,000 | Good | $35,875 | High |
| #11 | $51,376 | 123 | $18,500 | Good | $30,988 | High | |
| #12 | $50,979 | 36 | $23,250 | Good | $31,749 | High | |
| #13 | Linfield UniversityPrivate | $50,492 | 25 | $25,000 | Manageable | $36,067 | High |
| #14 | $50,049 | 5 | $20,210 | Good | $15,360 | Challenging | |
| #15 | $49,452 | 161 | $19,450 | Good | $20,906 | Challenging | |
| #16 | $49,217 | 197 | $15,371 | Excellent | $19,732 | Challenging | |
| #17 | Nevada State UniversityPublic | $48,757 | 29 | $19,691 | Good | $12,146 | Manageable |
| #18 | $48,175 | 17 | $23,000 | Manageable | $11,141 | Challenging | |
| #19 | $48,015 | 54 | $20,609 | Good | $23,014 | High | |
| #20 | $47,924 | 104 | $18,922 | Good | $26,150 | High | |
| #21 | University Of UtahPublic | $47,204 | 59 | $19,000 | Good | $18,886 | Challenging |
| #22 | $46,986 | 52 | $22,990 | Manageable | $38,376 | High | |
| #23 | $46,680 | 82 | $20,332 | Good | $21,279 | High | |
| #24 | $46,539 | 458 | $19,500 | Good | $23,519 | High | |
| #25 | Hawaii Pacific UniversityPrivate | $45,696 | 12 | $22,000 | Manageable | $29,362 | 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 →
