by our College Data Analytics Team
[Teacher Education And Development](/majors/education/teacher-education-and-development/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 70 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying teacher education and development schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose teacher education and development graduates go on to earn the most.
Our analysis ranked Metropolitan State University the top school for teacher education and development graduate earnings in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Metropolitan State University is a public institution. Teacher Education And Development graduates of Metropolitan State University earn a median of about $68,407 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in teacher education and development will find them at Metropolitan Community College Kansas City, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Kansas City, Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a public institution. After graduating, teacher education and development degree recipients from Metropolitan Community College Kansas City typically earn about $37,839 annually.
Dakota State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying teacher education and development schools. Located in the town of Madison, Dakota State University is a public institution. After graduating, teacher education and development degree recipients from Dakota State University typically earn about $54,583 annually.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities produces some of the highest-paid graduates in teacher education and development, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public institution. Early-career teacher education and development graduates from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities make a median of around $51,805 per year.
St Olaf College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying teacher education and development schools. St Olaf College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Northfield. Early-career teacher education and development graduates from St Olaf College make a median of around $57,128 per year.
Mayville State University placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for teacher education and development. Set in the rural area of Mayville, Mayville State University is a public institution. After graduating, teacher education and development degree recipients from Mayville State University typically earn about $55,578 annually.
Concordia University Saint Paul landed the #7 spot for teacher education and development salaries this year. Concordia University Saint Paul is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Teacher Education And Development graduates of Concordia University Saint Paul earn a median of about $54,745 a year early in their careers.
Mineral Area College came in at #8 for teacher education and development graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Park Hills, Mineral Area College is a public institution. Students who complete the teacher education and development program here go on to a median salary of roughly $34,209.
Valley City State University placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for teacher education and development. Set in the town of Valley City, Valley City State University is a public institution. Students who complete the teacher education and development program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,811.
Iowa State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying teacher education and development schools. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a public institution. Students who complete the teacher education and development program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,845.
University Of North Dakota placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for teacher education and development. Set in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a public institution. Teacher Education And Development graduates of University Of North Dakota earn a median of about $50,380 a year early in their careers.
Concordia College At Moorhead came in at #12 for teacher education and development graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Moorhead, Concordia College At Moorhead is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, teacher education and development degree recipients from Concordia College At Moorhead typically earn about $52,263 annually.
Black Hills State University placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for teacher education and development. Located in the town of Spearfish, Black Hills State University is a public institution. Teacher Education And Development graduates of Black Hills State University earn a median of about $51,966 a year early in their careers.
Gustavus Adolphus College earned the #14 position for teacher education and development graduate earnings this year. Gustavus Adolphus College is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Saint Peter. Students who complete the teacher education and development program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,678.
Chadron State College came in at #15 for teacher education and development graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Chadron, Chadron State College is a public institution. Early-career teacher education and development graduates from Chadron State College make a median of around $51,833 per year.
North Dakota State University Main Campus landed the #16 spot for teacher education and development salaries this year. Located in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a public institution. After graduating, teacher education and development degree recipients from North Dakota State University Main Campus typically earn about $50,243 annually.
Wartburg College earned the #17 position for teacher education and development graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Waverly, Wartburg College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the teacher education and development program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,111.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln came in at #18 for teacher education and development graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a public institution. Teacher Education And Development graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of about $51,736 a year early in their careers.
Minot State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying teacher education and development schools. Set in the city of Minot, Minot State University is a public institution. After graduating, teacher education and development degree recipients from Minot State University typically earn about $52,934 annually.
South Dakota State University came in at #20 for teacher education and development graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a public institution. Teacher Education And Development graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of about $51,722 a year early in their careers.
Moberly Area Community College placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for teacher education and development. Moberly Area Community College is a public school located in the town of Moberly. After graduating, teacher education and development degree recipients from Moberly Area Community College typically earn about $32,191 annually.
Buena Vista University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying teacher education and development schools. Located in the town of Storm Lake, Buena Vista University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the teacher education and development program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,766.
Morningside College came in at #23 for teacher education and development graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Sioux City, Morningside College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the teacher education and development program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,164.
Saint Ambrose University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying teacher education and development schools. Saint Ambrose University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Davenport. Early-career teacher education and development graduates from Saint Ambrose University make a median of around $47,657 per year.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota placed #25 among the highest-paying schools for teacher education and development. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. After graduating, teacher education and development degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Minnesota typically earn about $52,540 annually.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid teacher education and development ranking:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries teacher education and development graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 70 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
