English Language Arts Teacher Education: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Q: Which universities have the largest English Language Arts Teacher Education programs?

Currently 385 accredited institutions offer English Language Arts Teacher Education degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Western Governors University (WGU) (258 graduates), Grand Canyon University (GCU) (124 graduates), and CUNY Queens College (66 graduates).

Q: Is enrollment in English Language Arts Teacher Education growing or declining?

Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 4,075 in 2010 to a peak of 3,455 in 2020, before declining slightly to 3,018 in 2023-24. This represents a 26% decrease overall from 2010.

Q: What career paths are available with a English Language Arts Teacher Education degree?

This degree prepares you for roles such as English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary, Education Teachers, Postsecondary, and Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education. Related occupations employ approximately 1,811,590 professionals nationwide.

Program Overview

Prepared for those committed to shaping the next generation of readers, writers, and critical thinkers, this program equips future educators with the advanced pedagogical and content knowledge needed to teach English Language Arts across diverse educational settings. It emphasizes the integration of literacy development, literary analysis, and effective communication strategies to foster student engagement and academic growth.

English Grammar and Syntax: Explores the structural foundations of the English language, including rules of sentence construction, punctuation, and linguistic patterns essential for effective written and spoken communication.
Composition and Writing Instruction: Focuses on methods for teaching the writing process, from brainstorming and drafting to revision and editing, with an emphasis on developing clarity, coherence, and style in student writing.
Literary Analysis and Interpretation: Develops skills in examining diverse literary works across genres, time periods, and cultural contexts, enabling educators to guide students in close reading and critical evaluation.
Curriculum Design and Instructional Strategies: Teaches how to create engaging, standards-aligned lesson plans and implement differentiated instruction to meet the varied needs of learners in K–12 classrooms.
Assessment and Feedback Techniques: Covers formative and summative assessment methods, including rubrics and performance-based evaluations, to measure student progress and inform instruction.
Language Development and Multilingual Learners: Addresses strategies for supporting English language learners and fostering inclusive classrooms where linguistic diversity is valued and leveraged as a resource.

English Language Arts Teacher Education Graduate Trends (2010-2024)

3,018

Total Graduates (2023-2024)

385

Universities & Colleges

Career Pathways

Career & Salary Outlook Schools Offering This Program Related Programs

English Language Arts Teacher Education Career Pathways & Salary Outlook

The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with English Language Arts Teacher Education degrees, including English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary, 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 1,811,590 professionals.

National Average Salaries

Occupation	Median Salary	Salary Range	Total Employment	Hourly Rate
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1123	$78,270	$47,540 - $154,800	59,590	N/A
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

Salary Comparison

Data Source: Salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2024 estimates, based on 4 related occupations. Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics.

*Salary Range Explanation: The salary range represents the 10th to 90th percentile, meaning 80% of workers in this occupation earn within this range. This excludes the lowest 10% and highest 10% of earners to provide a more realistic picture of typical compensation.

Important Disclaimer: Salary data represents national averages and varies by location, experience, employer, and market conditions. These statistics are estimates for general guidance and do not guarantee specific employment outcomes for graduates.

English Language Arts Teacher Education Salary Map by State

Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $52,470 in Oklahoma to $102,918 in California—a 96% difference. The highest-paying states include California, New York, and Washington. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 1,811,590 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 English Language Arts Teacher Education by Graduate Enrollment

