Teacher education: graduate earnings, debt, and careers
Teacher education programs by grade level and method (CIP 13.12). Public school teaching requires a state certificate.
Graduate earnings by credential level
| Credential | Programs | Graduates (recent year) | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Typical program median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate certificate | 478 | 11,267 | $32,866 | $34,631 | $15,510 42 programs |
| Associate's degree | 705 | 12,362 | $30,190 | $37,656 | $11,970 105 programs |
| Bachelor's degree | 1,258 | 51,651 | $44,159 | $47,382 | $24,500 708 programs |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 69 | 0 | $55,765 | $58,414 | $22,078 8 programs |
| Master's degree | 796 | 27,729 | $55,886 | $59,916 | Data unavailable |
| Doctoral degree | 69 | 418 | $80,449 | $81,822 | Data unavailable |
| Professional degree (JD, MD, and similar) | 4 | 18 | $51,766 | $53,973 | Data unavailable |
| Graduate certificate | 379 | 3,846 | $56,053 | $63,709 | Data unavailable |
National earnings are published by the Department of Education for each field and credential level Verified data. Typical program median debt is ConnectPrep's calculation: the median across programs of each program's median federal debt Calculated estimate. It covers federal loans only.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, Most Recent Field of Study Data. Varies by measure; see measure definitions. Published October 15, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Undergraduate certificate programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion AZ · Public · 20 graduates measured | $54,202 | $53,199 | Data unavailable |
| Central Washington University WA · Public · 42 graduates measured | $53,235 | $60,506 | $21,500 |
| Northern Arizona University AZ · Public · 53 graduates measured | $49,343 | $52,015 | Data unavailable |
| San Juan College NM · Public · 18 graduates measured | $48,639 | $52,633 | $15,000 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs CO · Public · 35 graduates measured | $44,772 | Data unavailable | $20,250 |
| Minnesota State University-Mankato MN · Public · 23 graduates measured | $44,276 | $51,245 | $17,809 |
| Durham Technical Community College NC · Public · 20 graduates measured | $41,912 | $38,884 | $11,312 |
| Red Rocks Community College CO · Public · 17 graduates measured | $41,161 | Data unavailable | $11,000 |
| Northern Virginia Community College VA · Public · 27 graduates measured | $38,893 | $29,751 | $9,500 |
| Northwestern Oklahoma State University OK · Public · 37 graduates measured | $38,436 | Data unavailable | $21,191 |
| University of Central Missouri MO · Public · 28 graduates measured | $36,081 | Data unavailable | $26,390 |
| Front Range Community College CO · Public · 53 graduates measured | $36,012 | $38,380 | $11,334 |
| Springfield Technical Community College MA · Public · 22 graduates measured | $34,539 | Data unavailable | $5,444 |
| Rowan-Cabarrus Community College NC · Public · 26 graduates measured | $32,751 | $30,994 | Data unavailable |
| Wake Technical Community College NC · Public · 39 graduates measured | $32,368 | $36,571 | $20,000 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Associate's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bunker Hill Community College MA · Public · 30 graduates measured | $43,613 | $40,244 | Data unavailable |
| Urban College of Boston MA · Private, nonprofit · 72 graduates measured | $42,958 | $43,664 | Data unavailable |
| Community College of Vermont VT · Public · 32 graduates measured | $39,177 | $40,214 | $10,787 |
| Durham Technical Community College NC · Public · 20 graduates measured | $38,690 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Rio Salado College AZ · Public · 17 graduates measured | $37,974 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College WI · Public · 68 graduates measured | $37,111 | $33,591 | $18,938 |
| St Petersburg College FL · Public · 17 graduates measured | $36,672 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Wake Technical Community College NC · Public · 30 graduates measured | $36,516 | $37,801 | $16,731 |
| Austin Community College District TX · Public · 36 graduates measured | $36,251 | $51,880 | $15,750 |
| Chippewa Valley Technical College WI · Public · 20 graduates measured | $35,851 | $32,363 | $13,000 |
| Eastern Florida State College FL · Public · 18 graduates measured | $35,806 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Ridgewater College MN · Public · 21 graduates measured | $35,752 | $26,033 | $12,000 |
| Quinsigamond Community College MA · Public · 21 graduates measured | $35,622 | $34,222 | $17,500 |
| Delaware County Community College PA · Public · 34 graduates measured | $35,211 | $40,779 | $14,448 |
| Montgomery County Community College PA · Public · 25 graduates measured | $35,005 | $37,654 | $11,622 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Bachelor's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe University NY · Private, for-profit · 28 graduates measured | $63,150 | $73,537 | Data unavailable |
