This paper examines the morale of beginning secondary science teachers who attended one of three types of teacher preparation programs: (1) traditional undergraduate, (2) post-baccalaureate certification, or (3) alternative route to certification. One-hundred one secondary science teachers (grades 7-12) who were completing their second year in a Connecticut public middle or high school were surveyed to determine their levels of morale using the "Purdue Teacher Opinionaire (PTO)". Findings indicated that teachers trained via alternative route to certification were significantly less satisfied with their salary compared to those trained at traditional undergraduate programs. The socioeconomic status of the district in which the beginning teacher was employed was related to total morale and four of the ten morale factors measured on the "PTO". As the socioeconomic rank of the employing district increased, so did morale. The results of this study have implications for public school administrators and institutions certified to prepare them, particularly in terms of how to recruit, select, and retain them in the teaching profession. (Contains 4 tables.)