Best colleges for Teacher Education and Professional Development in Florida
Ranked by graduate earnings
Miami Dade College, Florida SouthWestern State College and Florida Gulf Coast University are the top bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Florida by graduate earnings. Miami Dade College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $51,545, College Scorecard. University of Central Florida, Florida International University and University of South Florida award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Florida: 503, 243 and 140 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 63 Florida colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development and award 2,657 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 | Miami Dade College Miami Public · Bachelor's degree | $51,545 | 69 | 46% | — | — |
| 2 | Florida SouthWestern State College Fort Myers Public · Bachelor's degree | $51,448 | 69 | 39% | — | $12,750 |
| 3 | Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,951 | 87 | 57% | — | $19,489 |
| 4 | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Tallahassee Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,736 | 39 | 53% | — | — |
| 5 | The University of Tampa Tampa Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $50,477 | 48 | 64% | $33,070 | $26,000 |
| 6 | University of South Florida Tampa Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,442 | 140 | 77% | — | $20,995 |
| 7 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,178 | 103 | 63% | — | $17,661 |
| 8 | St Petersburg College St. Petersburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,672 | 53 | 38% | — | $19,900 |
| 9 | Indian River State College Fort Pierce Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,612 | 48 | 45% | — | — |
| 10 | College of Central Florida Ocala Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,537 | 28 | 44% | — | — |
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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rasmussen University - Florida Ocala Private for-profit · Certificate | $28,038 | 56 | 42% | $20,261 | $12,358 |
| 2 | Tallahassee State College Tallahassee Public · Associate degree | $25,628 | 40 | 38% | — | $16,722 |
| 3 | Palm Beach State College Lake Worth Public · Associate degree Small program | $28,641 | 12 | 41% | — | $6,725 |
Colleges awarding the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Florida
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 Central Florida Orlando Public | 503 | $46,646 |
| 2 | Florida International University Miami Public | 243 | $44,522 |
| 3 | University of South Florida Tampa Public | 140 | $50,442 |
| 4 | University of North Florida Jacksonville Public | 121 | $47,210 |
| 5 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton Public | 103 | $50,178 |
| 6 | Florida Gulf Coast University Fort Myers Public | 87 | $50,951 |
| 7 | Florida State University Tallahassee Public | 74 | $45,696 |
| 8 | University of Florida Gainesville Public | 70 | $46,209 |
| 9 | Florida SouthWestern State College Fort Myers Public | 69 | $51,448 |
| 10 | Miami Dade College Miami Public | 69 | $51,545 |
ShowHide the other 53 Florida colleges offering Teacher Education and Professional Development
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota | Bradenton | Public | 67 |
| PENSACOLA CHRISTIAN COLLEGE | Pensacola | Private not-for-profit | 62 |
| Saint Leo University | Saint Leo | Private not-for-profit | 61 |
| Rasmussen University - Florida | Ocala | Private for-profit | 56 |
| St Petersburg College | St. Petersburg | Public | 53 |
| Indian River State College | Fort Pierce | Public | 48 |
| The University of Tampa | Tampa | Private not-for-profit | 48 |
| Daytona State College | Daytona Beach | Public | 45 |
| Northwest Florida State College | Niceville | Public | 45 |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale | Private not-for-profit | 44 |
| Florida Gateway College | Lake City | Public | 43 |
| Florida State College at Jacksonville | Jacksonville | Public | 41 |
| Polk State College | Winter Haven | Public | 40 |
| Tallahassee State College | Tallahassee | Public | 40 |
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | Tallahassee | Public | 39 |
| Southeastern University | Lakeland | Private not-for-profit | 32 |
| College of Central Florida | Ocala | Public | 28 |
| Rollins College | Winter Park | Private not-for-profit | 27 |
| Saint Johns River State College | Palatka | Public | 26 |
| University of Miami | Coral Gables | Private not-for-profit | 23 |
| Seminole State College of Florida | Sanford | Public | 22 |
| Broward College | Fort Lauderdale | Public | 21 |
| University of West Florida | Pensacola | Public | 21 |
| Flagler College | Saint Augustine | Private not-for-profit | 18 |
| St. Thomas University | Miami Gardens | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Lynn University | Boca Raton | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| Pensacola State College | Pensacola | Public | 16 |
| Doral College (Online) | Doral | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| William T McFatter Technical College | Davie | Public | 15 |
| Warner University | Lake Wales | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Chipola College | Marianna | Public | 13 |
| Hillsborough College | Tampa | Public | 12 |
| Palm Beach State College | Lake Worth | Public | 12 |
| Florida Southern College | Lakeland | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| South Florida State College | Avon Park | Public | 11 |
| Stetson University | DeLand | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Eastern Florida State College | Melbourne | Public | 8 |
| Santa Fe College | Gainesville | Public | 8 |
| Jose Maria Vargas University | Pembroke Pines | Private for-profit | 7 |
| Palm Beach Atlantic University | West Palm Beach | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Ana G. Mendez University | Orlando | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Ave Maria University | Ave Maria | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Baptist University of Florida | Graceville | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Trinity College of Jacksonville | Jacksonville | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Florida College | Temple Terrace | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Florida Memorial University | Miami Gardens | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Barry University | Miami | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Bethune-Cookman University | Daytona Beach | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Florida Institute of Technology | Melbourne | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Webber International University | Babson Park | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Albizu University - Miami | Miami | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Gulf Coast State College | Panama City | Public | 1 |
| Hobe Sound Bible College | Hobe Sound | 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 Florida
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Florida.
Which Florida colleges award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees?+
University of Central Florida (503 graduates a year), Florida International University (243 graduates a year) and University of South Florida (140 graduates a year) award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Florida, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 63 Florida colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development.
What is the best college for Teacher Education and Professional Development in Florida?+
By graduate earnings, Miami Dade College leads among bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Florida, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $51,545, College Scorecard. Florida SouthWestern State College and Florida Gulf Coast University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Central Florida is the largest, with 503 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Teacher Education and Professional Development program in Florida has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Miami Dade College tops the list at $51,545. 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 Florida?+
The average annual wage for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in Florida is $37,040 (median $35,860), across about 35,740 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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