English as a Second Language (ESL) Teaching: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Designed for educators seeking to support linguistic and academic success in diverse learning environments, this program equips professionals with the expertise to teach English to non-native speakers across K–12 and adult education settings. It emphasizes evidence-based pedagogy, cultural responsiveness, and language acquisition theory to foster inclusive and effective instruction.
- Second Language Acquisition Theory: Explores the cognitive, social, and psychological processes involved in learning a new language, focusing on stages of language development and individual learner differences.
- Curriculum Design for ESL: Teaches how to develop and implement standards-aligned, context-sensitive lesson plans that integrate listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills across proficiency levels.
- Assessment and Evaluation in ESL Contexts: Covers methods for diagnosing language proficiency, measuring progress, and using formative and summative assessments to guide instruction.
- Cross-Cultural Communication and Identity: Examines the role of culture in language learning, promoting awareness of cultural diversity and strategies to support students’ linguistic and personal identity development.
- Instructional Strategies for Diverse Learners: Focuses on differentiated teaching techniques, scaffolding, and multimodal approaches tailored to various language proficiencies and learning styles.
- Language Policy and Advocacy: Investigates the impact of national and institutional language policies on ESL education and prepares educators to advocate for equitable access and support systems.
English as a Second Language (ESL) Teaching Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
English as a Second Language (ESL) Teaching Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with English as a Second Language (ESL) Teaching degrees, including Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education and Elementary School Teachers, Except Special 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 3,681,970 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education 25-2021 | $62,340 | $46,440 - $102,010 | 1,393,310 | N/A |
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education 25-2012 | $61,430 | $45,750 - $99,360 | 114,410 | N/A |
| Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors 25-3011 | $59,950 | $39,750 - $95,750 | 36,260 | $28.82 |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education 25-2011 | $37,120 | $28,300 - $60,070 | 445,080 | $17.85 |
English as a Second Language (ESL) Teaching Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $44,150 in South Dakota to $86,858 in California—a 97% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Washington, and New York. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 3,681,970 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 as a Second Language (ESL) Teaching by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering English as a Second Language (ESL) Teaching 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 as a Second Language (ESL) Teaching is found at Western Governors University (WGU) (399 graduates), Brigham Young University (BYU–I), Idaho (373 graduates), Grand Canyon University (GCU) (167 graduates), University of Nevada (UNLV), Las Vegas (111 graduates), and Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) (110 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 3,976 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) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
399 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Private | wgu.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU–I) |
Other Award
|
373 | Rexburg, Idaho | Private | byui.edu |
| Grand Canyon University (GCU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
167 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | gcu.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNLV) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
111 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | unlv.edu |
| Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) |
Master's
|
110 | Manchester, New Hampshire | Private | snhu.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
98 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| Alliant International University |
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
97 | San Diego, California | Private | alliant.edu |
| Liberty University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
90 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| CUNY Hunter College |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
|
72 | New York, New York | Public | hunter.cuny.edu |
| Oregon State University (OSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
72 | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
| University of Southern Maine (USM) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
|
68 | Portland, Maine | Public | usm.maine.edu |
| CUNY Queens College |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
|
63 | Queens, New York | Public | qc.cuny.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Master's
|
59 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| Touro University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
56 | New York, New York | Private | touro.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Master's
|
50 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Greensboro College |
Master's
|
49 | Greensboro, North Carolina | Private | greensboro.edu |
| Eastern Washington University (EWU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
48 | Cheney, Washington | Public | ewu.edu |
| Midland University |
Postbac Cert.
|
46 | Fremont, Nebraska | Private | midlandu.edu |
| Lipscomb University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
46 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | lipscomb.edu |
| CUNY City College (CCNY) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
45 | New York, New York | Public | ccny.cuny.edu |
| University of Arkansas (U of A) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
44 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Public | uark.edu |
| Goshen College |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
44 | Goshen, Indiana | Private | goshen.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMBC) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
43 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | umbc.edu |
| SUNY Brockport |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
43 | Brockport, New York | Public | brockport.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Postbac Cert.
