Reading Teacher Education: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Designed for educators committed to advancing literacy across diverse learning environments, this program equips professionals with the expertise to identify and address reading challenges in students of all ages. Through a rigorous academic foundation, candidates develop advanced skills in literacy instruction, assessment, and intervention strategies tailored to K–12 settings.
- Reading Assessment and Diagnosis: Learn to administer and interpret standardized and informal assessments to pinpoint specific reading deficits, including phonological awareness, decoding, fluency, and comprehension.
- Instructional Strategies for Literacy Development: Master evidence-based methods for teaching foundational reading skills, vocabulary acquisition, and text analysis across grade levels and student populations.
- Curriculum Design and Implementation: Gain the ability to develop, adapt, and deliver comprehensive reading curricula aligned with state standards and individualized learning needs.
- Intervention and Remediation Techniques: Study targeted approaches for supporting struggling readers, including small-group instruction, response-to-intervention models, and multi-tiered systems of support.
- Specialized Literacy Needs: Explore frameworks for teaching reading to English language learners, students with learning disabilities, and other populations requiring differentiated instruction.
- Professional Leadership in Literacy Education: Prepare to lead literacy initiatives, mentor colleagues, and contribute to school-wide literacy improvement through data-driven decision-making.
Reading Teacher Education Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Reading Teacher Education Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Reading Teacher Education 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 |
Reading Teacher Education 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 Reading Teacher Education by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Reading 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 Reading Teacher Education is found at Grand Canyon University (GCU) (537 graduates), American College of Education (ACE) (525 graduates), Arkansas State University (A-State) (192 graduates), SUNY Oneonta (159 graduates), and Viterbo University (159 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 4,583 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) |
Master's
|
537 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | gcu.edu |
| American College of Education (ACE) |
Master's
|
525 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | ace.edu |
| Arkansas State University (A-State) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
192 | Jonesboro, Arkansas | Public | astate.edu |
| SUNY Oneonta |
Master's
|
159 | Oneonta, New York | Public | suny.oneonta.edu |
| Viterbo University |
Postbac Cert.
Post-Master's
|
159 | La Crosse, Wisconsin | Private | viterbo.edu |
| State University of New York |
Master's
|
116 | Cortland, New York | Public | www2.cortland.edu |
| University of the Cumberlands |
Master's
|
93 | Williamsburg, Kentucky | Private | ucumberlands.edu |
| Northwest Missouri State University |
Master's
|
80 | Maryville, Missouri | Public | nwmissouri.edu |
| Clemson University |
Master's
|
80 | Clemson, South Carolina | Public | clemson.edu |
| Bowling Green State University (BGSU) |
Master's
Other Award
|
74 | Bowling Green, Ohio | Public | bgsu.edu |
| Holy Family University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
54 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | holyfamily.edu |
| Alverno College |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
54 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | alverno.edu |
| University at Albany (UAlbany) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
50 | Albany, New York | Public | albany.edu |
| Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (SRU) |
Master's
|
48 | Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania | Public | sru.edu |
| Wilkes University |
Master's
|
48 | Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania | Private | wilkes.edu |
| Texas Woman's University (TWU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
48 | Denton, Texas | Public | twu.edu |
| Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
46 | California, Pennsylvania | Public | pennwest.edu |
| Concordia University (CUC) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
44 | River Forest, Illinois | Private | cuchicago.edu |
| California State University (CSUF) |
Master's
|
43 | Fullerton, California | Public | fullerton.edu |
| American International College (AIC) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
43 | Springfield, Massachusetts | Private | aic.edu |
| SUNY College |
Master's
|
41 | Geneseo, New York | Public | geneseo.edu |
| Morningside University |
Master's
|
40 | Sioux City, Iowa | Private | morningside.edu |
| University of Central Arkansas (UCA) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
39 | Conway, Arkansas | Public | uca.edu |
| Missouri State University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
39 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
| St. John's University (SJU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
39 | Queens, New York | Private | stjohns.edu |
| Olivet Nazarene University (ONU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
38 | Bourbonnais, Illinois | Private | olivet.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
37 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| Longwood University |
Master's
|
37 | Farmville, Virginia | Public | longwood.edu |
| Capella University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
37 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | capella.edu |
| Pace University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
36 | New York, New York | Private | pace.edu |
| State University of New York |
Master's
|
36 | New Paltz, New York | Public | newpaltz.edu |
| National Louis University (NLU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
35 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | nl.edu |
| CUNY Queens College |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
|
35 | Queens, New York | Public | qc.cuny.edu |
| Valley City State University (VCSU) |
Residency
|
35 | Valley City, North Dakota | Public | vcsu.edu |
| Eastern Michigan University (EMU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
34 | Ypsilanti, Michigan | Public | emich.edu |
| Belhaven University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
34 | Jackson, Mississippi | Private | belhaven.edu |
| Georgia Southern University |
Master's
|
33 | Statesboro, Georgia | Public | georgiasouthern.edu |
| Augusta University (AU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
33 | Augusta, Georgia | Public | augusta.edu |
| Fresno Pacific University (FPU) |
Master's
|
32 | Fresno, California | Private | fresno.edu |
| SUNY College |
Master's
|
32 | Potsdam, New York | Public | potsdam.edu |
| Appalachian State University (App State) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
32 | Boone, North Carolina | Public | appstate.edu |
| Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (KU) |
Master's
|
32 | Kutztown, Pennsylvania | Public | kutztown.edu |
| CUNY Hunter College |
Master's
|
31 | New York, New York | Public | hunter.cuny.edu |
| SUNY Brockport |
Master's
|
31 | Brockport, New York | Public | brockport.edu |
| East Carolina University (ECU) |
Master's
|
31 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Master's
|
31 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Mount St. Joseph University (MSJ) |
Postbac Cert.
