Health Education Teacher Preparation: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Prepared to lead health education initiatives across diverse academic settings, this program equips future educators with the expertise to design, deliver, and evaluate comprehensive health instruction. Graduates are trained to foster healthy lifestyles, promote wellness, and support student development through evidence-based curricula.
- Health Promotion and Disease Prevention: Explore strategies for reducing health risks and encouraging proactive wellness behaviors across age groups and communities.
- Curriculum Development and Instructional Design: Learn to create engaging, standards-aligned health education materials tailored to specific grade levels and learning environments.
- Adolescent and Youth Health Issues: Examine critical topics such as mental health, substance use, nutrition, and sexual health as they relate to student development.
- Health Education Standards and Assessment: Gain proficiency in national and state frameworks, along with methods for measuring student learning and program effectiveness.
- Classroom Management and Pedagogy: Develop skills in managing diverse learning environments and applying teaching techniques that support inclusive, student-centered instruction.
- Community Health and Partnerships: Understand the role of schools in connecting with families and community organizations to extend health education beyond the classroom.
Health Education Teacher Preparation Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Health Education Teacher Preparation Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Health Education Teacher Preparation 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 |
Health Education Teacher Preparation 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 Health Education Teacher Preparation by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 80 institutions offering Health Education Teacher Preparation 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 Health Education Teacher Preparation is found at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) (278 graduates), American College of Education (ACE) (240 graduates), Indiana University (IUB), Bloomington (74 graduates), University of New Mexico (UNM), Main Campus (72 graduates), and SUNY Brockport (66 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,472 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) |
Bachelor's
|
278 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | vcu.edu |
| American College of Education (ACE) |
Master's
|
240 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | ace.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
74 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| University of New Mexico (UNM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
72 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Public | unm.edu |
| SUNY Brockport |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
66 | Brockport, New York | Public | brockport.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNLV) |
Bachelor's
|
52 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | unlv.edu |
| Utah State University (USU) |
Bachelor's
|
45 | Logan, Utah | Public | usu.edu |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (ESU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
39 | East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania | Public | esu.edu |
| Northern Oklahoma College (NOC) |
Associate's
|
34 | Tonkawa, Oklahoma | Public | noc.edu |
| CUNY Lehman College |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
31 | Bronx, New York | Public | lehman.edu |
| State University of New York |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
31 | Cortland, New York | Public | www2.cortland.edu |
| Illinois State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Normal, Illinois | Public | illinoisstate.edu |
| Eastern Illinois University (EIU) |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Charleston, Illinois | Public | eiu.edu |
| Utah Valley University (UVU) |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Orem, Utah | Public | uvu.edu |
| Teachers College at Columbia University (TC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
21 | New York, New York | Private | tc.columbia.edu |
| Eastern Washington University (EWU) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Cheney, Washington | Public | ewu.edu |
| Bridgewater State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Bridgewater, Massachusetts | Public | bridgew.edu |
| Adelphi University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
17 | Garden City, New York | Private | adelphi.edu |
| Hofstra University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
16 | Hempstead, New York | Private | hofstra.edu |
| Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) |
Master's
|
14 | New Haven, Connecticut | Public | southernct.edu |
| Cambridge College |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
14 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | cambridgecollege.edu |
| Central Michigan University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Mount Pleasant, Michigan | Public | cmich.edu |
| North Dakota State University (NDSU) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Fargo, North Dakota | Public | ndsu.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| Rhode Island College (RIC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
13 | Providence, Rhode Island | Public | ric.edu |
| University of Louisville (UofL) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
12 | Louisville, Kentucky | Public | louisville.edu |
| Nova Southeastern University (NSU) |
Master's
|
11 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | nova.edu |
| Minnesota State University |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Mankato, Minnesota | Public | mnsu.edu |
| Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Moorhead, Minnesota | Public | mnstate.edu |
| Liberty University |
Master's
|
11 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| University of the Cumberlands |
Master's
|
10 | Williamsburg, Kentucky | Private | ucumberlands.edu |
| Saint Cloud State University (SCSU) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Public | stcloudstate.edu |
| Morehead State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Morehead, Kentucky | Public | moreheadstate.edu |
