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TESOL at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN · Public · Certificate · Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities has a 77% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with 30,469 students enrolled in Minneapolis, MN.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $23,288/yr fall 29% below the $32,776 national median for TESOL. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 22.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI TESOL programs nationally.

The 40% gap between optimistic and pessimistic AI scenarios is notable. With 31% of typical tasks exposed to automation, AI adoption could meaningfully shift career outcomes for TESOL graduates.

Median debt of $17,967 represents roughly 9 months of the $23,288 starting salary — a manageable burden by trade school standards.

This program is one of 4 schools offering TESOL in our dataset — a specialized trade with limited comparison points.

Five-year earnings of $45,807 show a 97% jump from the $23,288 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.

TradeSchoolOutlook Score

Low End

Score

High End

Earnings $23,288/yr (-29% vs median)

AI-Proof Moderate (69% shielded)

Job Market Very Large (279,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings

$409K

12.0% annual growth

Earnings Multiple (In-State)

24.8x

10-year earnings ÷ tuition

Viable Career Paths

6 of 6

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)

$16,488

Out-of-state: $36,402

Median Debt at Graduation

$17,967

9.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$45,807

97% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for TESOL graduates by median salary.

Career Path	Median Salary	Growth	AI-ProofAI
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education	$64,580	-1.6%	67%
Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education	$62,970	-2.0%	65%
Elementary school teachers, except special education	$62,340	-2.0%	69%

Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education

$64,580

-1.6% growth 67% AI-proof

Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education

$62,970

-2.0% growth 65% AI-proof

Elementary school teachers, except special education

$62,340

-2.0% growth 69% AI-proof

View all 6 career paths with full salary data →

TESOL Career Guide

From day-one roles to senior positions, TESOL careers span a range of specializations. Read the complete outlook for graduates entering education.

Read the full TESOL career guide →

Compare & Explore

TESOL Overview

TESOL at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Minnesota-Twin Cities's TESOL program score?

A score of 48/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for TESOL. Earnings, ROI, or job market factors are pulling the score down.

How vulnerable is TESOL to AI automation?

AI exposure of 31% is a real factor. For University of Minnesota-Twin Cities specifically, the gap between optimistic ($408,673) and pessimistic ($243,646) decade earnings reflects that uncertainty.

Is University of Minnesota-Twin Cities a good choice for TESOL despite lower starting pay?

Starting salary is one data point. If University of Minnesota-Twin Cities's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.

Will TESOL graduates from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities find jobs?

With approximately 279,900 annual openings across mapped careers, TESOL offers a very large employment pool. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities graduates enter a market shaped by enrollment growth and teacher shortage dynamics.

Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →