by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 2,218 U.S. colleges awarded 325,834 degrees and certificates in Education. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 59% of graduates. College Factual ranks 1,695 schools in its 2027 Best Education Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $53,284 one year after completing, rising to $61,227 after four years.
Studying in the field of education will help prepare you to be an effective and inspirational teacher. You will learn skills on how to manage a classroom while still providing an interesting lesson. In this field, you will influence children, teenagers or adults in a way that can change their lives. A teacher is much more than an educator, you will act as a counselor, disciplinarian, friend, and confidant. The roles you will play in the lives of your students are endless.
However, teaching is not the only career available in the field of education. It is also possible to become a principle or an administrator. Here is where you take the knowledge you already have about the teaching profession and use it to help your school run smoothly. Another direction that you may choose to go within this field is career or guidance counseling. This allows you to have a more one on one role with the student in order to motivate and encourage them.
If education interests you, but working directly with students is not your passion, you may choose to work as a curriculum developer. Here you would work with state standards and tests, instruction methods, and technology to make sure students are getting the best education possible.
Studying Education involves the study of Education. Instructional Programs That Focus On The Theory And Practice Of Learning And Teaching, And Related Research, Administrative And Support Services.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, education draws strong interest, with 325,834 degrees awarded annually. 2,218 colleges award education degrees, an average of 147 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 19,314.
By level, the 325,834 awards include 4,391 certificates, 17,872 associate degrees, 91,544 bachelor’s degrees, 192,670 master’s degrees and 16,362 doctorates.
Women earned 81% of education degrees and certificates in the latest year (263,511 of 325,834). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (195,159) and Hispanic or Latino (51,847), and international students earned 7,662.
College Factual ranks 1,695 schools in its 2027 Best Education Schools ranking, including 432 for associate degrees, 987 for bachelor’s degrees, 912 for master’s degrees and 355 for doctorates. It also ranks education schools within 52 states. In all, 2,218 colleges offer education programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Education Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common education credential is the master’s degree: 192,670 of the 325,834 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to education call most for Speaking, Instructing and Reading Comprehension, 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.
There are many different skills essential to working in education: Some of the most important are enthusiasm, compassion, dedication, creativity, organization, and flexibility. No matter how perfectly you plan a lesson or a meeting; there is always a chance that something may not go according to plan, making quick thinking and adaptability important. It is also important to have a passion for the future, even if you are not working directly in a classroom every day.
There is a very wide variety of majors within education. Students with different strengths can excel in this field because of the endless options. Students in education should have a desire to help the greater common good and should also have strong communication skills. Communication is important for teaching, but also to make sure everyone is on the same page, whether it is parents, administrators, or the state. Most of the concentrations within this field will require at least one semester of student teaching.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an education degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 4,391 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 17,872 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 91,544 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 192,670 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 16,362 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to education, at 36.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 36.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 31.6% |
| Master’s degree | 15.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 7.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.1% |
| Some college courses | 1.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.1% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.6% |
| First professional degree | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
30 occupations are related to Education, with an average median salary of $71,474; the strongest outlook belongs to Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten, at 14.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Educator, Instructor, Teacher and Lecturer.
There are a variety of career opportunities for those who enter the education field. Some may want to be a classroom teacher in either a particular grade level or subject, whereas others will choose to serve as a school administrator. Other options include school counseling, curriculum development, educational policy, tutoring and more. With the many diverse directions you can go, there is bound to be a career options that appeals to you.
The occupation related to education with the most projected jobs is Special Education Teachers, All Other, at 1,501,521.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Special Education Teachers, All Other | 1,501,521 | 9.2% |
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,457,958 | 2.6% |
| Instructional Coordinators | 1,448,345 | -1.3% |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other | 1,421,275 | 11.1% |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School | 1,384,848 | 9.0% |
| Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,328,652 | -4.2% |
| Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,267,153 | 0.4% |
Education graduates earn a median $53,284 one year after completing their program, $61,227 after four years and $58,335 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $53,284 |
| 4 years | $61,227 |
| 5 years | $58,335 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to education is Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary, with a median salary of $129,049.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $129,049 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $99,604 |
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | $99,352 |
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Teaching Assistants, Special Education | $96,801 |
| Education Administrators, All Other | $91,340 |
| Teaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special Education | $89,337 |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $86,398 |
Education includes 15 concentrations that together award 325,834 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (108,824), Educational Administration and Supervision (44,746) and Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (40,395). Browse the full list of college majors.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
