UnisHub University Compass

Biology Teacher Education: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Program Overview

Designed for aspiring educators, this program equips students with the pedagogical expertise and scientific foundation needed to teach biology across diverse academic environments, from secondary schools to community colleges. Emphasis is placed on developing instructional strategies, scientific inquiry skills, and a deep understanding of biological systems to foster student engagement and learning.

  • Cellular and Molecular Biology: Explores the structure and function of cells, genetic mechanisms, and biochemical processes that underlie life, providing a core foundation for understanding biological phenomena.
  • Organismal Biology: Focuses on the anatomy, physiology, and life cycles of diverse organisms, emphasizing adaptation, diversity, and evolutionary relationships across species.
  • Ecology and Environmental Systems: Investigates interactions between organisms and their environments, including ecosystem dynamics, population biology, and sustainability challenges.
  • Genetics and Heredity: Covers principles of inheritance, gene expression, genetic variation, and modern applications in biotechnology and medicine.
  • Scientific Inquiry and Laboratory Methods: Develops skills in designing experiments, analyzing data, and applying the scientific method to real-world biological problems.
  • Educational Theory and Instructional Design: Integrates learning psychology, curriculum development, and assessment techniques tailored to teaching complex biological concepts effectively.

Biology Teacher Education Graduate Trends (2010-2024)

696
Total Graduates (2023-2024)
155
Universities & Colleges
4
Career Pathways
Career & Salary Outlook Schools Offering This Program Related Programs

Biology Teacher Education Career Pathways & Salary Outlook

The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Biology Teacher Education degrees, including Biological Science 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 1,805,250 professionals.

National Average Salaries

Occupation Median Salary Salary Range Total Employment Hourly Rate
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1042 $83,460 $50,760 - $169,560 53,250 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

Biology Teacher Education Salary Map by State

Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $56,010 in Oklahoma to $101,690 in California—a 82% difference. The highest-paying states include California, New York, and Rhode Island. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 1,805,250 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 Biology Teacher Education by Graduate Enrollment

