Best colleges for Teacher Education and Professional Development in Alabama
Ranked by graduate earnings
Samford University, The University of Alabama and University of Alabama at Birmingham are the top bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Alabama by graduate earnings. Samford University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,644, College Scorecard. University of West Alabama, Troy University and University of North Alabama award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Alabama: 610, 274 and 267 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 25 Alabama colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development and award 2,373 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Teacher Education and Professional Development program, specifically focusing on various levels and methods, prepares individuals for careers in education. This program is designed for those who aspire to teach or work in educational…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samford University Birmingham Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,644 | 35 | 77% | $28,160 | $24,250 |
| 2 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,025 | 193 | 73% | — | $26,875 |
| 3 | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,981 | 74 | 64% | — | $31,000 |
| 4 | Auburn University Auburn Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,878 | 162 | 82% | — | $22,250 |
| 5 | Troy University Troy Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,788 | 274 | 50% | — | $25,000 |
| 6 | University of North Alabama Florence Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,529 | 267 | 55% | — | $25,000 |
| 7 | University of Montevallo Montevallo Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,692 | 42 | 54% | — | $24,750 |
| 8 | Jacksonville State University Jacksonville Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,384 | 210 | 55% | — | $25,114 |
| 9 | University of South Alabama Mobile Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,105 | 119 | 53% | — | $26,000 |
| 10 | Auburn University at Montgomery Montgomery Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,081 | 54 | 33% | — | $30,750 |
Colleges awarding the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Alabama
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of West Alabama Livingston Public | 610 | Not reported |
| 2 | Troy University Troy Public | 274 | $42,788 |
| 3 | University of North Alabama Florence Public | 267 | $42,529 |
| 4 | Jacksonville State University Jacksonville Public | 210 | $41,384 |
| 5 | The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Public | 193 | $44,025 |
| 6 | Auburn University Auburn Public | 162 | $42,878 |
| 7 | University of South Alabama Mobile Public | 119 | $41,105 |
| 8 | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham Public | 74 | $42,981 |
| 9 | University of Alabama in Huntsville Huntsville Public | 58 | Not reported |
| 10 | Auburn University at Montgomery Montgomery Public | 54 | $41,081 |
ShowHide the other 15 Alabama colleges offering Teacher Education and Professional Development
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athens State University (Degree completion) | Athens | Public | 126 |
| University of Montevallo | Montevallo | Public | 42 |
| Samford University | Birmingham | Private not-for-profit | 35 |
| Alabama State University | Montgomery | Public | 34 |
| Bishop State Community College | Mobile | Public | 29 |
| Alabama A & M University | Normal | Public | 21 |
| University of Mobile | Mobile | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Faulkner University | Montgomery | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Miles College | Fairfield | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Stillman College | Tuscaloosa | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Oakwood University | Huntsville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Talladega College | Talladega | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education (SOC 25-2011).
Top skills
What Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education earn in Alabama
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Alabama.
Which Alabama colleges award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees?+
University of West Alabama (610 graduates a year), Troy University (274 graduates a year) and University of North Alabama (267 graduates a year) award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Alabama, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 25 Alabama colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development.
What is the best college for Teacher Education and Professional Development in Alabama?+
By graduate earnings, Samford University leads among bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Alabama, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,644, College Scorecard. The University of Alabama and University of Alabama at Birmingham follow. By degrees awarded, University of West Alabama is the largest, with 610 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Teacher Education and Professional Development program in Alabama has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Samford University tops the list at $44,644. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education earn in Alabama?+
The average annual wage for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in Alabama is $31,160 (median $28,310), across about 7,910 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Teacher Education and Professional Development program?+
The Teacher Education and Professional Development program, specifically focusing on various levels and methods, prepares individuals for careers in education. This program is designed for those who aspire to teach or work in educational…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, active listening, learning strategies, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education?+
The national job outlook is about +4.1% growth with around 65,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Associate's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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