Middle School Education and Teaching: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Designed for aspiring educators, this program equips students with the specialized knowledge and practical skills needed to effectively teach adolescents in middle-level settings. Focused on grades typically spanning four through nine, it emphasizes developmental psychology, curriculum design, and instructional strategies tailored to the unique needs of early adolescents.
- Adolescent Development and Learning Theories: Explores cognitive, emotional, and social growth during early adolescence, providing foundational insights into how students learn and engage at this pivotal stage.
- Curriculum Design and Instructional Methods: Covers the development and implementation of interdisciplinary, standards-aligned lesson plans that promote critical thinking and active learning.
- Subject Matter Specialization: Offers in-depth study in core academic areas such as mathematics, science, language arts, and social studies, ensuring educators are well-versed in the content they teach.
- Classroom Management and Behavior Support: Teaches evidence-based strategies for creating inclusive, structured, and productive learning environments that foster student responsibility and positive behavior.
- Educational Assessment and Data Use: Focuses on designing and interpreting formative and summative assessments to guide instruction and support individualized student progress.
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Education: Addresses the importance of culturally responsive teaching, accessibility, and strategies to support learners from diverse backgrounds and abilities.
Middle School Education and Teaching Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Middle School Education and Teaching Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Middle School Education and Teaching degrees, including Education Teachers, Postsecondary, Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education and Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education. 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 1,752,000 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 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 25-2031 | $64,580 | $47,330 - $104,670 | 1,072,540 | N/A |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 25-2022 | $62,970 | $47,050 - $100,980 | 620,370 | N/A |
Middle School Education and Teaching Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $53,233 in Oklahoma to $93,697 in California—a 76% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Washington, and New York. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 1,752,000 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 Middle School Education and Teaching by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Middle School Education and Teaching 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 Middle School Education and Teaching is found at Missouri State University, Springfield (105 graduates), University of the Cumberlands (94 graduates), Liberty University (80 graduates), Fairmont State University (57 graduates), and Ohio State University, Main Campus (53 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,344 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri State University |
Bachelor's
|
105 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
| University of the Cumberlands |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
94 | Williamsburg, Kentucky | Private | ucumberlands.edu |
| Liberty University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
80 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| Fairmont State University |
Master's
|
57 | Fairmont, West Virginia | Public | fairmontstate.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
|
53 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
52 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Arkansas State University (ASUMH) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
52 | Mountain Home, Arkansas | Public | asumh.edu |
| Georgia Southern University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
51 | Statesboro, Georgia | Public | georgiasouthern.edu |
| Mississippi State University (MSU) |
Master's
|
50 | Mississippi State, Mississippi | Public | msstate.edu |
| Howard College |
Associate's
|
47 | Big Spring, Texas | Public | howardcollege.edu |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCU) |
Bachelor's
|
45 | West Chester, Pennsylvania | Public | wcupa.edu |
| Illinois State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
|
43 | Normal, Illinois | Public | illinoisstate.edu |
| University of Arkansas Community College (UACCM) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
41 | Morrilton, Arkansas | Public | uaccm.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
|
41 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Kent State University |
Bachelor's
|
41 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| University of North Georgia (UNG) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
41 | Dahlonega, Georgia | Public | ung.edu |
| Georgia College & State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
39 | Milledgeville, Georgia | Public | gcsu.edu |
| National Louis University (NLU) |
Master's
|
37 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | nl.edu |
| University of Memphis (UofM) |
Bachelor's
|
37 | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | memphis.edu |
| Arkansas State University (ASU-Beebe) |
Associate's
|
36 | Beebe, Arkansas | Public | asub.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
35 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Bowling Green State University (BGSU) |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Bowling Green, Ohio | Public | bgsu.edu |
| Miami University |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Oxford, Ohio | Public | miamioh.edu |
| University of Northern Iowa (UNI) |
Bachelor's
|
29 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | Public | uni.edu |
| Kennesaw State University (KSU) |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Kennesaw, Georgia | Public | kennesaw.edu |
| Brenau University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Other)
|
27 | Gainesville, Georgia | Private | brenau.edu |
| Murray State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Murray, Kentucky | Public | murraystate.edu |
| Appalachian State University (App State) |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Boone, North Carolina | Public | appstate.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Tennessee Technological University (TTU) |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Cookeville, Tennessee | Public | tntech.edu |
| Navarro College |
Associate's
|
24 | Corsicana, Texas | Public | navarrocollege.edu |
| Valdosta State University (VSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
23 | Valdosta, Georgia | Public | valdosta.edu |
| Northern Illinois University (NIU) |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Dekalb, Illinois | Public | niu.edu |
| Adelphi University |
Post-Master's
|
23 | Garden City, New York | Private | adelphi.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| Central Methodist University (CGES) |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Fayette, Missouri | Private | centralmethodist.edu |
| Arkansas State University (A-State) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Jonesboro, Arkansas | Public | astate.edu |
| Southern Arkansas University (SAU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
21 | Magnolia, Arkansas | Public | saumag.edu |
| Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Cape Girardeau, Missouri | Public | semo.edu |
| University of Cincinnati |
Associate's
|
19 | Blue Ash, Ohio | Public | ucblueash.edu |
| Arkansas State University (ASUN) |
Associate's
|
19 | Newport, Arkansas | Public | asun.edu |
| Northern Kentucky University (NKU) |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Highland Heights, Kentucky | Public | nku.edu |
| Western Kentucky University (WKU) |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Bowling Green, Kentucky | Public | wku.edu |
