Best colleges for Teacher Education and Professional Development in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
Point Loma Nazarene University, William Jessup University and Pacific Oaks College are the top bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in California by graduate earnings. Point Loma Nazarene University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $46,986, College Scorecard. California State University - Fullerton, San Diego State University and California State University - Northridge award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in California: 578, 450 and 424 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 62 California colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development and award 7,441 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 | Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,986 | 47 | 77% | $48,795 | $25,000 |
| 2 | William Jessup University Rocklin Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,985 | 32 | 56% | $24,242 | $20,718 |
| 3 | Pacific Oaks College Pasadena Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,320 | 135 | — | — | $35,500 |
| 4 | National University San Diego Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,080 | 187 | 43% | $31,817 | $33,989 |
| 5 | San Francisco State University San Francisco Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,237 | 177 | 50% | — | $12,692 |
| 6 | Fresno Pacific University Fresno Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,727 | 166 | 50% | $14,298 | $25,000 |
| 7 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,366 | 320 | 53% | — | $12,331 |
| 8 | California State University - Stanislaus Turlock Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,232 | 105 | 53% | — | $13,805 |
| 9 | California State University - Dominguez Hills Carson Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,840 | 216 | 43% | — | $12,000 |
| 10 | California Baptist University Riverside Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $29,717 | 123 | 62% | $26,940 | $31,250 |
Colleges awarding the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in California
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 | California State University - Fullerton Fullerton Public | 578 | $28,933 |
| 2 | San Diego State University San Diego Public | 450 | $28,793 |
| 3 | California State University - Northridge Northridge Public | 424 | Not reported |
| 4 | San Jose State University San Jose Public | 410 | Not reported |
| 5 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento Public | 384 | Not reported |
| 6 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles Public | 320 | $31,366 |
| 7 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public | 233 | Not reported |
| 8 | California State University - Dominguez Hills Carson Public | 216 | $29,840 |
| 9 | National University San Diego Private not-for-profit | 187 | $40,080 |
| 10 | San Francisco State University San Francisco Public | 177 | $38,237 |
ShowHide the other 52 California colleges offering Teacher Education and Professional Development
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of the People (Online) | Pasadena | Private not-for-profit | 744 |
| Alder Graduate School of Education (Graduate only) | Redwood City | Private not-for-profit | 394 |
| University of Massachusetts Global (Online) | Aliso Viejo | Public | 340 |
| Alliant International University - San Diego (Online) | San Diego | Private for-profit | 299 |
| University of Redlands | Redlands | Private not-for-profit | 169 |
| Fresno Pacific University | Fresno | Private not-for-profit | 166 |
| Pacific Oaks College | Pasadena | Private not-for-profit | 135 |
| California State University - Bakersfield | Bakersfield | Public | 124 |
| California Baptist University | Riverside | Private not-for-profit | 123 |
| American Jewish University (Online) | Los Angeles | Private not-for-profit | 119 |
| University of La Verne | La Verne | Private not-for-profit | 112 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa | Private not-for-profit | 107 |
| California State University - Stanislaus | Turlock | Public | 105 |
| California State University - San Marcos | San Marcos | Public | 102 |
| Santa Clara University | Santa Clara | Private not-for-profit | 91 |
| Reach University (Online) | Oakland | Private not-for-profit | 74 |
| California State University - Chico | Chico | Public | 68 |
| California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo | Public | 66 |
| United States University (Online) | Sandy Springs | Private for-profit | 60 |
| Humphreys University (Online) | Stockton | Private not-for-profit | 48 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego | Private not-for-profit | 47 |
| Pepperdine University | Malibu | Private not-for-profit | 46 |
| Claremont Graduate University (Graduate only) | Claremont | Private not-for-profit | 45 |
| California State University - San Bernardino | San Bernardino | Public | 42 |
| EDvance College (Online) | San Francisco | Private not-for-profit | 41 |
| University of California-Berkeley | Berkeley | Public | 40 |
| Los Angeles Pacific University (Online) | San Dimas | Private not-for-profit | 37 |
| William Jessup University | Rocklin | Private not-for-profit | 32 |
| Vanguard University of Southern California | Costa Mesa | Private not-for-profit | 32 |
| Biola University | La Mirada | Private not-for-profit | 30 |
| California State University - Fresno | Fresno | Public | 30 |
| Chapman University | Orange | Private not-for-profit | 30 |
| Concordia University - Irvine | Irvine | Private not-for-profit | 23 |
| California State University - East Bay | Hayward | Public | 18 |
| Saint Mary's College of California | Moraga | Private not-for-profit | 18 |
| University of California-Davis | Davis | Public | 16 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| Westmont College | Santa Barbara | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Sonoma State University | Rohnert Park | Public | 8 |
| Bethesda University | Anaheim | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| San Diego Christian College | Santee | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| The Master's University and Seminary | Santa Clarita | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Pacific Union College | Angwin | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| The Chicago School at Los Angeles (Online) | Los Angeles | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Whittier College | Whittier | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| La Sierra University | Riverside | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Mount Saint Mary's University | Los Angeles | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Loma Linda University | Loma Linda | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Skyline College | San Bruno | Public | 2 |
| Northcentral University (Online) | San Diego | 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 California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees?+
California State University - Fullerton (578 graduates a year), San Diego State University (450 graduates a year) and California State University - Northridge (424 graduates a year) award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 62 California colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development.
What is the best college for Teacher Education and Professional Development in California?+
By graduate earnings, Point Loma Nazarene University leads among bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $46,986, College Scorecard. William Jessup University and Pacific Oaks College follow. By degrees awarded, California State University - Fullerton is the largest, with 578 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Teacher Education and Professional Development program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Point Loma Nazarene University tops the list at $46,986. 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 California?+
The average annual wage for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in California is $51,190 (median $47,400), across about 55,700 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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