Below are the top 100 institutions offering English Language Arts Teacher 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 English Language Arts Teacher Education is found at Western Governors University (WGU) (258 graduates), Grand Canyon University (GCU) (124 graduates), CUNY Queens College (66 graduates), Liberty University (51 graduates), and Bridgewater State University (BSU) (47 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,215 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	Admissions	Location	Control	Website
Western Governors University (WGU)	Master's	258	N/A	Salt Lake City, Utah	Private	wgu.edu
Grand Canyon University (GCU)	Postbac Cert. Master's	124	SAT: 1058-1175 ACT: 19-24	Phoenix, Arizona	Private	gcu.edu
CUNY Queens College	Bachelor's Postbac Cert. Master's	66	SAT: 1100-1320	Queens, New York	Public	qc.cuny.edu
Liberty University	Bachelor's Master's Other Award	51	N/A	Lynchburg, Virginia	Private	liberty.edu
Bridgewater State University (BSU)	Bachelor's Postbac Cert. Master's	47	SAT: 1040-1230 ACT: 18-27	Bridgewater, Massachusetts	Public	bridgew.edu
Eastern Michigan University (EMU)	Bachelor's Master's	43	SAT: 910-1170 ACT: 18-26	Ypsilanti, Michigan	Public	emich.edu
CUNY Brooklyn College	Bachelor's Master's	40	SAT: 1140-1420	Brooklyn, New York	Public	brooklyn.cuny.edu
State University of New York	Bachelor's Master's	40	SAT: 1170-1340 ACT: 24-29	New Paltz, New York	Public	newpaltz.edu
Southern Nazarene University (SNU)	Bachelor's	37	N/A	Bethany, Oklahoma	Private	snu.edu
California State University	Bachelor's	35	N/A	Fresno, California	Public	fresnostate.edu
University of South Florida (USF)	Bachelor's Master's	35	SAT: 1140-1330 ACT: 24-29	Tampa, Florida	Public	usf.edu
Northern Arizona University (NAU)	Bachelor's	34	N/A	Flagstaff, Arizona	Public	nau.edu
Central Michigan University (CMU)	Bachelor's	34	SAT: 960-1210 ACT: 21-27	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Public	cmich.edu
Teachers College at Columbia University (TC)	Master's Doctorate (R)	32	N/A	New York, New York	Private	tc.columbia.edu
Ohio State University	Bachelor's	31	SAT: 1330-1480 ACT: 29-32	Columbus, Ohio	Public	osu.edu
University of Iowa	Bachelor's Master's	30	SAT: 1130-1320 ACT: 22-28	Iowa City, Iowa	Public	uiowa.edu
University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)	Bachelor's	29	SAT: 1120-1340 ACT: 25-32	Chicago, Illinois	Public	uic.edu
Stony Brook University (SBU)	Bachelor's Master's	29	SAT: 1320-1490 ACT: 28-33	Stony Brook, New York	Public	stonybrook.edu
Brigham Young University (BYU)	Bachelor's	28	SAT: 1290-1450 ACT: 28-32	Provo, Utah	Private	byu.edu
Utah Valley University (UVU)	Bachelor's	28	N/A	Orem, Utah	Public	uvu.edu
Kennesaw State University (KSU)	Bachelor's	27	SAT: 1020-1220 ACT: 19-25	Kennesaw, Georgia	Public	kennesaw.edu
Florida State University (FSU)	Bachelor's	26	SAT: 1240-1390 ACT: 27-31	Tallahassee, Florida	Public	fsu.edu
DePaul University	Bachelor's Postbac Cert. Master's	26	SAT: 1130-1340 ACT: 26-31	Chicago, Illinois	Private	depaul.edu
University of Georgia (UGA)	Bachelor's Master's	25	SAT: 1160-1390 ACT: 25-32	Athens, Georgia	Public	uga.edu
College of Staten Island CUNY (CSI)	Bachelor's Master's	24	N/A	Staten Island, New York	Public	csi.cuny.edu
CUNY Hunter College	Bachelor's Master's Post-Master's	24	SAT: 1210-1470	New York, New York	Public	hunter.cuny.edu
American College of Education (ACE)	Master's	24	N/A	Indianapolis, Indiana	Private	ace.edu
University of Northern Iowa (UNI)	Bachelor's	23	SAT: 860-1210 ACT: 20-26	Cedar Falls, Iowa	Public	uni.edu
Brigham Young University (BYU–I)	Bachelor's	21	SAT: 980-1200 ACT: 20-26	Rexburg, Idaho	Private	byui.edu
State University of New York	Bachelor's Master's	21	N/A	Cortland, New York	Public	www2.cortland.edu
University of Puerto Rico (UPRM)	Master's	21	N/A	Mayaguez, Puerto Rico	Public	uprm.edu
Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU)	Bachelor's	20	SAT: 940-1160 ACT: 19-25	University Center, Michigan	Public	svsu.edu
University of Mississippi (Ole Miss)	Bachelor's	20	SAT: 1020-1210 ACT: 21-29	University, Mississippi	Public	olemiss.edu
Appalachian State University (App State)	Bachelor's	20	SAT: 1100-1280 ACT: 21-27	Boone, North Carolina	Public	appstate.edu
