Best colleges for Teacher Education and Professional Development in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona, California State University - Fullerton and California State University - Fresno are the top bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in California by graduate earnings. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,884, College Scorecard. University of Southern California, California State University - Fresno and Fresno Pacific University award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in California: 174, 110 and 95 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 40 California colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development and award 960 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Teacher Education and Professional Development program, specifically focused on subject areas, prepares individuals for careers in education by providing essential training and knowledge in various teaching disciplines. This program is…
Top 5 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 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,884 | 51 | 68% | — | $21,250 |
| 2 | California State University - Fullerton Fullerton Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,493 | 33 | 70% | — | $15,000 |
| 3 | California State University - Fresno Fresno Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,211 | 110 | 57% | — | $15,000 |
| 4 | University of California-Irvine Irvine Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $56,003 | 7 | 87% | — | — |
| 5 | California State University - Chico Chico Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $24,427 | 17 | 63% | — | $21,429 |
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 | University of Southern California Los Angeles Private not-for-profit | 174 | Not reported |
| 2 | California State University - Fresno Fresno Public | 110 | $27,211 |
| 3 | Fresno Pacific University Fresno Private not-for-profit | 95 | Not reported |
| 4 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach Public | 62 | Not reported |
| 5 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona Pomona Public | 51 | $40,884 |
| 6 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public | 39 | Not reported |
| 7 | California State University - Fullerton Fullerton Public | 33 | $33,493 |
| 8 | Azusa Pacific University Azusa Private not-for-profit | 28 | Not reported |
| 9 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento Public | 25 | Not reported |
| 10 | California State University - San Bernardino San Bernardino Public | 19 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 30 California colleges offering Teacher Education and Professional Development
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (SOC 25-2021).
Top skills
What Elementary School 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?+
University of Southern California (174 graduates a year), California State University - Fresno (110 graduates a year) and Fresno Pacific University (95 graduates a year) award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 40 California colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development.
What is the best college for Teacher Education and Professional Development in California?+
By graduate earnings, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona leads among bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in California, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,884, College Scorecard. California State University - Fullerton and California State University - Fresno follow. By degrees awarded, University of Southern California is the largest, with 174 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, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona tops the list at $40,884. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in California is $95,670 (median $99,650), across about 155,160 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 focused on subject areas, prepares individuals for careers in education by providing essential training and knowledge in various teaching disciplines. This program is…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop learning strategies, speaking, critical thinking, active listening, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?+
The national job outlook is about -2.0% growth with around 91,000 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor'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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