by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 165 U.S. colleges awarded 1,048 degrees and certificates in Science Education. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 68% of graduates. College Factual ranks 17 schools in its 2027 Best Science Education Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $50,000 one year after completing, rising to $58,727 after four years.
A degree in Science Education covers Science Teacher Education/general Science Teacher Education. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Teach General Science Programs, Or A Combination Of The Biological And Physical Science Subject Matter Areas, At Various Educational Levels.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, science education is a widely-pursued major, with 1,048 degrees awarded annually. 165 colleges award science education degrees, an average of 6 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 267.
By level, the 1,048 awards include 5 certificates, 1 associate degrees, 301 bachelor’s degrees, 709 master’s degrees and 32 doctorates.
Women earned 66% of science education degrees and certificates in the latest year (694 of 1,048). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (750) and Hispanic or Latino (112), and international students earned 18.
College Factual ranks 17 schools in its 2027 Best Science Education Schools ranking, including 4 for bachelor’s degrees, 10 for master’s degrees and 2 for doctorates. It also ranks science education schools within 10 states. In all, 165 colleges offer science education programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Science Education Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common science education credential is the master’s degree: 709 of the 1,048 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to science education call most for Speaking, Instructing and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Education and Training, English Language and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Speech Clarity and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a science education degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 5 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 301 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 709 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 32 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to science education, at 46.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 46.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 17.6% |
| Master’s degree | 16.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 12.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.6% |
Source: O*NET Online.
10 occupations are related to Science Education, with an average median salary of $75,376; the strongest outlook belongs to Physics Teachers, Postsecondary, at 14.3% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Professor, College Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor.
The occupation related to science education with the most projected jobs is Education Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,441,246.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 692,039 | -1.4% |
| Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 615,002 | 10.3% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 497,622 | 4.3% |
| Physics Teachers, Postsecondary | 415,392 | 14.3% |
| Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | 398,348 | 7.1% |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 297,433 | 4.5% |
Science Education graduates earn a median $50,000 one year after completing their program, $58,727 after four years and $56,439 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $50,000 |
| 4 years | $58,727 |
| 5 years | $56,439 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to science education, with a median salary of $98,329.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $83,485 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $83,105 |
| Physics Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,685 |
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,966 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $72,801 |
| Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | $69,509 |
Science Education has 37 similar majors in the Education field, which together award 39,347 degrees a year; the largest are Physical Education Teaching and Coaching (7,130), Reading Teacher Education (6,129) and Music Teacher Education (4,149). Browse all Education majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physical Education Teaching and Coaching | 7,130 |
| Reading Teacher Education | 6,129 |
| Music Teacher Education | 4,149 |
| Mathematics Teacher Education | 3,405 |
| English/Language Arts Teacher Education | 2,933 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other | 2,470 |
| Social Studies Teacher Education | 2,020 |
| Art Teacher Education | 1,898 |
| Health Teacher Education | 1,560 |
| Agricultural Teacher Education | 1,054 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