|
43 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| St. John's University (SJU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
42 | Queens, New York | Private | stjohns.edu |
| Georgia State University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
39 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gsu.edu |
| University of Hawaii (UHM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
39 | Honolulu, Hawaii | Public | manoa.hawaii.edu |
| Bridgewater State University (BSU) |
Master's
Residency
|
39 | Bridgewater, Massachusetts | Public | bridgew.edu |
| Mercy University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
37 | Dobbs Ferry, New York | Private | mercy.edu |
| Hamline University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
36 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | hamline.edu |
| Arizona State University |
Master's
|
35 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Master's
|
34 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| Dominican University |
Master's
|
34 | River Forest, Illinois | Private | dom.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
34 | Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| Adelphi University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
33 | Garden City, New York | Private | adelphi.edu |
| Henderson State University (HSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
32 | Arkadelphia, Arkansas | Public | hsu.edu |
| Western Oregon University (WOU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
32 | Monmouth, Oregon | Public | wou.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
31 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
30 | Ewing, New Jersey | Public | tcnj.edu |
| Portland State University (PSU) |
Master's
Other Award
|
29 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pdx.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAB) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
|
28 | Birmingham, Alabama | Public | uab.edu |
| Kent State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
28 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYUH) |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Laie, Hawaii | Private | byuh.edu |
| California State University (CSUSB) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
26 | San Bernardino, California | Public | csusb.edu |
| Olivet Nazarene University (ONU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
26 | Bourbonnais, Illinois | Private | olivet.edu |
| William Rainey Harper College |
Other Award
|
26 | Palatine, Illinois | Public | harpercollege.edu |
| Framingham State University (FSU) |
Master's
|
23 | Framingham, Massachusetts | Public | framingham.edu |
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
22 | Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| Florida Atlantic University (FAU) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
22 | Boca Raton, Florida | Public | fau.edu |
| Cambridge College |
Master's
|
22 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | cambridgecollege.edu |
| Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) |
Master's
|
22 | Cape Girardeau, Missouri | Public | semo.edu |
| Fordham University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
22 | Bronx, New York | Private | fordham.edu |
| University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) |
Master's
|
22 | Edmond, Oklahoma | Public | uco.edu |
| University of Rhode Island (URI) |
Master's
|
22 | Kingston, Rhode Island | Public | web.uri.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPR) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
22 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Public | uprrp.edu |
| Indiana State University (ISU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
21 | Terre Haute, Indiana | Public | indstate.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Other Award
|
21 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Holy Family University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
21 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | holyfamily.edu |
| Salem State University (SSU) |
Master's
|
20 | Salem, Massachusetts | Public | salemstate.edu |
| Concordia University-Nebraska |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
20 | Seward, Nebraska | Private | cune.edu |
| Binghamton University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
20 | Vestal, New York | Public | binghamton.edu |
| SUNY |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
20 | Fredonia, New York | Public | fredonia.edu |
| Hawaii Pacific University (HPU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
19 | Honolulu, Hawaii | Private | hpu.edu |
| College of Lake County (CLC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
19 | Grayslake, Illinois | Public | clcillinois.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Other Award
|
19 | Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| Merrimack College |
Master's
|
19 | North Andover, Massachusetts | Private | merrimack.edu |
| Boricua College |
Master's
|
19 | New York, New York | Private | boricuacollege.edu |
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Master's
|
19 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Master's
Other Award
|
18 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Azusa Pacific University (APU) |
Master's
|
18 | Azusa, California | Private | apu.edu |
| Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) |
Master's
|
18 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | neiu.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Master's
|
18 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| CUNY Lehman College |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
18 | Bronx, New York | Public | lehman.edu |
| Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (SRU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
18 | Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania | Public | sru.edu |
| Rhode Island College (RIC) |
Master's
|
18 | Providence, Rhode Island | Public | ric.edu |
| University of Northern Iowa (UNI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
17 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | Public | uni.edu |
| State University of New York |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
17 | New Paltz, New York | Public | newpaltz.edu |
| Teachers College at Columbia University (TC) |
Master's
|
17 | New York, New York | Private | tc.columbia.edu |
| Wilkes University |
Master's
|
17 | Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania | Private | wilkes.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
17 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| Wheaton College |
Master's
|
16 | Wheaton, Illinois | Private | wheaton.edu |
| Nova Southeastern University (NSU) |
Master's
|
15 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | nova.edu |
| Pace University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
15 | New York, New York | Private | pace.edu |
| Saint Cloud State University (SCSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
14 | Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Public | stcloudstate.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNO) |
Postbac Cert.
|
14 | Omaha, Nebraska | Public | unomaha.edu |
| University of Mount Saint Vincent (UMSV) |
Master's
|
14 | Bronx, New York | Private | mountsaintvincent.edu |
| University of Rochester |
Master's
Other Award
|
14 | Rochester, New York | Private | rochester.edu |
| State University of New York |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
14 | Cortland, New York | Public | www2.cortland.edu |
| Old Dominion University (ODU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Postbac Cert.
|
14 | Norfolk, Virginia | Public | odu.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
13 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| Biola University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
13 | La Mirada, California | Private | biola.edu |
| California State University |
Master's
|
13 | Los Angeles, California | Public | calstatela.edu |
| Molloy College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
13 | Rockville Centre, New York | Private | molloy.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTSA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
13 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | utsa.edu |
| Buena Vista University (BVU) |
Master's
|
12 | Storm Lake, Iowa | Private | bvu.edu |
| Asbury University |
Master's
|
12 | Wilmore, Kentucky | Private | asbury.edu |
| Missouri State University |
Postbac Cert.
|
12 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
| East Carolina University (ECU) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
12 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
| Ohio Dominican University (ODU) |
Master's
|
12 | Columbus, Ohio | Private | ohiodominican.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about English as a Second Language (ESL) Teaching programs
How much can I earn with a English as a Second Language (ESL) Teaching degree?
Salaries for English as a Second Language (ESL) Teaching graduates vary by role and location. Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earn a median of $64,580 annually, while Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earn around $62,970. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $86,858 compared to $44,150 in South Dakota. Approximately 3,681,970 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 as a Second Language (ESL) Teaching programs?
Currently 342 accredited institutions offer English as a Second Language (ESL) Teaching degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Western Governors University (WGU) (399 graduates), Brigham Young University (BYU–I), Idaho (373 graduates), and Grand Canyon University (GCU) (167 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 as a Second Language (ESL) Teaching growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 6,070 in 2010 to a peak of 5,721 in 2020, before declining slightly to 5,071 in 2023-24. This represents a 16% 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 as a Second Language (ESL) Teaching degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, and Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education. Related occupations employ approximately 3,681,970 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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