Teacher Education is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 347 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for teacher education students pursuing a degree.
University Of Notre Dame tops our 2026 ranking of the best teacher education schools. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university. University Of Notre Dame graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 78 teacher education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, teacher education degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame generally make around $49,822. Students borrow a median of $19,891 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Berkeley is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in teacher education, ranking #2. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 49 teacher education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their teacher education degree from University Of California Berkeley earn around $70,847 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,238 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Irvine is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in teacher education, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. University Of California Irvine graduates 87% of students within six years. University Of California Irvine awarded about 136 teacher education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the teacher education program make about $65,591 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,539.
See the full teacher education program report for University Of California Irvine
Santa Clara University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in teacher education, ranking #4. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Santa Clara University awarded about 38 teacher education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, teacher education degree recipients from Santa Clara University generally make around $68,067. Students borrow a median of $20,144 to complete this degree.
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University Of Miami is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in teacher education, ranking #5. University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 12 teacher education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Miami in the most recent data year. Students who receive their teacher education degree from University Of Miami earn around $57,234 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete this degree.
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Seattle University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best teacher education schools. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. Seattle University awarded about 23 teacher education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, teacher education degree recipients from Seattle University generally make around $72,295. Typical student debt for the program is $22,289.
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University Of Redlands earned the #7 position for teacher education this year. University Of Redlands is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Redlands. University Of Redlands graduates 67% of students within six years. About 83 teacher education degrees were awarded at University Of Redlands in the most recent year. Graduates of the teacher education program make about $59,996 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,175 to complete this degree.
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Washington State University earned the #8 position for teacher education this year. Washington State University is a very large public school located in the town of Pullman. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. There were roughly 251 teacher education students who graduated with this degree at Washington State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their teacher education degree from Washington State University earn around $62,589 in the first couple years of their career. Washington State University graduates carry a median of $22,960 in student loans.
More information about a degree in teacher education from Washington State University
Fresno Pacific University landed the #9 spot for teacher education this year. Located in the city of Fresno, Fresno Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 50 teacher education degrees were awarded at Fresno Pacific University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, teacher education degree recipients from Fresno Pacific University generally make around $33,727. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Alliant International University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best teacher education schools. Located in the city of San Diego, Alliant International University is a moderately-sized private for-profit university. There were roughly 24 teacher education students who graduated with this degree at Alliant International University in the most recent data year. Teacher Education graduates of Alliant International University earn a median of $59,992 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,234 to complete this degree.
See the full teacher education program report for Alliant International University
Worcester State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best teacher education schools. Worcester State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Worcester. About 62% of students finish within six years. About 25 teacher education degrees were awarded at Worcester State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the teacher education program make about $42,313 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,971.
See the full teacher education program report for Worcester State University
Hamline University earned the #12 position for teacher education this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Paul. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 49 teacher education degrees were awarded at Hamline University in the most recent year. Teacher Education graduates of Hamline University earn a median of $59,462 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,530 to complete this degree.
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William Paterson University Of New Jersey ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best teacher education schools. Set in the suburb of Wayne, William Paterson University Of New Jersey is a large public institution. William Paterson University Of New Jersey graduates 44% of students within six years. About 40 teacher education degrees were awarded at William Paterson University Of New Jersey in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, teacher education degree recipients from William Paterson University Of New Jersey generally make around $64,322. William Paterson University Of New Jersey graduates carry a median of $24,671 in student loans.
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University Of Central Florida landed the #14 spot for teacher education this year. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. Roughly 78% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Central Florida awarded about 21 teacher education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, teacher education degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $54,726. University Of Central Florida graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans.
More information about a degree in teacher education from University Of Central Florida
Merrimack College landed the #15 spot for teacher education this year. Located in the suburb of North Andover, Merrimack College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Merrimack College graduates 70% of students within six years. Merrimack College awarded about 11 teacher education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their teacher education degree from Merrimack College earn around $55,327 in the first couple years of their career. Merrimack College graduates carry a median of $26,913 in student loans.
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Claremont Graduate University landed the #16 spot for teacher education this year. Set in the suburb of Claremont, Claremont Graduate University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Claremont Graduate University awarded about 30 teacher education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the teacher education program make about $67,806 in their early career.
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The Evergreen State College earned the #17 position for teacher education this year. The Evergreen State College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Olympia. The six-year graduation rate is 41%. The Evergreen State College awarded about 29 teacher education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, teacher education degree recipients from The Evergreen State College generally make around $26,942. Students borrow a median of $21,850 to complete this degree.
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Colorado College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best teacher education schools. Located in the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Colorado College awarded about 18 teacher education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, teacher education degree recipients from Colorado College generally make around $37,342. Students borrow a median of $17,921 to complete this degree.
See the full teacher education program report for Colorado College
Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best teacher education schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Teaneck. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 34 teacher education degrees were awarded at Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the teacher education program make about $60,843 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,770 to complete this degree.
See the full teacher education program report for Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus
Vanderbilt University earned the #20 position for teacher education this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 12 teacher education students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their teacher education degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $50,383 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,975.
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Relay Graduate School Of Education ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best teacher education schools. Relay Graduate School Of Education is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. About 816 teacher education degrees were awarded at Relay Graduate School Of Education in the most recent year. Graduates of the teacher education program make about $68,158 in their early career.
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Hofstra University landed the #22 spot for teacher education this year. Located in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 teacher education students who graduated with this degree at Hofstra University in the most recent data year. Teacher Education graduates of Hofstra University earn a median of $43,758 early in their careers. Hofstra University graduates carry a median of $25,359 in student loans.
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Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham earned the #23 position for teacher education this year. Located in the suburb of Madison, Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham graduates 66% of students within six years. Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham awarded about 38 teacher education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, teacher education degree recipients from Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham generally make around $60,843. Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham graduates carry a median of $24,701 in student loans.
See the full teacher education program report for Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham
Brigham Young University Provo earned the #24 position for teacher education this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Provo. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 teacher education degrees were awarded at Brigham Young University Provo in the most recent year. Graduates of the teacher education program make about $42,475 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,385 to complete this degree.
See the full teacher education program report for Brigham Young University Provo
Auburn University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best teacher education schools. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. Auburn University graduates 82% of students within six years. About 29 teacher education degrees were awarded at Auburn University in the most recent year. Teacher Education graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $52,358 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,250.
More information about a degree in teacher education from Auburn University
Rest of the Top 50 Teacher Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s teacher education ranking:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 347 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
