by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 67 U.S. colleges awarded 944 degrees and certificates in Adult & Continuing Education. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 82% of graduates. College Factual ranks 34 schools in its 2027 Best Adult & Continuing Education Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $44,824 one year after completing, rising to $51,285 after four years.
A major in Adult & Continuing Education involves the study of Adult And Continuing Education And Teaching. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Teach Adult Students In Various Settings, Including Basic And Remedial Education Programs, Continuing Education Programs, And Programs Designed To Develop Or Upgrade Specific Employment-Related Knowledge And Skills. Examples: [Workforce Training And Development Instruction].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., adult & continuing education is a widely-pursued major, with 944 degrees awarded annually. 67 colleges award adult & continuing education degrees, an average of 14 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 60.
By level, the 944 awards include 8 bachelor’s degrees, 775 master’s degrees and 161 doctorates.
Women earned 71% of adult & continuing education degrees and certificates in the latest year (666 of 944). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (542) and Black or African American (157), and international students earned 48.
College Factual ranks 34 schools in its 2027 Best Adult & Continuing Education Schools ranking, including 1 for associate degrees, 24 for bachelor’s degrees, 31 for master’s degrees and 7 for doctorates. It also ranks adult & continuing education schools within 15 states. In all, 67 colleges offer adult & continuing education programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Adult & Continuing Education Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common adult & continuing education credential is the master’s degree: 775 of the 944 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to adult & continuing education call most for Speaking, Instructing and Learning Strategies, and for knowledge of Education and Training, Customer and Personal Service and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Speech Clarity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an adult & continuing education degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 8 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 775 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 161 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to adult & continuing education, at 41.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 41.6% |
| Master’s degree | 20.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 11.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 11.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 9.8% |
| Some college courses | 2.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Adult & Continuing Education, with an average median salary of $67,647; the strongest outlook belongs to Training and Development Specialists, at 11.3% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Teacher, Instructor, Theater Teacher and Health Teacher.
The occupation related to adult & continuing education with the most projected jobs is Self-Enrichment Teachers, at 944,792.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Enrichment Teachers | 944,792 | 8.8% |
| Training and Development Specialists | 622,945 | 11.3% |
| Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors | 217,050 | 0.9% |
Adult & Continuing Education graduates earn a median $44,824 one year after completing their program, $51,285 after four years and $48,771 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $44,824 |
| 4 years | $51,285 |
| 5 years | $48,771 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to adult & continuing education, with a median salary of $77,096.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Self-Enrichment Teachers | $77,096 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $63,210 |
| Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors | $62,634 |
Adult & Continuing Education has 12 similar majors in the Education field, which together award 107,880 degrees a year; the largest are Elementary Education and Teaching (42,620), Early Childhood Education and Teaching (33,737) and Secondary Education and Teaching (10,793). Browse all Education majors or the full list of college majors.
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