Arkansas · Teacher Education and Professional Development

Best colleges for Teacher Education and Professional Development in Arkansas

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of Arkansas, Harding University and University of Arkansas-Fort Smith are the top bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Arkansas by graduate earnings. University of Arkansas leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $47,428, College Scorecard. University of Arkansas at Monticello, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus and Arkansas State University award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Arkansas: 201, 198 and 193 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 40 Arkansas colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development and award 2,253 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…

Institutions
40
offering CIP 13.12
States & territories
57
with a program page
Degrees / yr
2,253
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$39,795
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
13
College Scorecard
Median net price
$19,423
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
47%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
$38,180
BLS OEWS May 2025

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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of Arkansas
Fayetteville Public · Bachelor's degree
$47,42817371%—$26,141
2Harding University
Searcy Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$42,25115469%$19,423$27,639
3University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
Fort Smith Public · Bachelor's degree
$40,56512938%—$20,304
4University of Central Arkansas
Conway Public · Bachelor's degree
$39,79514954%—$25,250
5University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Little Rock Public · Bachelor's degree
$38,9365042%—$22,500
6Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
Magnolia Public · Bachelor's degree
$37,59019849%—$16,316
7Arkansas Tech University
Russellville Public · Bachelor's degree
$37,2445649%—$24,351
8Arkansas State University
Jonesboro Public · Bachelor's degree
$36,84719355%—$21,424
9Henderson State University
Arkadelphia Public · Bachelor's degree
$36,5117137%—$27,000
10John Brown University
Siloam Springs Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$42,4961772%$20,325—

Top 2 certificate and associate programs

Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Arkansas Northeastern College
Blytheville Public · Associate degree
$23,5755449%——
2Arkansas State University - Beebe
Beebe Public · Associate degree
$18,02517342%—$7,000

Colleges awarding the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Arkansas

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.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1University of Arkansas at Monticello
Monticello Public
201Not reported
2Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
Magnolia Public
198$37,590
3Arkansas State University
Jonesboro Public
193$36,847
4University of Arkansas
Fayetteville Public
173$47,428
5Harding University
Searcy Private not-for-profit
154$42,251
6University of Central Arkansas
Conway Public
149$39,795
7University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
Fort Smith Public
129$40,565
8Henderson State University
Arkadelphia Public
71$36,511
9University of Arkansas Community College - Batesville
Batesville Public
64Not reported
10Arkansas State University - Newport
Newport Public
59Not reported
Show the other 30 Arkansas colleges offering Teacher Education and Professional Development
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Arkansas State University - BeebeBeebePublic173
Arkansas Tech UniversityRussellvillePublic56
Arkansas Northeastern CollegeBlythevillePublic54
Arkansas State University - Mountain HomeMountain HomePublic53
University of Arkansas at Little RockLittle RockPublic50
NorthWest Arkansas Community CollegeBentonvillePublic49
Cossatot Community College of the University of ArkansasDe QueenPublic42
University of Arkansas-East Arkansas Community CollegeForrest CityPublic38
Southeast Arkansas CollegePine BluffPublic38
South Arkansas CollegeEl DoradoPublic36
Black River Technical CollegePocahontasPublic27
University of Arkansas Community College - MorriltonMorriltonPublic22
University of Arkansas Community College Rich MountainMenaPublic20
Ouachita Baptist UniversityArkadelphiaPrivate not-for-profit19
North Arkansas CollegeHarrisonPublic18
Ozarka CollegeMelbournePublic18
John Brown UniversitySiloam SpringsPrivate not-for-profit17
University of Arkansas at Pine BluffPine BluffPublic15
University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical CollegeNorth Little RockPublic15
Williams Baptist UniversityWalnut RidgePrivate not-for-profit15
Arkansas State University Mid-SouthWest MemphisPublic14
National Park CollegeHot SpringsPublic12
Southern Arkansas University TechCamdenPublic12
Arkansas State University Three RiversMalvernPublic11
University of the OzarksClarksvillePrivate not-for-profit11
Phillips Community College of the University of ArkansasHelenaPublic8
University of Arkansas Hope-TexarkanaHopePublic7
Central Baptist CollegeConwayPrivate not-for-profit5
Lyon CollegeBatesvillePrivate not-for-profit4
Philander Smith UniversityLittle RockPrivate not-for-profit3

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education (SOC 25-2011).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+4.1%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr (US)
~65,500
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$37,120
typically Associate's degree

Top skills

SpeakingActive ListeningLearning StrategiesReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingMonitoring

What Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education earn in Arkansas

Jobs in Arkansas
3,270
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$38,180
median $34,190
Best-paying metro
$41,110
Fort Smith, AR-OK

Related careers

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
$56,210 avg · 12,590 jobs
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
$58,830 avg · 6,140 jobs
Training and Development Specialists
$58,270 avg · 3,880 jobs
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
$38,180 avg · 3,270 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Arkansas.

Which Arkansas colleges award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees?+

University of Arkansas at Monticello (201 graduates a year), Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (198 graduates a year) and Arkansas State University (193 graduates a year) award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Arkansas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 40 Arkansas colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development.

What is the best college for Teacher Education and Professional Development in Arkansas?+

By graduate earnings, University of Arkansas leads among bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Arkansas, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $47,428, College Scorecard. Harding University and University of Arkansas-Fort Smith follow. By degrees awarded, University of Arkansas at Monticello is the largest, with 201 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Teacher Education and Professional Development program in Arkansas has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Arkansas tops the list at $47,428. 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 Arkansas?+

The average annual wage for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in Arkansas is $38,180 (median $34,190), across about 3,270 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).

Teacher Education and Professional Development in other statesDistrict of ColumbiaNew JerseyAlaskaMarylandHawaiiUtahNevadaDelaware

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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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