|
30 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Private | msj.edu |
| California State University (CSUEB) |
Master's
|
29 | Hayward, California | Public | csueastbay.edu |
| Regis University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
29 | Denver, Colorado | Private | regis.edu |
| Minnesota State University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
29 | Mankato, Minnesota | Public | mnsu.edu |
| West Virginia University (WVU) |
Master's
|
29 | Morgantown, West Virginia | Public | wvu.edu |
| Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
28 | New Britain, Connecticut | Public | ccsu.edu |
| Touro University |
Master's
|
28 | New York, New York | Private | touro.edu |
| Mercy University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
27 | Dobbs Ferry, New York | Private | mercy.edu |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCU) |
Master's
|
27 | West Chester, Pennsylvania | Public | wcupa.edu |
| Sacred Heart University (SHU) |
Post-Master's
|
26 | Fairfield, Connecticut | Private | sacredheart.edu |
| New Jersey City University (NJCU) |
Master's
|
25 | Jersey City, New Jersey | Public | njcu.edu |
| SUNY Buffalo State University |
Master's
|
25 | Buffalo, New York | Public | suny.buffalostate.edu |
| Marshall University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
25 | Huntington, West Virginia | Public | marshall.edu |
| University of Southern Maine (USM) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
|
24 | Portland, Maine | Public | usm.maine.edu |
| SUNY Old Westbury |
Master's
|
24 | Old Westbury, New York | Public | oldwestbury.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
24 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Postbac Cert.
|
24 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | utk.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Master's
|
23 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| Hamline University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
23 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | hamline.edu |
| St. Joseph's University (SJNY) |
Master's
|
23 | Brooklyn, New York | Private | sjny.edu |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (ESU) |
Master's
|
23 | East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania | Public | esu.edu |
| Point Park University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
23 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | pointpark.edu |
| Liberty University |
Master's
|
23 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| The College of Saint Scholastica (CSS) |
Postbac Cert.
|
22 | Duluth, Minnesota | Private | css.edu |
| Roberts Wesleyan University |
Master's
|
22 | Rochester, New York | Private | roberts.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
22 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Loyola University Maryland |
Master's
|
21 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | loyola.edu |
| University of North Dakota (UND) |
Master's
|
21 | Grand Forks, North Dakota | Public | und.edu |
| Saint Joseph's University (SJU) |
Master's
|
21 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | sju.edu |
| William & Mary (W&M) |
Postbac Cert.
|
21 | Williamsburg, Virginia | Public | wm.edu |
| Concordia University-Wisconsin (CUW) |
Master's
|
21 | Mequon, Wisconsin | Private | cuw.edu |
| Wilmington University (WilmU) |
Master's
|
20 | New Castle, Delaware | Private | wilmu.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Master's
|
20 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
20 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania |
Master's
|
20 | Millersville, Pennsylvania | Public | millersville.edu |
| Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
20 | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | Public | mtsu.edu |
| Towson University (TU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
19 | Towson, Maryland | Public | towson.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Master's
|
19 | Lowell, Massachusetts | Public | uml.edu |
| MGH Institute of Health Professions (MGH IHP) |
Post-Master's
|
19 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | mghihp.edu |
| State University of New York |
Master's
|
19 | Oswego, New York | Public | oswego.edu |
| Northeastern State University (NSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
19 | Tahlequah, Oklahoma | Public | nsuok.edu |
| Eastern Washington University (EWU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
19 | Cheney, Washington | Public | ewu.edu |
| Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) |
Master's
|
18 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | neiu.edu |
| Gordon College |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
18 | Wenham, Massachusetts | Private | gordon.edu |
| Nazareth University |
Master's
|
18 | Rochester, New York | Private | www2.naz.edu |
| SUNY |
Master's
|
18 | Fredonia, New York | Public | fredonia.edu |
| California State University (CSUSM) |
Master's
|
18 | San Marcos, California | Public | csusm.edu |
| Illinois State University (ISU) |
Master's
|
17 | Normal, Illinois | Public | illinoisstate.edu |
| William Paterson University of New Jersey |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
17 | Wayne, New Jersey | Public | wpunj.edu |
| California State University |
Master's
|
16 | Fresno, California | Public | fresnostate.edu |
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
16 | Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| Nova Southeastern University (NSU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
16 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | nova.edu |
| Central Michigan University (CMU) |
Master's
|
16 | Mount Pleasant, Michigan | Public | cmich.edu |
| Park University |
Master's
|
16 | Parkville, Missouri | Private | park.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Reading Teacher Education programs
How much can I earn with a Reading Teacher Education degree?
Salaries for Reading Teacher Education 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 Reading Teacher Education programs?
Currently 302 accredited institutions offer Reading Teacher Education degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Grand Canyon University (GCU) (537 graduates), American College of Education (ACE) (525 graduates), and Arkansas State University (A-State) (192 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 Reading Teacher Education growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 9,987 in 2010 to a peak of 6,105 in 2020, before declining slightly to 5,986 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 Reading Teacher Education 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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