by our College Data Analytics TeamTeacher Education was the 97th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 9,949 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 17.5% increase in teacher education degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 8,205.
This year's Best Teacher Education Schools ranking compares 153 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of teacher education programs later in this article.
Talking to others to convey information effectively has been highlighted as one of the most essential skills for careers related to teacher education. Required skills include teaching others how to do something and selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
teacher education degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Specific teacher education careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
Teacher Education degree levels vary. Teacher Education programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest teacher education degree you can get. How long it takes to complete some common teacher education degree levels is shown below.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to teacher education, with approximately 63.0% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for teacher education workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 65.9% |
| Master’s Degree | 16.3% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 12.6% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 2.6% |
| Doctoral Degree | 1.7% |
Most workers in teacher education have at least a associate degree. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in teacher education have obtained.
The education level required is different depending on the teacher education career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your teacher education degree? Teacher Education careers are expected to grow 7.4% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to teacher education.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers | 1,514,900 | 7.4% |
| High School Teachers | 1,095,500 | 7.5% |
As you might expect, salaries for teacher education graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for teacher education graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers teacher education grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Teachers | $64,340 |
| Elementary School Teachers | $62,200 |
With over 424 different teacher education degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased teacher education school rankings to help you with this.
Teacher Education is one of 12 different types of Teacher Education Grade Specific programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Elementary Education | 43,003 |
| Early Childhood Education | 32,920 |
| Secondary Education | 10,547 |
| Teacher Development & Methodology | 6,165 |
| Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education & Teaching | 3,517 |