| New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Las Vegas, New Mexico | Public | nmhu.edu |
| Russell Sage College |
Master's
|
9 | Troy, New York | Private | sage.edu |
| Murray State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Murray, Kentucky | Public | murraystate.edu |
| Prairie View A & M University (PVAMU) |
Master's
|
8 | Prairie View, Texas | Public | pvamu.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
7 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| Winona State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Winona, Minnesota | Public | winona.edu |
| Valley City State University (VCSU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Valley City, North Dakota | Public | vcsu.edu |
| George Mason University |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| Lewis-Clark State College (LC State) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Lewiston, Idaho | Public | lcsc.edu |
| Lindsey Wilson College (LWC) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Columbia, Kentucky | Private | lindsey.edu |
| Kent State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
6 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAB) |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | Birmingham, Alabama | Public | uab.edu |
| Doane University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Crete, Nebraska | Private | doane.edu |
| University of Toledo (UToledo) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Toledo, Ohio | Public | utoledo.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Master's
|
5 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Alverno College |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | alverno.edu |
| Southern Illinois University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
4 | Carbondale, Illinois | Public | siu.edu |
| Emporia State University (ESU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Emporia, Kansas | Public | emporia.edu |
| Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Marshall, Minnesota | Public | smsu.edu |
| Ithaca College (IC) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Ithaca, New York | Private | ithaca.edu |
| Lee University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
4 | Cleveland, Tennessee | Private | leeuniversity.edu |
| Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Danbury, Connecticut | Public | wcsu.edu |
| University of Maine (UMF) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Farmington, Maine | Public | umf.maine.edu |
| Bemidji State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Bemidji, Minnesota | Public | bemidjistate.edu |
| Concordia College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Moorhead, Minnesota | Private | concordiacollege.edu |
| University of Northwestern (UNW) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | unwsp.edu |
| Hastings College |
Master's
|
3 | Hastings, Nebraska | Private | hastings.edu |
| Saint Joseph's University (SJU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
3 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | sju.edu |
| Midwestern University (MWU) |
Master's
|
3 | Glendale, Arizona | Private | midwestern.edu |
| Western Illinois University (WIU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Macomb, Illinois | Public | wiu.edu |
| Bethany Lutheran College (BLC) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Mankato, Minnesota | Private | blc.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMD) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Duluth, Minnesota | Public | d.umn.edu |
| CUNY York College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Jamaica, New York | Public | york.cuny.edu |
| Mayville State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Mayville, North Dakota | Public | mayvillestate.edu |
| The University of Findlay (UF) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Findlay, Ohio | Private | findlay.edu |
| Augustana University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Sioux Falls, South Dakota | Private | augie.edu |
| Maryville College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Maryville, Tennessee | Private | maryvillecollege.edu |
| Ripon College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Ripon, Wisconsin | Private | ripon.edu |
| Kansas Wesleyan University (KWU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Salina, Kansas | Private | kwu.edu |
| Union College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Barbourville, Kentucky | Private | unionky.edu |
| Bethel University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | bethel.edu |
| Missouri Baptist University (MBU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | mobap.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNR) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Reno, Nevada | Public | unr.edu |
| CUNY Brooklyn College |
Master's
|
1 | Brooklyn, New York | Public | brooklyn.cuny.edu |
| Elon University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Elon, North Carolina | Private | elon.edu |
| University of Jamestown (UJ) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Jamestown, North Dakota | Private | uj.edu |
| University of Mount Union |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Alliance, Ohio | Private | mountunion.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Health Education Teacher Preparation programs
How much can I earn with a Health Education Teacher Preparation degree?
Salaries for Health Education Teacher Preparation 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 Health Education Teacher Preparation programs?
Currently 80 accredited institutions offer Health Education Teacher Preparation degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) (278 graduates), American College of Education (ACE) (240 graduates), and Indiana University (IUB), Bloomington (74 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 Health Education Teacher Preparation growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 2,437 in 2010 to a peak of 1,768 in 2020, before declining slightly to 1,472 in 2023-24. This represents a 40% 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 Health Education Teacher Preparation 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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