Teacher Education at Southern Maine Community College

South Portland, ME · Public · Associate Degree · Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

with a mid-sized student body of 5,279 in South Portland, ME.

Program Analysis

At $25,603/yr, Teacher Education graduates from Southern Maine Community College land near the $25,977 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

With a 42.3x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 19% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Teacher Education career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

A #53 ranking among 129 Teacher Education programs places Southern Maine Community College in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

A 24% earnings increase from $25,603 to $31,758 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

The 5 apprenticeship pathways connected to Teacher Education reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

59 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
56
Low End
59
Score
60
High End
Earnings $25,603/yr (-1% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (70% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (412,300 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$330K
5.5% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
43.5x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
11 of 11
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$7,594
Out-of-state: $13,354
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$31,758
24% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Teacher Education graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Postsecondary teachers, all other $78,490 +1.8% 100%
Education teachers, postsecondary $72,090 +2.1% 51%
Training and development specialists $65,850 +10.8% 45%
Postsecondary teachers, all other
$78,490
+1.8% growth 100% AI-proof
Education teachers, postsecondary
$72,090
+2.1% growth 51% AI-proof
Training and development specialists
$65,850
+10.8% growth 45% AI-proof

View all 11 career paths with full salary data →

About Teacher Education Careers

Your journey will likely begin in the classroom, where your days are a dynamic mix of planning and direct interaction. As an elementary teacher, you might use a smartboard to lead a math lesson, then transition to guiding small reading groups. In a secondary school, you’ll focus on your subject specialty, preparing students for exams, managing online assignments through a learning management system, and communicating with parents.

Read the full Teacher Education career guide →

Compare & Explore

Teacher Education Overview

Teacher Education at Other Schools

Other Majors at Southern Maine Community College

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Southern Maine Community College's Teacher Education program score?
At 59/100, Southern Maine Community College's Teacher Education program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
Will AI affect Teacher Education careers?
With 30% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $267,865 in decade earnings vs $330,166 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Teacher Education graduates?
There are 5 registered apprenticeships connected to Teacher Education occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
How many job openings are there for Teacher Education graduates?
With approximately 412,300 annual openings across mapped careers, Teacher Education offers a very large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →