Education Degree
Students study learning theory, instructional methods, classroom management, curriculum design, and the social foundations of education. Graduates typically pursue careers as K-12 teachers, instructional coordinators, corporate trainers, and education administrators. Teaching offers strong job stability and the fulfillment of shaping the next generation, with salaries varying significantly by state and district.
What Education Graduates Do
Your career will center on designing learning experiences and mentoring students. As a postsecondary teacher, your days are a mix of preparing and delivering lectures, guiding student research, and holding office hours for one-on-one support. Outside the classroom, you’ll be grading papers, developing new curricula, and collaborating with colleagues on departmental goals. An early career often begins with lecturer or adjunct roles, which build the experience needed to pursue a tenure-track professorship. With seniority, you can advance to become a department head or academic dean, shifting your focus from teaching to institutional leadership.
AI is poised to become a powerful co-pilot in education, not a replacement for educators. With moderate exposure, expect technology to automate significant chunks of routine work, like grading simple assignments or generating first drafts of lesson plans. This change will free you to concentrate on the irreplaceable human elements of your job: mentoring, fostering critical thinking, and adapting your approach to each student’s needs. Your success will depend on your ability to leverage these new tools to enhance, not diminish, the learning experience.
Common Career Paths
Where Education graduates typically work, ranked by salary. Salary ranges show 25th–75th percentile spread. This field has roughly 5,600 combined openings per year.
| Career Path | Salary Range | Openings/yr | Growth | AI Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education teachers, postsecondary | 5,600 | +2.1% | 49% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. Salary range shows 25th–median–75th percentile (national).
Best Schools for Education
Top 20 of 66 schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any row for full AI scenario analysis and earnings projections.
| # | School | DW Score | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Hawaii-West Oahu Kapolei, HI |
57 56–58 |
$52,079/yr | 18.1x |
| 2 | Bellevue University Bellevue, NE |
56 54–57 |
$68,730/yr | 18.3x |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin-Platteville Platteville, WI |
51 50–52 |
$50,540/yr | 14.1x |
| 4 | University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HI |
50 49–51 |
$60,288/yr | 11.4x |
| 5 | The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, TX |
49 48–51 |
$57,410/yr | 11.2x |
| 6 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL |
45 50–46 |
$38,928/yr | 24.2x |
| 7 | Empire State University Saratoga Springs, NY |
44 49–45 |
$39,046/yr | 16.5x |
| 8 | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI |
43 44–44 |
$43,867/yr | 10.9x |
| 9 | Goddard College Plainfield, VT |
42 41–43 |
$56,397/yr | 5.0x |
| 10 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN |
42 41–43 |
$48,339/yr | 6.3x |
| 11 | University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Green Bay, WI |
42 44–44 |
$42,768/yr | 12.5x |
| 12 | Western Governors University Salt Lake City, UT |
42 45–43 |
$41,421/yr | 13.2x |
| 13 | Monmouth University West Long Branch, NJ |
41 39–42 |
$55,579/yr | 2.4x |
| 14 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI |
41 41–42 |
$44,705/yr | 7.1x |
| 15 | Western Oregon University Monmouth, OR |
41 41–42 |
$43,879/yr | 8.9x |
| 16 | Fairmont State University Fairmont, WV |
41 44–42 |
$40,931/yr | 12.6x |
| 17 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA |
40 41–41 |
$44,201/yr | 7.7x |
| 18 | University of Washington-Bothell Campus Bothell, WA |
40 41–41 |
$44,201/yr | 7.8x |
| 19 | University of Washington-Tacoma Campus Tacoma, WA |
40 40–41 |
$44,201/yr | 7.6x |
| 20 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver, CO |
40 42–41 |
$42,320/yr | 9.6x |
Highest Earning Education Programs
Schools where Education graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | DW Score |
|---|---|---|
| Bellevue University | $68,730/yr | 56 |
| University of Hawaii at Manoa | $60,288/yr | 50 |
| The University of Texas at Arlington | $57,410/yr | 49 |
| Goddard College | $56,397/yr | 42 |
| Monmouth University | $55,579/yr | 41 |
| University of Hawaii-West Oahu | $52,079/yr | 57 |
| Southwestern University | $50,984/yr | 38 |
| University of Wisconsin-Platteville | $50,540/yr | 51 |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | $48,339/yr | 42 |
| Southwestern Assemblies of God University | $47,921/yr | 39 |
Best ROI for Education
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Education.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | DW Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Atlantic University | 24.2x | $38,928/yr | 45 |
| Bellevue University | 18.3x | $68,730/yr | 56 |
| University of Hawaii-West Oahu | 18.1x | $52,079/yr | 57 |
| Empire State University | 16.5x | $39,046/yr | 44 |
| Florida Gulf Coast University | 14.7x | $38,392/yr | 37 |
| University of Wisconsin-Platteville | 14.1x | $50,540/yr | 51 |
| SUNY Brockport | 14.1x | $35,267/yr | 37 |
| Harris-Stowe State University | 14.0x | $28,500/yr | 26 |
| Western Governors University | 13.2x | $41,421/yr | 42 |
| Fairmont State University | 12.6x | $40,931/yr | 41 |
Related Majors
Explore similar fields of study.
Consider the Trade Route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Education offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.