Secondary Education and Teaching: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Secondary Education and Teaching programs equip future educators with the advanced pedagogical knowledge, subject-matter expertise, and classroom management skills necessary to inspire and guide students in the secondary school environment. Designed for those committed to shaping adolescent learning experiences, the curriculum emphasizes both theoretical foundations and real-world instructional strategies tailored to grades seven through twelve, as defined by regional educational standards.
- Curriculum Development and Instructional Design: Learn to create engaging, standards-aligned lesson plans that promote critical thinking, creativity, and academic growth across diverse learning environments.
- Subject-Matter Specialization: Gain deep expertise in a specific academic discipline—such as mathematics, science, English, or social studies—enabling effective delivery of complex content to adolescent learners.
- Adolescent Development and Learning Theories: Explore the cognitive, emotional, and social growth patterns of early to late adolescents to inform responsive and inclusive teaching practices.
- Classroom Management and Behavior Strategies: Develop evidence-based techniques for fostering positive classroom cultures, managing diverse behaviors, and supporting student well-being.
- Assessment and Data-Driven Instruction: Master methods for evaluating student progress through formative and summative assessments, using data to refine teaching approaches and support individualized learning.
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Education: Examine systemic barriers in schooling and cultivate practices that ensure equitable access to high-quality education for all students, regardless of background or identity.
- Field-Based Practicum and Student Teaching: Apply theoretical knowledge in real secondary classrooms through supervised teaching experiences, gaining hands-on insight into instructional leadership and professional responsibilities.
Secondary Education and Teaching Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Secondary Education and Teaching Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Secondary Education and Teaching degrees, including Education Teachers, Postsecondary and Secondary 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 1,131,630 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 |
Secondary Education and Teaching Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $55,245 in Mississippi to $92,135 in California—a 67% difference. The highest-paying states include California, New York, and Rhode Island. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 1,131,630 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 Secondary Education and Teaching by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 99 institutions offering Secondary 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 Secondary Education and Teaching is found at Grand Canyon University (GCU) (629 graduates), Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) (214 graduates), University of West Alabama (UWA) (142 graduates), University of Arkansas (UAM), Monticello (139 graduates), and New York University (NYU) (126 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 6,609 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Canyon University (GCU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
629 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | gcu.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
Master's
|
214 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of West Alabama (UWA) |
Master's
|
142 | Livingston, Alabama | Public | uwa.edu |
| University of Arkansas (UAM) |
Master's
|
139 | Monticello, Arkansas | Public | uamont.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Master's
|
126 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| Kennesaw State University (KSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
121 | Kennesaw, Georgia | Public | kennesaw.edu |
| Missouri State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
115 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
| Liberty University |
Master's
|
115 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| Alder Graduate School of Education |
Master's
|
106 | Redwood City, California | Private | aldergse.edu |
| University of the Cumberlands |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
104 | Williamsburg, Kentucky | Private | ucumberlands.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
|
99 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| Mississippi State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
98 | Mississippi State, Mississippi | Public | msstate.edu |
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
96 | Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| University of Phoenix (UOPX) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
96 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | phoenix.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
94 | Omaha, Nebraska | Public | unomaha.edu |
| Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
93 | California, Pennsylvania | Public | pennwest.edu |
| University of Redlands |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Master's
|
89 | Redlands, California | Private | redlands.edu |
| William Carey University (WCU) |
Master's
|
86 | Hattiesburg, Mississippi | Private | wmcarey.edu |
| Jacksonville State University (JSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
84 | Jacksonville, Alabama | Public | jsu.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNLV) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
82 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | unlv.edu |
| Pace University |
Master's
|
77 | New York, New York | Private | pace.edu |
| Georgia Southern University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
76 | Statesboro, Georgia | Public | georgiasouthern.edu |
| South Texas College (STC) |
Associate's
|
76 | McAllen, Texas | Public | southtexascollege.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
75 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (KU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
75 | Kutztown, Pennsylvania | Public | kutztown.edu |
| University of North Alabama (UNA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
72 | Florence, Alabama | Public | una.edu |
| San Jacinto Community College |
Associate's
|
72 | Pasadena, Texas | Public | sanjac.edu |
| Arizona State University |
Master's
|
72 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Kansas State University (K‑State) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
69 | Manhattan, Kansas | Public | k-state.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Bachelor's
|
66 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| American College of Education (ACE) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
65 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | ace.edu |
| Clemson University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
64 | Clemson, South Carolina | Public | clemson.edu |
| University of Massachusetts Global (UMass Global) |
Master's
|
62 | Irvine, California | Public | umassglobal.edu |
| The University of Alabama (UA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
61 | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | Public | ua.edu |
| Georgia College & State University |
Master's
|
60 | Milledgeville, Georgia | Public | gcsu.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
60 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Azusa Pacific University (APU) |
Master's
|
59 | Azusa, California | Private | apu.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNL) |
Bachelor's
|
59 | Lincoln, Nebraska | Public | unl.edu |
| University of West Georgia (UWG) |
Master's
|
56 | Carrollton, Georgia | Public | westga.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Bachelor's
|
55 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Point Park University |
Master's
|
55 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | pointpark.edu |