Below are the top 100 institutions offering Biology 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 Biology Teacher Education is found at Western Governors University (WGU) (142 graduates), Grand Canyon University (GCU) (98 graduates), Miami University, Oxford (27 graduates), Stony Brook University (SBU) (25 graduates), and Niagara University (15 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 641 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)
Bachelor's
Master's
 142 N/A Salt Lake City, Utah Private wgu.edu
Grand Canyon University (GCU)
Master's
 98 SAT: 1058-1175
ACT: 19-24 		Phoenix, Arizona Private gcu.edu
Miami University
Master's
 27 SAT: 1210-1380
ACT: 26-31 		Oxford, Ohio Public miamioh.edu
Stony Brook University (SBU)
Master's
 25 SAT: 1320-1490
ACT: 28-33 		Stony Brook, New York Public stonybrook.edu
Niagara University
Bachelor's
Master's
 15 SAT: 1030-1240
ACT: 23-27 		Niagara University, New York Private niagara.edu
Illinois State University (ISU)
Bachelor's
 13 SAT: 1010-1230
ACT: 22-27 		Normal, Illinois Public illinoisstate.edu
Indiana Wesleyan University
Postbac Cert.
Master's
 13 N/A Marion, Indiana Private indwes.edu
University at Buffalo (UB)
Master's
 12 SAT: 1210-1380
ACT: 27-32 		Buffalo, New York Public buffalo.edu
American College of Education (ACE)
Master's
 10 N/A Indianapolis, Indiana Private ace.edu
University of California (UCI)
Bachelor's
 9 N/A Irvine, California Public uci.edu
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)
Master's
 9 SAT: 1270-1510
ACT: 29-34 		Champaign, Illinois Public illinois.edu
University of Nevada (UNR)
Bachelor's
 9 N/A Reno, Nevada Public unr.edu
State University of New York
Bachelor's
Master's
 9 SAT: 1170-1340
ACT: 24-29 		New Paltz, New York Public newpaltz.edu
Syracuse University
Master's
 9 SAT: 1260-1430
ACT: 28-32 		Syracuse, New York Private syracuse.edu
CUNY Queens College
Postbac Cert.
Master's
 8 SAT: 1100-1320 Queens, New York Public qc.cuny.edu
SUNY Old Westbury
Bachelor's
Master's
 8 N/A Old Westbury, New York Public oldwestbury.edu
Oregon State University (OSU)
Postbac Cert.
 8 N/A Corvallis, Oregon Public oregonstate.edu
Brigham Young University (BYU)
Bachelor's
 8 SAT: 1290-1450
ACT: 28-32 		Provo, Utah Private byu.edu
Talladega College (TC)
Bachelor's
 7 N/A Talladega, Alabama Private talladega.edu
Ferris State University (FSU)
Bachelor's
 7 SAT: 890-1120
ACT: 18-26 		Big Rapids, Michigan Public ferris.edu
SUNY Oneonta
Bachelor's
 7 SAT: 1090-1250
ACT: 23-28 		Oneonta, New York Public suny.oneonta.edu
Northern Arizona University (NAU)
Bachelor's
 6 N/A Flagstaff, Arizona Public nau.edu
Bridgewater State University (BSU)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
 6 SAT: 1040-1230
ACT: 18-27 		Bridgewater, Massachusetts Public bridgew.edu
Brigham Young University (BYU–I)
Bachelor's
 5 SAT: 980-1200
ACT: 20-26 		Rexburg, Idaho Private byui.edu
SUNY College
Bachelor's
Master's
 5 N/A Potsdam, New York Public potsdam.edu
Utah State University (USU)
Bachelor's
 5 SAT: 1060-1300
ACT: 20-28 		Logan, Utah Public usu.edu
Ball State University (BSU)
Bachelor's
 4 SAT: 1080-1250
ACT: 25-30 		Muncie, Indiana Public bsu.edu
Emporia State University (ESU)
Bachelor's
 4 ACT: 18-24 Emporia, Kansas Public emporia.edu
Eastern Michigan University (EMU)
Bachelor's
Master's
 4 SAT: 910-1170
ACT: 18-26 		Ypsilanti, Michigan Public emich.edu
Manhattanville College
Master's
 4 N/A Purchase, New York Private mville.edu
SUNY Brockport
Master's
 4 SAT: 1070-1240
ACT: 18-26 		Brockport, New York Public brockport.edu
SUNY College
Bachelor's
 4 SAT: 1200-1380
ACT: 26-31 		Geneseo, New York Public geneseo.edu
State University of New York
Bachelor's
 4 SAT: 1060-1270
ACT: 23-27 		Oswego, New York Public oswego.edu
University of Wyoming (UW)
Bachelor's
 4 N/A Laramie, Wyoming Public uwyo.edu
Nova Southeastern University (NSU)
Bachelor's
 3 SAT: 1050-1310
ACT: 21-28 		Fort Lauderdale, Florida Private nova.edu
Southern Illinois University
Bachelor's
