Kentucky · Teacher Education and Professional Development

Best colleges for Teacher Education and Professional Development in Kentucky

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of Louisville, Western Kentucky University and Eastern Kentucky 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 $56,188, College Scorecard. University of Louisville, University of Kentucky and University of the Cumberlands award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Kentucky: 406, 249 and 148 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 21 Kentucky colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development and award 1,197 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…

Institutions
21
offering CIP 13.13
States & territories
53
with a program page
Degrees / yr
1,197
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$35,282
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
6
College Scorecard
Median net price
$18,384
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
51%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
$59,870
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 6 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
$56,18840661%—$22,250
2Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green Public · Bachelor's degree
$36,8306256%—$30,375
3Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree
$35,7406050%—$19,750
4University of Kentucky
Lexington Public · Bachelor's degree
$35,28224971%—$24,002
5Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights Public · Bachelor's degree
$33,6732052%—$29,000
6Morehead State University
Morehead Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$35,1501952%—$29,225

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 Louisville
Louisville Public
406$56,188
2University of Kentucky
Lexington Public
249$35,282
3University of the Cumberlands
Williamsburg Private not-for-profit
148Not reported
4Murray State University
Murray Public
99Not reported
5Campbellsville University
Campbellsville Private not-for-profit
90Not reported
6Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green Public
62$36,830
7Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond Public
60$35,740
8Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights Public
20$33,673
9Morehead State University
Morehead Public
19$35,150
10Lindsey Wilson University
Columbia Private not-for-profit
13Not reported
Show the other 11 Kentucky colleges offering Teacher Education and Professional Development
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Berea CollegeBereaPrivate not-for-profit6
Asbury UniversityWilmorePrivate not-for-profit4
Midway UniversityMidwayPrivate not-for-profit4
University of PikevillePikevillePrivate not-for-profit4
Brescia UniversityOwensboroPrivate not-for-profit3
Spalding UniversityLouisvillePrivate not-for-profit3
Georgetown CollegeGeorgetownPrivate not-for-profit2
Summit Salon Academy - LexingtonLexingtonPrivate for-profit2
Alice Lloyd CollegePippa PassesPrivate not-for-profit1
Kentucky Wesleyan CollegeOwensboroPrivate not-for-profit1
Union Commonwealth UniversityBarbourvillePrivate not-for-profit1

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (SOC 25-2021).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
-2.0%
Decline
Openings / yr (US)
~91,000
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$62,340
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

Learning StrategiesSpeakingCritical ThinkingActive ListeningMonitoringReading Comprehension

What Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education earn in Kentucky

Jobs in Kentucky
19,080
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$59,870
median $60,610
Best-paying metro
$67,030
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN

Related careers

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
$59,870 avg · 19,080 jobs
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
$60,150 avg · 8,040 jobs
Coaches and Scouts
$55,030 avg · 2,800 jobs
Teachers and Instructors, All Other
$59,060 avg · 2,650 jobs
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors
$46,580 avg · 1,990 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 Louisville (406 graduates a year), University of Kentucky (249 graduates a year) and University of the Cumberlands (148 graduates a year) award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Kentucky, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 21 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 $56,188, College Scorecard. Western Kentucky University and Eastern Kentucky University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Louisville is the largest, with 406 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 $56,188. 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 Kentucky?+

The average annual wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in Kentucky is $59,870 (median $60,610), across about 19,080 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).

Teacher Education and Professional Development in other statesNew JerseyTexasNevadaWyomingWashingtonDelawareFloridaUtah

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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