| Martin Luther College MN · Private, nonprofit · 150 graduates measured | $62,969 | $56,435 | $19,500 |
| Centenary University NJ · Private, nonprofit · 22 graduates measured | $60,811 | $61,358 | $18,221 |
| CUNY York College NY · Public · 25 graduates measured | $60,692 | $67,862 | Data unavailable |
| Clark Atlanta University GA · Private, nonprofit · 18 graduates measured | $58,956 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Pierce College District WA · Public · 37 graduates measured | $58,932 | Data unavailable | $19,229 |
| Kean University NJ · Public · 187 graduates measured | $58,635 | $58,885 | $24,250 |
| North Seattle College WA · Public · 43 graduates measured | $58,426 | $61,250 | Data unavailable |
| Seton Hall University NJ · Private, nonprofit · 36 graduates measured | $58,008 | $62,399 | $24,826 |
| The College of New Jersey NJ · Public · 128 graduates measured | $57,944 | $59,328 | $22,500 |
| William Paterson University of New Jersey NJ · Public · 83 graduates measured | $57,730 | Data unavailable | $23,860 |
| Stevenson University MD · Private, nonprofit · 49 graduates measured | $57,299 | $54,233 | $19,800 |
| Rider University NJ · Private, nonprofit · 134 graduates measured | $57,253 | $60,178 | $27,000 |
| University of Utah UT · Public · 54 graduates measured | $57,243 | $61,081 | $16,939 |
| Stockton University NJ · Public · 43 graduates measured | $57,237 | $56,838 | $31,000 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Post-baccalaureate certificate programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holy Names University · Private, nonprofit · 16 graduates measured | $81,145 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Duke University NC · Private, nonprofit · 71 graduates measured | $64,395 | $74,987 | Data unavailable |
| University of Hawaii at Manoa HI · Public · 27 graduates measured | $56,370 | $62,114 | $29,441 |
| Santa Fe Community College NM · Public · 37 graduates measured | $53,562 | $54,610 | $18,107 |
| Pima Community College AZ · Public · 61 graduates measured | $51,823 | Data unavailable | $20,706 |
| Eastern Michigan University MI · Public · 16 graduates measured | $49,416 | $47,705 | $32,824 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Master's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Christian College CA · Private, nonprofit · 36 graduates measured | $88,090 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| California State University-Fresno CA · Public · 47 graduates measured | $81,020 | $97,033 | Data unavailable |
| Harvard University MA · Private, nonprofit · 20 graduates measured | $80,826 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Fresno Pacific University CA · Private, nonprofit · 52 graduates measured | $76,253 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| San Francisco State University CA · Public · 32 graduates measured | $76,221 | $77,699 | Data unavailable |
| New York University NY · Private, nonprofit · 21 graduates measured | $75,759 | $69,577 | Data unavailable |
| CUNY City College NY · Public · 49 graduates measured | $75,637 | $79,740 | Data unavailable |
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus WA · Public · 177 graduates measured | $75,574 | $80,738 | Data unavailable |
| University of Washington-Tacoma Campus WA · Public · 177 graduates measured | $75,574 | $80,738 | Data unavailable |
| St. John's University-New York NY · Private, nonprofit · 48 graduates measured | $75,145 | $83,019 | Data unavailable |
| Metropolitan College of New York NY · Private, nonprofit · 46 graduates measured | $75,129 | $70,904 | Data unavailable |
| Seattle University WA · Private, nonprofit · 60 graduates measured | $75,052 | $79,881 | Data unavailable |
| College of Staten Island CUNY NY · Public · 19 graduates measured | $74,510 | $71,468 | Data unavailable |
| CUNY Brooklyn College NY · Public · 167 graduates measured | $73,951 | $80,655 | Data unavailable |
| Pacific Lutheran University WA · Private, nonprofit · 70 graduates measured | $73,477 | $77,198 | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Doctoral degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of New England ME · Private, nonprofit · 63 graduates measured | $105,544 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Kennesaw State University GA · Public · 23 graduates measured | $95,060 | $98,046 | Data unavailable |
| New Jersey City University NJ · Public · 21 graduates measured | $92,956 | $103,042 | Data unavailable |
| Brenau University GA · Private, nonprofit · 18 graduates measured | $81,514 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Concordia University Texas TX · Private, nonprofit · 27 graduates measured | $79,960 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Capella University MN · Private, for-profit · 78 graduates measured | $74,077 | $87,754 | Data unavailable |
