Kentucky · Teacher Education and Professional Development

Best colleges for Teacher Education and Professional Development in Kentucky

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of Louisville, University of Kentucky and Thomas More University are the top bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Kentucky by graduate earnings. University of Louisville leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,672, College Scorecard. University of the Cumberlands, Western Kentucky University and University of Kentucky award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Kentucky: 635, 245 and 146 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 26 Kentucky colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development and award 1,991 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
26
offering CIP 13.12
States & territories
57
with a program page
Degrees / yr
1,991
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$38,469
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
15
College Scorecard
Median net price
$18,902
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
50%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
$35,400
BLS OEWS May 2025

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.

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
1University of Louisville
Louisville Public · Bachelor's degree
$41,67212161%—$23,584
2University of Kentucky
Lexington Public · Bachelor's degree
$41,31214671%—$23,250
3Thomas More University
Crestview Hills Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$40,4393040%$18,902$27,000
4Asbury University
Wilmore Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$39,2152465%$19,816$28,000
5Bellarmine University
Louisville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$38,4695564%$22,542$27,000
6Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights Public · Bachelor's degree
$38,05912952%—$27,000
7Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree
$37,36611750%—$26,725
8Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green Public · Bachelor's degree
$37,28824556%—$25,000
9Murray State University
Murray Public · Bachelor's degree
$36,87113561%—$22,324
10Campbellsville University
Campbellsville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$36,4699942%$18,824$23,125

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

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 the Cumberlands
Williamsburg Private not-for-profit
635$35,470
2Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green Public
245$37,288
3University of Kentucky
Lexington Public
146$41,312
4Murray State University
Murray Public
135$36,871
5Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights Public
129$38,059
6University of Louisville
Louisville Public
121$41,672
7Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond Public
117$37,366
8Campbellsville University
Campbellsville Private not-for-profit
99$36,469
9Morehead State University
Morehead Public
96$36,198
10Bellarmine University
Louisville Private not-for-profit
55$38,469
Show the other 16 Kentucky colleges offering Teacher Education and Professional Development
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Thomas More UniversityCrestview HillsPrivate not-for-profit30
Georgetown CollegeGeorgetownPrivate not-for-profit25
Asbury UniversityWilmorePrivate not-for-profit24
Lindsey Wilson UniversityColumbiaPrivate not-for-profit21
Spalding UniversityLouisvillePrivate not-for-profit16
University of PikevillePikevillePrivate not-for-profit14
Midway UniversityMidwayPrivate not-for-profit13
Kentucky Wesleyan CollegeOwensboroPrivate not-for-profit10
Transylvania UniversityLexingtonPrivate not-for-profit10
Union Commonwealth UniversityBarbourvillePrivate not-for-profit10
Berea CollegeBereaPrivate not-for-profit9
The Southern Baptist Theological SeminaryLouisvillePrivate not-for-profit9
Brescia UniversityOwensboroPrivate not-for-profit8
Kentucky Christian UniversityGraysonPrivate not-for-profit6
Alice Lloyd CollegePippa PassesPrivate not-for-profit4
Kentucky State UniversityFrankfortPublic4

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 Kentucky

Jobs in Kentucky
8,520
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$35,400
median $29,780
Best-paying metro
$36,780
Elizabethtown, KY

Related careers

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
$59,870 avg · 19,080 jobs
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
$35,400 avg · 8,520 jobs
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
$60,150 avg · 8,040 jobs
Training and Development Specialists
$66,370 avg · 6,090 jobs

Common questions

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

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

University of the Cumberlands (635 graduates a year), Western Kentucky University (245 graduates a year) and University of Kentucky (146 graduates a year) award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Kentucky, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 26 Kentucky colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development.

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

By graduate earnings, University of Louisville leads among bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Kentucky, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $41,672, College Scorecard. University of Kentucky and Thomas More University follow. By degrees awarded, University of the Cumberlands is the largest, with 635 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Louisville tops the list at $41,672. 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 Kentucky?+

The average annual wage for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in Kentucky is $35,400 (median $29,780), across about 8,520 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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