by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 285 U.S. colleges awarded 9,261 degrees and certificates in Teacher Education. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 56% of graduates. College Factual ranks 166 schools in its 2027 Best Teacher 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.
Studying Teacher Education involves the study of Teacher Education, Multiple Levels. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Teach Students At More Than One Educational Level, Such As A Combined Program In Elementary/secondary, Early Childhood/elementary, Elementary/middle School, Or Junior High/high School Teacher Education.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, teacher education draws strong interest, with 9,261 degrees awarded annually. 285 colleges award teacher education degrees, an average of 32 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 400.
By level, the 9,261 awards include 202 certificates, 1,260 associate degrees, 2,614 bachelor’s degrees, 5,143 master’s degrees and 29 doctorates.
Women earned 81% of teacher education degrees and certificates in the latest year (7,491 of 9,261). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (5,219) and Hispanic or Latino (1,775), and international students earned 78.
College Factual ranks 166 schools in its 2027 Best Teacher Education Schools ranking, including 40 for associate degrees, 81 for bachelor’s degrees, 90 for master’s degrees and 3 for doctorates. It also ranks teacher education schools within 36 states. In all, 285 colleges offer teacher education programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Teacher Education Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common teacher education credential is the master’s degree: 5,143 of the 9,261 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to 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 teacher education degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 202 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,260 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,614 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 5,143 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 29 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to teacher education, at 43.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 43.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 24.4% |
| Master’s degree | 9.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 8.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.7% |
| Some college courses | 2.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.9% |
Source: O*NET Online.
6 occupations are related to Teacher Education, with an average median salary of $82,976; the strongest outlook belongs to Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education, at 6.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Educator, Teacher, Montessori Teacher and Instructor.
The occupation related to teacher education with the most projected jobs is Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education, at 1,457,958.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,457,958 | 2.6% |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,058,186 | 6.4% |
| 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% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 84,106 | 4.9% |
Teacher 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 teacher education, with a median salary of $99,352.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | $99,352 |
| 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 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $75,366 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $63,776 |
Teacher Education has 12 similar majors in the Education field, which together award 99,563 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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