Michigan · Teacher Education and Professional Development

Best colleges for Teacher Education and Professional Development in Michigan

Ranked by graduate earnings

Wayne State University, Alma College and Cornerstone University are the top bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Michigan by graduate earnings. Wayne State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $47,939, College Scorecard. Oakland University, Central Michigan University and Wayne State University award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Michigan: 184, 170 and 147 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 42 Michigan colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development and award 1,723 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
42
offering CIP 13.12
States & territories
57
with a program page
Degrees / yr
1,723
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$45,522
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
18
College Scorecard
Median net price
$19,806
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
48%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
$39,730
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
1Wayne State University
Detroit Public · Bachelor's degree
$47,93914758%—$31,000
2Alma College
Alma Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$45,9832863%$22,790$29,062
3Cornerstone University
Grand Rapids Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$45,7532562%$21,132$27,000
4Calvin University
Grand Rapids Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$45,7516774%$22,391$19,500
5University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor Public · Bachelor's degree
$45,5224893%—$16,335
6Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant Public · Bachelor's degree
$45,22517059%—$29,000
7Hope College
Holland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$45,0463280%$21,746$27,000
8Saginaw Valley State University
University Center Public · Bachelor's degree
$43,15111148%—$31,000
9Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti Public · Bachelor's degree
$42,79110746%—$28,676
10Ferris State University
Big Rapids Public · Bachelor's degree
$42,6085147%—$30,500

Top certificate or associate program

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
1Henry Ford College
Dearborn Public · Associate degree
$17,4813917%—$17,365

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

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)
1Oakland University
Rochester Hills Public
184$42,440
2Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant Public
170$45,225
3Wayne State University
Detroit Public
147$47,939
4Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo Public
126$41,296
5Saginaw Valley State University
University Center Public
111$43,151
6Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti Public
107$42,791
7Bay Mills Community College
Brimley Public
99Not reported
8Calvin University
Grand Rapids Private not-for-profit
67$45,751
9Rochester Christian University
Rochester Hills Private not-for-profit
62$35,163
10Ferris State University
Big Rapids Public
51$42,608
Show the other 32 Michigan colleges offering Teacher Education and Professional Development
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Northern Michigan UniversityMarquettePublic50
University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn ArborPublic48
University of Michigan-FlintFlintPublic43
University of Michigan-DearbornDearbornPublic41
Spring Arbor UniversitySpring ArborPrivate not-for-profit41
Washtenaw Community CollegeAnn ArborPublic41
Henry Ford CollegeDearbornPublic39
Hope CollegeHollandPrivate not-for-profit32
Alma CollegeAlmaPrivate not-for-profit28
Cornerstone UniversityGrand RapidsPrivate not-for-profit25
Lake Superior State UniversitySault Ste MariePublic20
Madonna UniversityLivoniaPrivate not-for-profit20
Siena Heights UniversityAdrianPrivate not-for-profit16
Aquinas CollegeGrand RapidsPrivate not-for-profit14
Gogebic Community CollegeIronwoodPublic14
Muskegon Community CollegeMuskegonPublic14
Southwestern Michigan CollegeDowagiacPublic14
Michigan State UniversityEast LansingPublic12
Mid Michigan CollegeHarrisonPublic11
Andrews UniversityBerrien SpringsPrivate not-for-profit9
Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community CollegeLAnsePublic9
Adrian CollegeAdrianPrivate not-for-profit8
Grand Valley State UniversityAllendalePublic8
Wayne County Community College DistrictDetroitPublic7
Kalamazoo Valley Community CollegeKalamazooPublic6
Alpena Community CollegeAlpenaPublic5
Great Lakes Christian CollegeLansingPrivate not-for-profit5
Monroe County Community CollegeMonroePublic5
North Central Michigan CollegePetoskeyPublic5
Oakland Community CollegeAuburn HillsPublic5
Concordia University Ann ArborAnn ArborPrivate not-for-profit3
Lansing Community CollegeLansingPublic1

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 Michigan

Jobs in Michigan
10,950
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$39,730
median $37,110
Best-paying metro
$42,130
Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI

Related careers

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
$69,000 avg · 40,910 jobs
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
$68,160 avg · 15,420 jobs
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
$39,730 avg · 10,950 jobs
Training and Development Specialists
$70,510 avg · 10,640 jobs
Self-Enrichment Teachers
$46,800 avg · 7,190 jobs

Common questions

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

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

Oakland University (184 graduates a year), Central Michigan University (170 graduates a year) and Wayne State University (147 graduates a year) award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Michigan, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 42 Michigan colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development.

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

By graduate earnings, Wayne State University leads among bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Michigan, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $47,939, College Scorecard. Alma College and Cornerstone University follow. By degrees awarded, Oakland University is the largest, with 184 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

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

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Wayne State University tops the list at $47,939. 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 Michigan?+

The average annual wage for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in Michigan is $39,730 (median $37,110), across about 10,950 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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