Living & Expenses 2011
Salary
Salary
$32,000-$35,000
$32,000-$35,000
Cost of Living
Housing Costs (single)
$650-$1000
$650-$1000
Housing Costs (shared)
$450-$650
$450-$650
Health Insurance
$300/month
$300/month
Utilities
$30-$50
$30-$50
Daycare
$325/week
$325/week
Monthly Transit Pass
$76/month
$76/month
Car Required
Yes
Yes
Car Insurance
$100.00
$100.00
Start-Up
Costs
Testing Costs
$225.00
$225.00
Up Front Certification Costs
How Do You Pay Start-Up Costs
Out of Pocket
Out of Pocket
Ongoing Costs Through the Two-Year Commitment
Ongoing Certification Costs
$13,000 - $20,000
$13,000 - $20,000
Use Americorps award for testing/certification
Yes
Yes
How is teaching certification structured in this state/region?
Limited Full-time License
Limited Full-time License
Is it possible to complete a master's degree at the end of the two years?
Yes, but it requires additional coursework. Most corps members complete their master’s degree in the year following their two-year commitment.
Yes, but it requires additional coursework. Most corps members complete their master’s degree in the year following their two-year commitment.
Is a master's degree required?
No
No
Partner Universities
Hamline University
Hamline University
Teacher Certification Information
All Twin Cities corps members will become certified teachers within two years through a partnership with Hamline University. Our corps members also have the opportunity to earn a master’s degree. Corps members will take a class one night per week in addition to some weekend classes. Both the certification and master’s program take two years to complete. Both the certification and master’s program take two years to complete. Corps members who pursue a master’s degree will complete one additional course at the end of their first year of teaching and two additional courses during their second year of teaching.
Notes and Clarifications
- Beginning teacher salary: If you have a master's degree in education, are placed in a bilingual classroom, or in a math/science classroom you may receive additional compensation.
- Avg. health insurance: In some placement districts, health insurance premiums are pre-tax deductions.
- Total tax rate: Federal + state + city. Only applies to starting salaries.
- Up-front certification: Expenses that must be paid before your first day of teaching.
- Paying start-up costs: Can you pay for testing and up-front certification costs with transitional grants and loans or do you have to pay out-of-pocket?
- Ongoing certification: Total certification costs over two-year teaching commitment.
- AmeriCorps award for certification: Can you use your AmeriCorps award to pay testing/certification costs?
- Master's in two years: Is it possible to complete a master's degree at the end of two years?
- Master's required: Is the completion of a master's degree required as part of the two-year commitment?
- Extra master's degree costs: Additional total cost to obtain a master's degree (on top of ongoing certification costs); does not include AmeriCorps award.
- Partner university(ies): These universities partner with Teach For America for ongoing certification requirements, and in some cases, the fulfillment of a master's degree in education.
Teach For America was named one of Fortune magazine's top 100 employers to work for.
Teach For America was named one of America's top 100 Ideal Employers in Universum's 2011 American Student Survey.