by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 67 U.S. colleges awarded 515 degrees and certificates in Social Science Teacher Education. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 74% of graduates. College Factual ranks 16 schools in its 2027 Best Social Science Teacher 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 major in Social Science Teacher Education explores Social Science Teacher Education. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Teach Specific Social Science Subjects And Programs At Various Educational Levels.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., social science teacher education is a widely-pursued major, with 515 degrees awarded annually. 67 colleges award social science teacher education degrees, an average of 8 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 81.
By level, the 515 awards include 383 bachelor’s degrees and 132 master’s degrees.
Women earned 52% of social science teacher education degrees and certificates in the latest year (267 of 515). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (392) and Hispanic or Latino (60), and international students earned 1.
College Factual ranks 16 schools in its 2027 Best Social Science Teacher Education Schools ranking, including 14 for bachelor’s degrees and 9 for master’s degrees. It also ranks social science teacher education schools within 12 states. In all, 67 colleges offer social science teacher education programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Social Science Teacher Education Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common social science teacher education credential is the bachelor’s degree: 383 of the 515 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to social science teacher education call most for Speaking, Instructing and Learning Strategies, and for knowledge of Education and Training, English Language and Psychology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Speech Clarity and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a social science teacher education degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 383 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 132 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to social science teacher education, at 47.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 47.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 34.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 7.2% |
| Master’s degree | 6.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Social Science Teacher Education, with an average median salary of $86,454; the strongest outlook belongs to Education Teachers, Postsecondary, at 2.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Educator, Continuing Education Instructor, Education Adjunct Professor and Special Education Professor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to social science teacher education, 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% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
Social Science Teacher 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 social science teacher education, with a median salary of $98,329.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $83,105 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
Social Science Teacher Education has 37 similar majors in the Education field, which together award 39,880 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.