| American University (AU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
53 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | american.edu |
| Seattle Pacific University (SPU) |
Master's
|
53 | Seattle, Washington | Private | spu.edu |
| University of New Mexico (UNM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
|
52 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | unm.edu |
| Marshall University |
Bachelor's
|
52 | Huntington, West Virginia | Public | marshall.edu |
| University of Missouri-St Louis (UMSL) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
50 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Public | umsl.edu |
| Bridgewater State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
|
49 | Bridgewater, Massachusetts | Public | bridgew.edu |
| College of Southern Nevada (CSN) |
Associate's
|
49 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | csn.edu |
| The University of Tennessee (UTC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
49 | Chattanooga, Tennessee | Public | utc.edu |
| University of South Alabama (USA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
47 | Mobile, Alabama | Public | southalabama.edu |
| Villanova University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
47 | Villanova, Pennsylvania | Private | villanova.edu |
| SUNY College |
Master's
|
46 | Plattsburgh, New York | Public | plattsburgh.edu |
| Collin County Community College District (CCCCD) |
Associate's
|
46 | McKinney, Texas | Public | collin.edu |
| University of Hawaii (UHM) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
|
45 | Honolulu, Hawaii | Public | manoa.hawaii.edu |
| Troy University (TROY) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
44 | Troy, Alabama | Public | troy.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
42 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| Fort Hays State University (FHSU) |
Bachelor's
|
42 | Hays, Kansas | Public | fhsu.edu |
| Idaho State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
41 | Pocatello, Idaho | Public | isu.edu |
| Eastern Oregon University (EOU) |
Master's
|
41 | La Grande, Oregon | Public | eou.edu |
| Western New Mexico University (WNMU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
38 | Silver City, New Mexico | Public | wnmu.edu |
| Western Washington University (WWU) |
Master's
|
38 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | wwu.edu |
| Indiana Wesleyan University |
Master's
Other Award
|
38 | Marion, Indiana | Private | indwes.edu |
| University of Arkansas (U of A) |
Bachelor's
|
37 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Public | uark.edu |
| University of Idaho (U of I) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
37 | Moscow, Idaho | Public | uidaho.edu |
| Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) |
Master's
|
37 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | neiu.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
37 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| Morningside University |
Master's
|
36 | Sioux City, Iowa | Private | morningside.edu |
| Goucher College |
Master's
|
36 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | goucher.edu |
| Tennessee Technological University (TTU) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Cookeville, Tennessee | Public | tntech.edu |
| National Louis University (NLU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
35 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | nl.edu |
| University of Maine (UMaine) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
35 | Orono, Maine | Public | umaine.edu |
| Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) |
Other Award
|
35 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | cnm.edu |
| University of Dayton (UD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
35 | Dayton, Ohio | Private | udayton.edu |
| Drake University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
34 | Des Moines, Iowa | Private | drake.edu |
| Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) |
Master's
|
34 | Weatherford, Oklahoma | Public | swosu.edu |
| Whitworth University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
34 | Spokane, Washington | Private | whitworth.edu |
| University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) |
Master's
|
33 | Adelphi, Maryland | Public | umgc.edu |
| Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
33 | Portales, New Mexico | Public | enmu.edu |
| University of South Dakota (USD) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
33 | Vermillion, South Dakota | Public | usd.edu |
| Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (CU) |
Bachelor's
|
33 | Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania | Public | commonwealthu.edu |
| Eastern Michigan University (EMU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
32 | Ypsilanti, Michigan | Public | emich.edu |
| University of Missouri (UMKC) |
Master's
|
32 | Kansas City, Missouri | Public | umkc.edu |
| University of Guam (UOG) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
32 | Mangilao, Guam | Public | uog.edu |
| Aurora University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
31 | Aurora, Illinois | Private | aurora.edu |
| Trine University |
Postbac Cert.
|
31 | Angola, Indiana | Private | trine.edu |
| Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) |
Master's
|
31 | Rochester, New York | Private | rit.edu |
| University of Rhode Island (URI) |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Kingston, Rhode Island | Public | web.uri.edu |
| Pima Community College (PCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
30 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | pima.edu |
| University of La Verne |
Master's
|
30 | La Verne, California | Private | laverne.edu |
| William Paterson University of New Jersey |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
30 | Wayne, New Jersey | Public | wpunj.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
29 | Birmingham, Alabama | Public | uab.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
29 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| Loyola University Chicago (LUC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
29 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | luc.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Bachelor's
|
29 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Master's
|
29 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| Dallas College |
Associate's
|
29 | Dallas, Texas | Public | dallascollege.edu |
| The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
28 | Ewing, New Jersey | Public | tcnj.edu |
| Empire State University |
Master's
|
28 | Saratoga Springs, New York | Public | sunyempire.edu |
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
28 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Secondary Education and Teaching programs
How much can I earn with a Secondary Education and Teaching degree?
Salaries for Secondary 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 $92,135 compared to $55,245 in Mississippi. Approximately 1,131,630 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 Secondary Education and Teaching programs?
Currently 551 accredited institutions offer Secondary Education and Teaching degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Grand Canyon University (GCU) (629 graduates), Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) (214 graduates), and University of West Alabama (UWA) (142 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 Secondary Education and Teaching growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 16,219 in 2010 to 10,594 in 2023-24. This represents a 35% 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 Secondary Education and Teaching degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Education Teachers, Postsecondary, Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, . Related occupations employ approximately 1,131,630 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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