Northern Michigan University (NMU)	Bachelor's	18	N/A	Marquette, Michigan	Public	nmu.edu
Niagara University	Bachelor's Master's	18	SAT: 1030-1240 ACT: 23-27	Niagara University, New York	Private	niagara.edu
University at Buffalo (UB)	Master's	18	SAT: 1210-1380 ACT: 27-32	Buffalo, New York	Public	buffalo.edu
SUNY College	Bachelor's	18	SAT: 1200-1380 ACT: 26-31	Geneseo, New York	Public	geneseo.edu
Kent State University	Bachelor's	18	SAT: 1000-1230 ACT: 18-25	Kent, Ohio	Public	kent.edu
Temple University	Bachelor's	18	N/A	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Public	temple.edu
West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCU)	Bachelor's	18	SAT: 1100-1270 ACT: 24-28	West Chester, Pennsylvania	Public	wcupa.edu
Western Michigan University (WMU)	Bachelor's	17	SAT: 990-1220 ACT: 20-27	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Public	wmich.edu
Miami University	Bachelor's Master's	17	SAT: 1210-1380 ACT: 26-31	Oxford, Ohio	Public	miamioh.edu
Central Washington University (CWU)	Bachelor's	17	N/A	Ellensburg, Washington	Public	cwu.edu
Lesley University	Bachelor's Master's	16	N/A	Cambridge, Massachusetts	Private	lesley.edu
Auburn University (AU)	Bachelor's	15	SAT: 1240-1380 ACT: 25-31	Auburn, Alabama	Public	auburn.edu
Ball State University (BSU)	Bachelor's	15	SAT: 1080-1250 ACT: 25-30	Muncie, Indiana	Public	bsu.edu
Hope College	Bachelor's	15	SAT: 1090-1310 ACT: 26-31	Holland, Michigan	Private	hope.edu
SUNY	Bachelor's Master's	15	SAT: 1060-1290 ACT: 21-28	Fredonia, New York	Public	fredonia.edu
SUNY Oneonta	Bachelor's	15	SAT: 1090-1250 ACT: 23-28	Oneonta, New York	Public	suny.oneonta.edu
University of Central Oklahoma (UCO)	Bachelor's	15	ACT: 17-24	Edmond, Oklahoma	Public	uco.edu
Eastern Washington University (EWU)	Bachelor's	15	N/A	Cheney, Washington	Public	ewu.edu
University of Northern Colorado (UNCO)	Bachelor's	14	SAT: 970-1180 ACT: 17-26	Greeley, Colorado	Public	unco.edu
University of Connecticut (UConn)	Bachelor's	14	SAT: 1210-1420 ACT: 29-33	Storrs, Connecticut	Public	uconn.edu
Boise State University (BBU)	Bachelor's	14	N/A	Boise, Idaho	Public	boisestate.edu
Calvin University	Bachelor's	14	SAT: 1070-1340 ACT: 22-30	Grand Rapids, Michigan	Private	calvin.edu
Drexel University	Certificate (1-2 yrs)	14	SAT: 1230-1430 ACT: 27-33	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Private	drexel.edu
Duquesne University	Bachelor's Master's	14	SAT: 1160-1350 ACT: 26-31	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	Private	duq.edu
University of Vermont (UVM)	Bachelor's	14	SAT: 1250-1420 ACT: 29-32	Burlington, Vermont	Public	uvm.edu
University of Washington (UW)	Master's	14	N/A	Seattle, Washington	Public	washington.edu
California State University (CSUN)	Master's	13	N/A	Northridge, California	Public	csun.edu
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus	Master's	13	SAT: 980-1220 ACT: 21-27	Denver, Colorado	Public	ucdenver.edu
Truman State University	Master's	13	SAT: 1126-1318 ACT: 23-29	Kirksville, Missouri	Public	truman.edu
Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO)	Bachelor's	13	SAT: 850-1030 ACT: 16-21	Cape Girardeau, Missouri	Public	semo.edu
CUNY Lehman College	Master's	13	SAT: 860-1220	Bronx, New York	Public	lehman.edu
Mercy University	Master's	13	N/A	Dobbs Ferry, New York	Private	mercy.edu
St. Joseph's University (SJNY)	Bachelor's	13	SAT: 1090-1280	Brooklyn, New York	Private	sjny.edu
Indiana Wesleyan University	Postbac Cert. Master's	13	N/A	Marion, Indiana	Private	indwes.edu
Southern Illinois University	Bachelor's	12	SAT: 910-1140 ACT: 20-27	Carbondale, Illinois	Public	siu.edu
Emporia State University (ESU)	Bachelor's	12	ACT: 18-24	Emporia, Kansas	Public	emporia.edu
Wichita State University (WSU)	Bachelor's	12	SAT: 970-1250 ACT: 18-26	Wichita, Kansas	Public	wichita.edu
University of Maine (UMF)	Bachelor's	12	SAT: 915-1210	Farmington, Maine	Public	umf.maine.edu
Wayne State College (WSC)	Bachelor's	12	N/A	Wayne, Nebraska	Public	wsc.edu
University of Nevada (UNR)	Bachelor's	12	N/A	Reno, Nevada	Public	unr.edu
Universidad Ana G. Mendez (UAGM Gurabo)	Bachelor's	12	N/A	Gurabo, Puerto Rico	Private	uagm.edu
Florida Atlantic University (FAU)	Bachelor's	11	SAT: 1040-1210 ACT: 20-26	Boca Raton, Florida	Public	fau.edu