| Auburn University AL · Public · 16 graduates measured | $69,221 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Grand Canyon University AZ · Private, for-profit · 158 graduates measured | $68,347 | $67,876 | Data unavailable |
| Columbus State University GA · Public · 32 graduates measured | $67,339 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus OK · Public · 19 graduates measured | $65,271 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus PR · Private, nonprofit · 19 graduates measured | $61,094 | $52,763 | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Graduate certificate programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hofstra University NY · Private, nonprofit · 21 graduates measured | $76,468 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Johns Hopkins University MD · Private, nonprofit · 27 graduates measured | $74,090 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Mercer University GA · Private, nonprofit · 29 graduates measured | $70,917 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Temple University PA · Public · 83 graduates measured | $70,295 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Creighton University NE · Private, nonprofit · 22 graduates measured | $63,355 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Weber State University UT · Public · 24 graduates measured | $62,135 | $64,793 | Data unavailable |
| Alverno College WI · Private, nonprofit · 17 graduates measured | $59,664 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| East Carolina University NC · Public · 26 graduates measured | $56,787 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus CO · Public · 29 graduates measured | $56,152 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus NM · Public · 24 graduates measured | $55,033 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of Rochester NY · Private, nonprofit · 22 graduates measured | $54,971 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro NC · Public · 16 graduates measured | $52,458 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of Phoenix-Arizona AZ · Private, for-profit · 21 graduates measured | $51,490 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Adelphi University NY · Private, nonprofit · 21 graduates measured | $50,001 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| The College of Saint Scholastica MN · Private, nonprofit · 33 graduates measured | $48,214 | $50,997 | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Careers linked to Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
| Occupation | Median wage, all workers | Change 2025 to 2035 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Training and development specialists | $69,280 | +10.8% | Bachelor's degree |
| Education teachers, postsecondary | $75,350 | +2.5% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Postsecondary teachers, all other | $77,640 | +2.0% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Preschool teachers, except special education | $38,140 | +4.5% | Associate's degree |
| Kindergarten teachers, except special education | $62,680 | -0.3% | Bachelor's degree |
| Elementary school teachers, except special education | $63,970 | -0.4% | Bachelor's degree |
| Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education | $64,370 | -0.4% | Bachelor's degree |
| Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education | $72,040 | -0.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Adult basic education, adult secondary education, and english as a second language instructors | $61,540 | -13.9% | Bachelor's degree |
| Self-enrichment teachers | $46,800 | +3.5% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Teachers and instructors, all other | $66,140 | -0.2% | Bachelor's degree |
Occupations mapped to this field in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. Occupation wages describe all workers, not recent graduates.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk. CIP 2020 and SOC 2018 taxonomies. Published April 30, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Detailed CIP codes in this field (14)
- 13.1201 Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching
- 13.1202 Elementary Education and Teaching
- 13.1203 Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching
- 13.1205 Secondary Education and Teaching
- 13.1206 Teacher Education, Multiple Levels
- 13.1207 Montessori Teacher Education
- 13.1208 Waldorf/Steiner Teacher Education
- 13.1209 Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching
- 13.1210 Early Childhood Education and Teaching
- 13.1211 Online Educator/Online Teaching
- 13.1212 International Teaching and Learning
- 13.1213 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Educational Methods
- 13.1214 College/Postsecondary/University Teaching
- 13.1299 Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other
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