| East Carolina University (ECU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
18 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
| Youngstown State University (YSU) |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Youngstown, Ohio | Public | ysu.edu |
| Harding University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
17 | Searcy, Arkansas | Private | harding.edu |
| Columbus State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
17 | Columbus, Georgia | Public | columbusstate.edu |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Wilmington, North Carolina | Public | uncw.edu |
| University of Akron |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Akron, Ohio | Public | uakron.edu |
| Clemson University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
17 | Clemson, South Carolina | Public | clemson.edu |
| Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (CU) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania | Public | commonwealthu.edu |
| Ozarka College |
Associate's
|
16 | Melbourne, Arkansas | Public | ozarka.edu |
| DePaul University |
Master's
|
16 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| Piedmont University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
15 | Demorest, Georgia | Private | piedmont.edu |
| University of Toledo (UToledo) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
15 | Toledo, Ohio | Public | utoledo.edu |
| Coastal Carolina University (CCU) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Conway, South Carolina | Public | coastal.edu |
| The University of Tennessee (UTC) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Chattanooga, Tennessee | Public | utc.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
| James Madison University (JMU) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Harrisonburg, Virginia | Public | jmu.edu |
| Collin County Community College District (CCCCD) |
Associate's
|
14 | McKinney, Texas | Public | collin.edu |
| Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | California, Pennsylvania | Public | pennwest.edu |
| Savannah State University (SSU) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Savannah, Georgia | Public | savannahstate.edu |
| Lewis University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
13 | Romeoville, Illinois | Private | lewisu.edu |
| Campbellsville University (CU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
13 | Campbellsville, Kentucky | Private | campbellsville.edu |
| Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
13 | Richmond, Kentucky | Public | eku.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| Thomas More University |
Master's
|
13 | Crestview Hills, Kentucky | Private | thomasmore.edu |
| University of Central Missouri (UCM) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Warrensburg, Missouri | Public | ucmo.edu |
| Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Joplin, Missouri | Public | mssu.edu |
| Wright State University |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Dayton, Ohio | Public | wright.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
13 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Winthrop University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
13 | Rock Hill, South Carolina | Public | winthrop.edu |
| Georgia Military College (GMC) |
Associate's
|
13 | Milledgeville, Georgia | Public | gmc.edu |
| Arkansas Tech University (ATU) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Russellville, Arkansas | Public | atu.edu |
| College of Coastal Georgia (CCGA) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Brunswick, Georgia | Public | ccga.edu |
| Saint Xavier University (SXU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
12 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | sxu.edu |
| Morningside University |
Master's
|
12 | Sioux City, Iowa | Private | morningside.edu |
| Midway University |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Midway, Kentucky | Private | midway.edu |
| Northwestern State University of Louisiana (NSULA) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
12 | Natchitoches, Louisiana | Public | nsula.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Greensboro, North Carolina | Public | uncg.edu |
| Ashland University |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Ashland, Ohio | Private | ashland.edu |
| Cedarville University |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Cedarville, Ohio | Private | cedarville.edu |
| University of Arkansas (UA Little Rock) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Little Rock, Arkansas | Public | ualr.edu |
| Northwest Missouri State University |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Maryville, Missouri | Public | nwmissouri.edu |
| Cleveland State University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Cleveland, Ohio | Public | csuohio.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Marion, Ohio | Public | osumarion.osu.edu |
| Grove City College (GCC) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Grove City, Pennsylvania | Private | gcc.edu |
| Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (KU) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Kutztown, Pennsylvania | Public | kutztown.edu |
| La Roche University (LRU) |
Master's
|
11 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | laroche.edu |
| University of Central Arkansas (UCA) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Conway, Arkansas | Public | uca.edu |
| University of Arkansas (UAFS) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Fort Smith, Arkansas | Public | uafs.edu |
| Albany State University (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
10 | Albany, Georgia | Public | asurams.edu |
| Concordia University (CUC) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | River Forest, Illinois | Private | cuchicago.edu |
| Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
10 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | neiu.edu |
| Georgetown College |
Master's
|
10 | Georgetown, Kentucky | Private | georgetowncollege.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| Austin Community College District (ACC) |
Associate's
|
10 | Austin, Texas | Public | austincc.edu |
| Henderson State University (HSU) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Arkadelphia, Arkansas | Public | hsu.edu |
| McKendree University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
9 | Lebanon, Illinois | Private | mckendree.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Middle School Education and Teaching programs
How much can I earn with a Middle School Education and Teaching degree?
Salaries for Middle School Education and Teaching graduates vary by role and location. Education Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $72,090 annually, while Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earn around $64,580. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $93,697 compared to $53,233 in Oklahoma. Approximately 1,752,000 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 Middle School Education and Teaching programs?
Currently 274 accredited institutions offer Middle School Education and Teaching degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Missouri State University, Springfield (105 graduates), University of the Cumberlands (94 graduates), and Liberty University (80 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 Middle School Education and Teaching growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 4,458 in 2010 to a peak of 3,484 in 2020, before declining slightly to 2,976 in 2023-24. This represents a 33% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, 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 Middle School Education and Teaching degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Education Teachers, Postsecondary, Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, and Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education. Related occupations employ approximately 1,752,000 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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