Siena College	Bachelor's	11	SAT: 1093-1360 ACT: 26-29	Loudonville, New York	Private	siena.edu
Binghamton University	Master's	11	SAT: 1320-1490 ACT: 29-34	Vestal, New York	Public	binghamton.edu
SUNY Buffalo State University	Bachelor's Master's	11	SAT: 960-1190	Buffalo, New York	Public	suny.buffalostate.edu
State University of New York	Bachelor's Master's	11	SAT: 1060-1270 ACT: 23-27	Oswego, New York	Public	oswego.edu
East Carolina University (ECU)	Bachelor's	11	SAT: 1050-1200 ACT: 20-26	Greenville, North Carolina	Public	ecu.edu
University of Akron	Bachelor's	11	SAT: 950-1190 ACT: 18-25	Akron, Ohio	Public	uakron.edu
Indiana State University (ISU)	Bachelor's	10	N/A	Terre Haute, Indiana	Public	indstate.edu
Adrian College	Bachelor's	10	SAT: 880-1120 ACT: 18-26	Adrian, Michigan	Private	adrian.edu
Itawamba Community College (ICC)	Associate's	10	N/A	Fulton, Mississippi	Public	iccms.edu
Youngstown State University (YSU)	Bachelor's	10	SAT: 940-1210 ACT: 17-24	Youngstown, Ohio	Public	ysu.edu
University of Oklahoma (OU)	Bachelor's	10	SAT: 1140-1330 ACT: 23-29	Norman, Oklahoma	Public	ou.edu
University of Pennsylvania (Penn)	Master's	10	SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 34-35	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Private	upenn.edu
Widener University	Bachelor's Doctorate (R)	10	SAT: 1050-1260	Chester, Pennsylvania	Private	widener.edu
Weber State University (WSU)	Bachelor's	10	N/A	Ogden, Utah	Public	weber.edu
Indiana University (IU Indianapolis)	Bachelor's Postbac Cert.	9	SAT: 1040-1230 ACT: 21-28	Indianapolis, Indiana	Public	indianapolis.iu.edu
Minnesota State University	Bachelor's	9	ACT: 22-25	Mankato, Minnesota	Public	mnsu.edu
Northwest Missouri State University	Bachelor's Master's	9	SAT: 970-1200 ACT: 18-23	Maryville, Missouri	Public	nwmissouri.edu
Rutgers University	Master's	9	SAT: 1270-1480 ACT: 28-33	New Brunswick, New Jersey	Public	newbrunswick.rutgers.edu
Lee University	Bachelor's Master's	9	SAT: 1020-1240 ACT: 20-26	Cleveland, Tennessee	Private	leeuniversity.edu
Southern Utah University (SUU)	Bachelor's	9	N/A	Cedar City, Utah	Public	suu.edu
University of Puerto Rico (UPRAg)	Bachelor's	9	SAT: 806-1057	Aguadilla, Puerto Rico	Public	uprag.edu
University of Delaware (UD)	Bachelor's	8	SAT: 1200-1360 ACT: 27-31	Newark, Delaware	Public	udel.edu
Augustana College	Bachelor's	8	SAT: 1010-1250 ACT: 21-28	Rock Island, Illinois	Private	augustana.edu
Boston College (BC)	Master's	8	SAT: 1430-1540 ACT: 33-34	Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts	Private	bc.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about English Language Arts Teacher Education programs

How much can I earn with a English Language Arts Teacher Education degree?

Salaries for English Language Arts Teacher Education graduates vary by role and location. English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $78,270 annually, while Education Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $72,090. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $102,918 compared to $52,470 in Oklahoma. Approximately 1,811,590 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 English Language Arts Teacher Education programs?

Currently 385 accredited institutions offer English Language Arts Teacher Education degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Western Governors University (WGU) (258 graduates), Grand Canyon University (GCU) (124 graduates), and CUNY Queens College (66 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 English Language Arts Teacher Education growing or declining?

Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 4,075 in 2010 to a peak of 3,455 in 2020, before declining slightly to 3,018 in 2023-24. This represents a 26% 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 English Language Arts Teacher Education degree?

This degree prepares you for roles such as English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary, Education Teachers, Postsecondary, and Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education. Related occupations employ approximately 1,811,590 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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