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)
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 |
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 | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Governors University (WGU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
142 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Private | wgu.edu |
| Grand Canyon University (GCU) |
Master's
|
98 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | gcu.edu |
| Miami University |
Master's
|
27 | Oxford, Ohio | Public | miamioh.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Master's
|
25 | Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| Niagara University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
15 | Niagara University, New York | Private | niagara.edu |
| Illinois State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Normal, Illinois | Public | illinoisstate.edu |
| Indiana Wesleyan University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
13 | Marion, Indiana | Private | indwes.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Master's
|
12 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| American College of Education (ACE) |
Master's
|
10 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | ace.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Master's
|
9 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNR) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Reno, Nevada | Public | unr.edu |
| State University of New York |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
9 | New Paltz, New York | Public | newpaltz.edu |
| Syracuse University |
Master's
|
9 | Syracuse, New York | Private | syracuse.edu |
| CUNY Queens College |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
8 | Queens, New York | Public | qc.cuny.edu |
| SUNY Old Westbury |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
8 | Old Westbury, New York | Public | oldwestbury.edu |
| Oregon State University (OSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
8 | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| Talladega College (TC) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Talladega, Alabama | Private | talladega.edu |
| Ferris State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Big Rapids, Michigan | Public | ferris.edu |
| SUNY Oneonta |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Oneonta, New York | Public | suny.oneonta.edu |
| Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
| Bridgewater State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
6 | Bridgewater, Massachusetts | Public | bridgew.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU–I) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Rexburg, Idaho | Private | byui.edu |
| SUNY College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
5 | Potsdam, New York | Public | potsdam.edu |
| Utah State University (USU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Logan, Utah | Public | usu.edu |
| Ball State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
| Emporia State University (ESU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Emporia, Kansas | Public | emporia.edu |
| Eastern Michigan University (EMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
4 | Ypsilanti, Michigan | Public | emich.edu |
| Manhattanville College |
Master's
|
4 | Purchase, New York | Private | mville.edu |
| SUNY Brockport |
Master's
|
4 | Brockport, New York | Public | brockport.edu |
| SUNY College |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Geneseo, New York | Public | geneseo.edu |
| State University of New York |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Oswego, New York | Public | oswego.edu |
| University of Wyoming (UW) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Laramie, Wyoming | Public | uwyo.edu |
| Nova Southeastern University (NSU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | nova.edu |
| Southern Illinois University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Carbondale, Illinois | Public | siu.edu |
| Trinity Christian College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Palos Heights, Illinois | Private | trnty.edu |
| Merrimack College |
Master's
|
3 | North Andover, Massachusetts | Private | merrimack.edu |
| Saint Cloud State University (SCSU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Public | stcloudstate.edu |
| Centenary University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Hackettstown, New Jersey | Private | centenaryuniversity.edu |
| St. Joseph's University (SJNY) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Brooklyn, New York | Private | sjny.edu |
| University at Albany (UAlbany) |
Master's
|
3 | Albany, New York | Public | albany.edu |
| Binghamton University |
Master's
|
3 | Vestal, New York | Public | binghamton.edu |
| North Dakota State University (NDSU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Fargo, North Dakota | Public | ndsu.edu |
| Marywood University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Scranton, Pennsylvania | Private | marywood.edu |
| Messiah University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania | Private | messiah.edu |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | West Chester, Pennsylvania | Public | wcupa.edu |
| Maryville College |
Master's
|
3 | Maryville, Tennessee | Private | maryvillecollege.edu |
| Southern Utah University (SUU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Cedar City, Utah | Public | suu.edu |
| Weber State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Ogden, Utah | Public | weber.edu |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Arecibo, Puerto Rico | Private | arecibo.inter.edu |
| University of Mobile |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Mobile, Alabama | Private | umobile.edu |
| Fresno Pacific University (FPU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Fresno, California | Private | fresno.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Broward College (BC) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Public | broward.edu |
| Miami Dade College (MDC) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Miami, Florida | Public | mdc.edu |
| Savannah State University (SSU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Savannah, Georgia | Public | savannahstate.edu |
| Augustana College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Rock Island, Illinois | Private | augustana.edu |
| Bradley University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Peoria, Illinois | Private | bradley.edu |
| Millikin University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Decatur, Illinois | Private | millikin.edu |
| Saint Xavier University (SXU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | sxu.edu |
| Morningside University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Sioux City, Iowa | Private | morningside.edu |
| University of Louisville (UofL) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
2 | Louisville, Kentucky | Public | louisville.edu |
| Missouri Baptist University (MBU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | mobap.edu |
| College of Staten Island CUNY (CSI) |
Master's
|
2 | Staten Island, New York | Public | csi.cuny.edu |
| CUNY Hunter College |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
2 | New York, New York | Public | hunter.cuny.edu |
| CUNY Lehman College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Bronx, New York | Public | lehman.edu |
| Daemen University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Amherst, New York | Private | daemen.edu |
| Hofstra University |
Master's
|
2 | Hempstead, New York | Private | hofstra.edu |
| St. John's University (SJU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Queens, New York | Private | stjohns.edu |
| University of Mary (UMary) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Bismarck, North Dakota | Private | umary.edu |
| Cedarville University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Cedarville, Ohio | Private | cedarville.edu |
| Lewis & Clark College |
Master's
|
2 | Portland, Oregon | Private | lclark.edu |
| Providence College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | providence.edu |
| Lee University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
2 | Cleveland, Tennessee | Private | leeuniversity.edu |
| Abilene Christian University (ACU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Abilene, Texas | Private | acu.edu |
| Eastern Washington University (EWU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Cheney, Washington | Public | ewu.edu |
| Western Washington University (WWU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | wwu.edu |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | San German, Puerto Rico | Private | sg.inter.edu |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR) |
Master's
|
2 | Mercedita, Puerto Rico | Private | ponce.inter.edu |
| Huntingdon College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Montgomery, Alabama | Private | huntingdon.edu |
| Harding University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Searcy, Arkansas | Private | harding.edu |
| University of Arkansas (UAFS) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Fort Smith, Arkansas | Public | uafs.edu |
| Biola University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | La Mirada, California | Private | biola.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| Chipola College (CJC) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Marianna, Florida | Public | chipola.edu |
| Daytona State College (DSC) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Daytona Beach, Florida | Public | daytonastate.edu |
| Florida College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Temple Terrace, Florida | Private | floridacollege.edu |
| Piedmont University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Demorest, Georgia | Private | piedmont.edu |
| Reinhardt University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Waleska, Georgia | Private | reinhardt.edu |
| Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Nampa, Idaho | Private | nnu.edu |
| Concordia University (CUC) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | River Forest, Illinois | Private | cuchicago.edu |
| Bethel University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Mishawaka, Indiana | Private | betheluniversity.edu |
| Huntington University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Huntington, Indiana | Private | huntington.edu |
| Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Marion, Indiana | Private | indwes.edu |
| Taylor University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Upland, Indiana | Private | taylor.edu |
| Trine University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Angola, Indiana | Private | trine.edu |
| McPherson College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | McPherson, Kansas | Private | mcpherson.edu |
| MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Olathe, Kansas | Private | mnu.edu |
| Pittsburg State University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | 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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