Foundations of Education: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Exploring education as both a societal framework and a dynamic human experience, this program provides a rigorous foundation in the theoretical, historical, and cultural dimensions of learning and teaching. Students engage with interdisciplinary perspectives to understand how education shapes and is shaped by broader social forces, preparing them for advanced study or impactful roles in educational settings.
- Philosophy of Education: Examines fundamental questions about the purpose, value, and ethics of education, drawing from classical and contemporary thinkers to analyze concepts like knowledge, justice, and human development.
- History of Education: Traces the evolution of educational systems, institutions, and practices across time and cultures, highlighting key movements, reformers, and turning points that have influenced modern learning environments.
- Educational Literature: Engages with foundational and innovative texts that explore educational ideas, pedagogical approaches, and the narrative dimensions of teaching and learning.
- Educational Anthropology: Investigates how cultural values, traditions, and belief systems influence learning processes, educational access, and identity formation within diverse communities.
- Sociology of Education: Analyzes the relationship between education and society, including the role of schools in social stratification, institutional power, and the reproduction or transformation of social norms.
- Economics and Politics of Education: Explores how funding, policy decisions, political agendas, and economic structures shape educational opportunities, equity, and system-wide outcomes.
- Educational Policy Studies: Focuses on the development, implementation, and evaluation of policies that govern educational institutions, with attention to accountability, reform, and systemic change.
- Education and Social Contexts: Investigates how education intersects with specific populations, societal challenges, emerging phenomena, and professional domains, including equity, technology integration, and lifelong learning frameworks.
Foundations of Education Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Foundations of Education Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Foundations of Education degrees, including Education Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 59,090 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1081 | $72,090 | $38,650 - $126,450 | 59,090 | N/A |
Foundations of Education Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $49,910 in Hawaii to $85,560 in California—a 71% difference. The highest-paying states include California, New York, and Louisiana. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 59,090 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Foundations of Education by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 67 institutions offering Foundations of Education programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Foundations of Education is found at University of California (UCR), Riverside (179 graduates), University of Wisconsin-Madison (98 graduates), University of California (UCLA), Los Angeles (90 graduates), University of California (UCSC), Santa Cruz (80 graduates), and Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) (46 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 955 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of California (UCR) |
Bachelor's
|
179 | Riverside, California | Public | ucr.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
98 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| University of California (UCLA) |
Bachelor's
|
90 | Los Angeles, California | Public | ucla.edu |
| University of California (UCSC) |
Bachelor's
|
80 | Santa Cruz, California | Public | ucsc.edu |
| Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
46 | Harrisonburg, Virginia | Private | emu.edu |
| Hope International University (HIU) |
Master's
|
34 | Fullerton, California | Private | hiu.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Master's
|
28 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| Wesleyan University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
25 | Middletown, Connecticut | Private | wesleyan.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
24 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
23 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Master's
|
17 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| Teachers College at Columbia University (TC) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
17 | New York, New York | Private | tc.columbia.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
16 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCU) |
Master's
|
16 | West Chester, Pennsylvania | Public | wcupa.edu |
| Dickinson College |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Carlisle, Pennsylvania | Private | dickinson.edu |
| University of Colorado Boulder (CU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
14 | Boulder, Colorado | Public | colorado.edu |
| California State University |
Master's
|
13 | Los Angeles, California | Public | calstatela.edu |
| Amherst College |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Private | amherst.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) |
Master's
|
12 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | uwm.edu |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (ESU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
11 | East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania | Public | esu.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Postbac Cert.
|
10 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| University of Hawaii (UHM) |
Master's
|
10 | Honolulu, Hawaii | Public | manoa.hawaii.edu |
| Loyola University Chicago (LUC) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
10 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | luc.edu |
| Syracuse University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
10 | Syracuse, New York | Private | syracuse.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Master's
|
9 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of New Mexico (UNM) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
9 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | unm.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
9 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| University of the Pacific (UOP) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Stockton, California | Private | pacific.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Master's
|
5 | Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| Drury University |
Master's
|
5 | Springfield, Missouri | Private | drury.edu |
| East Carolina University (ECU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
| Kent State University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| University of Toledo (UToledo) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Toledo, Ohio | Public | utoledo.edu |
| University of Arkansas (U of A) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Public | uark.edu |
| DePaul University |
Master's
|
4 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
| Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Master's
|
3 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
| Florida State University (FSU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
| Georgia State University |
Master's
|
3 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gsu.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| Northern Kentucky University (NKU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Highland Heights, Kentucky | Public | nku.edu |
| Eastern Michigan University (EMU) |
Master's
|
3 | Ypsilanti, Michigan | Public | emich.edu |
| High Point University (HPU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | High Point, North Carolina | Private | highpoint.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Master's
|
3 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Master's
|
3 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| University of Oregon (UO) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Eugene, Oregon | Public | uoregon.edu |
| Southern Utah University (SUU) |
Master's
|
3 | Cedar City, Utah | Public | suu.edu |
| Washington State University (WSU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Pullman, Washington | Public | wsu.edu |
| San Francisco State University (SFSU) |
Master's
|
2 | San Francisco, California | Public | sfsu.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Master's
|
2 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| Transylvania University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Lexington, Kentucky | Private | transy.edu |
| University of St Thomas |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | stthomas.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) |
Post-Master's
|
2 | Greensboro, North Carolina | Public | uncg.edu |
| Lorain County Community College (LCCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
2 | Elyria, Ohio | Public | lorainccc.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OU) |
Master's
|
2 | Norman, Oklahoma | Public | ou.edu |
| Eastern Washington University (EWU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Cheney, Washington | Public | ewu.edu |
| Pitzer College (PZ) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Claremont, California | Private | pitzer.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Master's
|
1 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| Endicott College |
Post-Master's
|
1 | Beverly, Massachusetts | Private | endicott.edu |
| Bard College at Simon's Rock |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Great Barrington, Massachusetts | Private | simons-rock.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Master's
|
1 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| Angelo State University (ASU) |
Other Award
|
1 | San Angelo, Texas | Public | angelo.edu |
| George Mason University |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Foundations of Education programs
How much can I earn with a Foundations of Education degree?
Salaries for Foundations of Education graduates vary by role and location. Education Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $72,090 annually. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $85,560 compared to $49,910 in Hawaii. Approximately 59,090 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Foundations of Education programs?
Currently 67 accredited institutions offer Foundations of Education degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of California (UCR), Riverside (179 graduates), University of Wisconsin-Madison (98 graduates), and University of California (UCLA), Los Angeles (90 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Foundations of Education growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 735 in 2010 to 955 in 2023-24. This represents a 30% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Foundations of Education degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Education Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 59,090 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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