 3 SAT: 910-1140
ACT: 20-27 		Carbondale, Illinois Public siu.edu
Trinity Christian College
Bachelor's
 3 SAT: 1050-1200
ACT: 23-28 		Palos Heights, Illinois Private trnty.edu
Merrimack College
Master's
 3 N/A North Andover, Massachusetts Private merrimack.edu
Saint Cloud State University (SCSU)
Bachelor's
 3 SAT: 970-1280
ACT: 18-25 		Saint Cloud, Minnesota Public stcloudstate.edu
Centenary University
Bachelor's
 3 N/A Hackettstown, New Jersey Private centenaryuniversity.edu
St. Joseph's University (SJNY)
Bachelor's
 3 SAT: 1090-1280 Brooklyn, New York Private sjny.edu
University at Albany (UAlbany)
Master's
 3 N/A Albany, New York Public albany.edu
Binghamton University
Master's
 3 SAT: 1320-1490
ACT: 29-34 		Vestal, New York Public binghamton.edu
North Dakota State University (NDSU)
Bachelor's
 3 ACT: 19-24 Fargo, North Dakota Public ndsu.edu
Marywood University
Bachelor's
 3 SAT: 1050-1240
ACT: 21-26 		Scranton, Pennsylvania Private marywood.edu
Messiah University
Bachelor's
 3 SAT: 1100-1340
ACT: 22-30 		Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania Private messiah.edu
West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCU)
Bachelor's
 3 SAT: 1100-1270
ACT: 24-28 		West Chester, Pennsylvania Public wcupa.edu
Maryville College
Master's
 3 SAT: 1018-1188
ACT: 20-28 		Maryville, Tennessee Private maryvillecollege.edu
Southern Utah University (SUU)
Bachelor's
 3 N/A Cedar City, Utah Public suu.edu
Weber State University (WSU)
Bachelor's
 3 N/A Ogden, Utah Public weber.edu
Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR)
Bachelor's
 3 N/A Arecibo, Puerto Rico Private arecibo.inter.edu
University of Mobile
Bachelor's
 2 ACT: 21-27 Mobile, Alabama Private umobile.edu
Fresno Pacific University (FPU)
Bachelor's
 2 N/A Fresno, California Private fresno.edu
University of Connecticut (UConn)
Bachelor's
 2 SAT: 1210-1420
ACT: 29-33 		Storrs, Connecticut Public uconn.edu
Broward College (BC)
Bachelor's
 2 N/A Fort Lauderdale, Florida Public broward.edu
Miami Dade College (MDC)
Bachelor's
 2 N/A Miami, Florida Public mdc.edu
Savannah State University (SSU)
Bachelor's
 2 N/A Savannah, Georgia Public savannahstate.edu
Augustana College
Bachelor's
 2 SAT: 1010-1250
ACT: 21-28 		Rock Island, Illinois Private augustana.edu
Bradley University
Bachelor's
 2 SAT: 1090-1300
ACT: 25-31 		Peoria, Illinois Private bradley.edu
Millikin University
Bachelor's
 2 SAT: 860-1170
ACT: 14-24 		Decatur, Illinois Private millikin.edu
Saint Xavier University (SXU)
Bachelor's
 2 N/A Chicago, Illinois Private sxu.edu
Morningside University
Bachelor's
 2 ACT: 12-22 Sioux City, Iowa Private morningside.edu
University of Louisville (UofL)
Bachelor's
Master's
 2 SAT: 1020-1250
ACT: 19-27 		Louisville, Kentucky Public louisville.edu
Missouri Baptist University (MBU)
Bachelor's
 2 SAT: 910-1170
ACT: 14-19 		Saint Louis, Missouri Private mobap.edu
College of Staten Island CUNY (CSI)
Master's
 2 N/A Staten Island, New York Public csi.cuny.edu
CUNY Hunter College
Master's
Post-Master's
 2 SAT: 1210-1470 New York, New York Public hunter.cuny.edu
CUNY Lehman College
Bachelor's
 2 SAT: 860-1220 Bronx, New York Public lehman.edu
Daemen University
Bachelor's
 2 N/A Amherst, New York Private daemen.edu
Hofstra University
Master's
 2 SAT: 1210-1380
ACT: 27-31 		Hempstead, New York Private hofstra.edu
St. John's University (SJU)
Bachelor's
 2 SAT: 1110-1320
ACT: 24-29 		Queens, New York Private stjohns.edu
University of Mary (UMary)
Bachelor's
 2 N/A Bismarck, North Dakota Private umary.edu
Cedarville University
Bachelor's
 2 SAT: 1110-1360
ACT: 23-29 		Cedarville, Ohio Private cedarville.edu
Lewis & Clark College
Master's
 2 SAT: 1210-1390
ACT: 28-31 		Portland, Oregon Private lclark.edu
Providence College
Bachelor's
 2 SAT: 1250-1400
ACT: 28-32 		Providence, Rhode Island Private providence.edu
Lee University
Bachelor's
Master's
 2 SAT: 1020-1240
ACT: 20-26 		Cleveland, Tennessee Private leeuniversity.edu
Abilene Christian University (ACU)
Bachelor's
 2 SAT: 1060-1290
