Best colleges for Teacher Education and Professional Development in Iowa
Ranked by graduate earnings
Iowa State University, Wartburg College and Morningside University are the top bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Iowa by graduate earnings. Iowa State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $47,559, College Scorecard. University of Northern Iowa, Western Iowa Tech Community College and North Iowa Area Community College award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Iowa: 163, 90 and 73 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 24 Iowa colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development and award 665 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 8 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 | Iowa State University Ames Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,559 | 41 | 75% | — | $19,000 |
| 2 | Wartburg College Waverly Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,677 | 29 | 64% | $20,228 | $27,000 |
| 3 | Morningside University Sioux City Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,552 | 48 | 50% | $22,816 | $28,000 |
| 4 | University of Iowa Iowa City Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,715 | 45 | 75% | — | $25,000 |
| 5 | Buena Vista University Storm Lake Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,551 | 24 | 62% | $17,609 | $29,008 |
| 6 | Upper Iowa University Fayette Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,739 | 30 | 34% | $22,697 | $27,000 |
| 7 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,602 | 163 | 68% | — | $26,000 |
| 8 | Simpson College Indianola Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $44,872 | 10 | 63% | $20,710 | $27,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Iowa
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 Northern Iowa Cedar Falls Public | 163 | $43,602 |
| 2 | Western Iowa Tech Community College Sioux City Public | 90 | Not reported |
| 3 | North Iowa Area Community College Mason City Public | 73 | Not reported |
| 4 | Morningside University Sioux City Private not-for-profit | 48 | $45,552 |
| 5 | University of Iowa Iowa City Public | 45 | $44,715 |
| 6 | Northwestern College Orange City Private not-for-profit | 44 | Not reported |
| 7 | Iowa State University Ames Public | 41 | $47,559 |
| 8 | Upper Iowa University Fayette Private not-for-profit | 30 | $43,739 |
| 9 | Wartburg College Waverly Private not-for-profit | 29 | $45,677 |
| 10 | Buena Vista University Storm Lake Private not-for-profit | 24 | $44,551 |
ShowHide the other 14 Iowa colleges offering Teacher Education and Professional Development
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Ambrose University | Davenport | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| William Penn University | Oskaloosa | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| University of Dubuque | Dubuque | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Drake University | Des Moines | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Simpson College | Indianola | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary | Ankeny | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| Graceland University - Lamoni | Lamoni | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Grand View University | Des Moines | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Mount Mercy University | Cedar Rapids | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Central College | Pella | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Clarke University | Dubuque | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Cornell College | Mount Vernon | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Emmaus Bible College | Dubuque | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Eastern Iowa Community College District | Davenport | Public | 1 |
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 Iowa
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Iowa.
Which Iowa colleges award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees?+
University of Northern Iowa (163 graduates a year), Western Iowa Tech Community College (90 graduates a year) and North Iowa Area Community College (73 graduates a year) award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Iowa, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 24 Iowa colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development.
What is the best college for Teacher Education and Professional Development in Iowa?+
By graduate earnings, Iowa State University leads among bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Iowa, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $47,559, College Scorecard. Wartburg College and Morningside University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Northern Iowa is the largest, with 163 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Teacher Education and Professional Development program in Iowa has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Iowa State University tops the list at $47,559. 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 Iowa?+
The average annual wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in Iowa is $59,110 (median $60,580), across about 17,300 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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