Colorado · Teacher Education and Professional Development

Best colleges for Teacher Education and Professional Development in Colorado

Ranked by graduate earnings

Metropolitan State University of Denver, University of Northern Colorado and Colorado Christian University are the top bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Colorado by graduate earnings. Metropolitan State University of Denver leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,681, College Scorecard. University of Northern Colorado, University of Colorado Colorado Springs and Red Rocks Community College award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Colorado: 128, 108 and 105 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 30 Colorado colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development and award 2,066 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
30
offering CIP 13.12
States & territories
57
with a program page
Degrees / yr
2,066
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$40,198
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
7
College Scorecard
Median net price
$23,447
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
46%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
$53,270
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 4 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
1Metropolitan State University of Denver
Denver Public · Bachelor's degree
$40,6816932%—$27,551
2University of Northern Colorado
Greeley Public · Bachelor's degree
$40,61412851%—$25,906
3Colorado Christian University
Lakewood Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$40,4483064%$23,447$27,000
4University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs Public · Bachelor's degree
$40,19810847%—$25,040

Top 3 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
1Front Range Community College
Westminster Public · Certificate
$29,74934335%—$16,150
2Pueblo Community College
Pueblo Public · Certificate
$24,96013331%—$10,750
3Community College of Denver
Denver Public · Certificate
$18,39927220%—$14,375

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

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 Northern Colorado
Greeley Public
128$40,614
2University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs Public
108$40,198
3Red Rocks Community College
Lakewood Public
105Not reported
4University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver Public
84Not reported
5University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder Public
74Not reported
6Community College of Aurora
Aurora Public
72Not reported
7Adams State University
Alamosa Public
71Not reported
8Metropolitan State University of Denver
Denver Public
69$40,681
9Aims Community College
Greeley Public
65Not reported
10Montessori Education Center of the Rockies
Denver Private not-for-profit
39Not reported
Show the other 20 Colorado colleges offering Teacher Education and Professional Development
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Front Range Community CollegeWestminsterPublic343
Community College of DenverDenverPublic272
Pueblo Community CollegePuebloPublic133
Pikes Peak State CollegeColorado SpringsPublic100
Colorado Mountain CollegeGlenwood SpringsPublic87
Arapahoe Community CollegeLittletonPublic76
Colorado State University - Fort CollinsFort CollinsPublic31
Trinidad State CollegeTrinidadPublic31
Colorado Christian UniversityLakewoodPrivate not-for-profit30
Colorado CollegeColorado SpringsPrivate not-for-profit25
Northeastern Junior CollegeSterlingPublic25
Regis UniversityDenverPrivate not-for-profit24
Colorado Mesa UniversityGrand JunctionPublic18
Morgan Community CollegeFort MorganPublic14
Colorado Northwestern Community CollegeRangelyPublic12
Fort Lewis CollegeDurangoPublic12
Western Colorado UniversityGunnisonPublic7
Lamar Community CollegeLamarPublic5
Colorado State University PuebloPuebloPublic5
Naropa UniversityBoulderPrivate not-for-profit1

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 Colorado

Jobs in Colorado
5,210
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$53,270
median $45,500
Best-paying metro
$57,250
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO

Related careers

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
$70,110 avg · 24,860 jobs
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
$70,440 avg · 13,280 jobs
Training and Development Specialists
$77,650 avg · 12,100 jobs
Self-Enrichment Teachers
$49,430 avg · 9,700 jobs
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
$53,270 avg · 5,210 jobs

Common questions

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

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

University of Northern Colorado (128 graduates a year), University of Colorado Colorado Springs (108 graduates a year) and Red Rocks Community College (105 graduates a year) award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Colorado, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 30 Colorado colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development.

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

By graduate earnings, Metropolitan State University of Denver leads among bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Colorado, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,681, College Scorecard. University of Northern Colorado and Colorado Christian University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Northern Colorado is the largest, with 128 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Metropolitan State University of Denver tops the list at $40,681. 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 Colorado?+

The average annual wage for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in Colorado is $53,270 (median $45,500), across about 5,210 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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