ACT: 22-28 		Abilene, Texas Private acu.edu
Eastern Washington University (EWU)
Bachelor's
 2 N/A Cheney, Washington Public ewu.edu
Western Washington University (WWU)
Bachelor's
 2 SAT: 1110-1350
ACT: 23-29 		Bellingham, Washington Public wwu.edu
Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR)
Bachelor's
 2 N/A San German, Puerto Rico Private sg.inter.edu
Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR)
Master's
 2 N/A Mercedita, Puerto Rico Private ponce.inter.edu
Huntingdon College
Bachelor's
 1 SAT: 1011-1211
ACT: 20-25 		Montgomery, Alabama Private huntingdon.edu
Harding University
Bachelor's
 1 SAT: 1050-1280
ACT: 21-28 		Searcy, Arkansas Private harding.edu
University of Arkansas (UAFS)
Bachelor's
 1 ACT: 18-23 Fort Smith, Arkansas Public uafs.edu
Biola University
Bachelor's
 1 SAT: 1130-1360
ACT: 24-30 		La Mirada, California Private biola.edu
University of Delaware (UD)
Bachelor's
 1 SAT: 1200-1360
ACT: 27-31 		Newark, Delaware Public udel.edu
Chipola College (CJC)
Bachelor's
 1 N/A Marianna, Florida Public chipola.edu
Daytona State College (DSC)
Bachelor's
 1 N/A Daytona Beach, Florida Public daytonastate.edu
Florida College
Bachelor's
 1 SAT: 950-1250
ACT: 17-20 		Temple Terrace, Florida Private floridacollege.edu
Piedmont University
Bachelor's
 1 SAT: 990-1170
ACT: 18-24 		Demorest, Georgia Private piedmont.edu
Reinhardt University
Bachelor's
 1 N/A Waleska, Georgia Private reinhardt.edu
Northwest Nazarene University (NNU)
Bachelor's
 1 SAT: 940-1210
ACT: 25-31 		Nampa, Idaho Private nnu.edu
Concordia University (CUC)
Bachelor's
 1 N/A River Forest, Illinois Private cuchicago.edu
Bethel University
Bachelor's
 1 SAT: 940-1190
ACT: 19-24 		Mishawaka, Indiana Private betheluniversity.edu
Huntington University
Bachelor's
 1 SAT: 1000-1190
ACT: 21-25 		Huntington, Indiana Private huntington.edu
Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU)
Bachelor's
 1 SAT: 970-1180
ACT: 19-28 		Marion, Indiana Private indwes.edu
Taylor University
Bachelor's
 1 SAT: 1070-1340
ACT: 23-30 		Upland, Indiana Private taylor.edu
Trine University
Bachelor's
 1 N/A Angola, Indiana Private trine.edu
McPherson College
Bachelor's
 1 SAT: 936-1126
ACT: 17-24 		McPherson, Kansas Private mcpherson.edu
MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU)
Bachelor's
 1 SAT: 928-1118
ACT: 17-23 		Olathe, Kansas Private mnu.edu
Pittsburg State University
Bachelor's
 1 ACT: 18-24 Pittsburg, Kansas Public pittstate.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about Biology Teacher Education programs

How much can I earn with a Biology Teacher Education degree?

Salaries for Biology Teacher Education graduates vary by role and location. Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $83,460 annually, while Education Teachers, Postsecondary earn around $72,090. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $101,690 compared to $56,010 in Oklahoma. Approximately 1,805,250 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 Biology Teacher Education programs?

Currently 155 accredited institutions offer Biology Teacher Education degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Western Governors University (WGU) (142 graduates), Grand Canyon University (GCU) (98 graduates), and Miami University, Oxford (27 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 Biology Teacher Education growing or declining?

Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 764 in 2010 to a peak of 777 in 2020, before declining slightly to 696 in 2023-24. This represents a 9% 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 Biology Teacher Education degree?

This degree prepares you for roles such as Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary, Education Teachers, Postsecondary, and Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education. Related occupations employ approximately 1,805,250 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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