Best colleges for Teacher Education and Professional Development in Mississippi
Ranked by graduate earnings
Jackson State University, William Carey University and Delta State University are the top bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Mississippi by graduate earnings. Jackson State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,448, College Scorecard. Mississippi State University, William Carey University and University of Southern Mississippi award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Mississippi: 292, 191 and 187 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 22 Mississippi colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development and award 1,474 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 | Jackson State University Jackson Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,448 | 113 | 51% | — | $31,000 |
| 2 | William Carey University Hattiesburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,520 | 191 | 60% | $17,205 | $20,754 |
| 3 | Delta State University Cleveland Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,008 | 144 | 48% | — | $19,500 |
| 4 | University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,766 | 187 | 49% | — | $24,250 |
| 5 | Mississippi State University Mississippi State Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,945 | 292 | 67% | — | $21,500 |
| 6 | University of Mississippi University Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,838 | 132 | 72% | — | $20,470 |
| 7 | Mississippi Christian University Clinton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,051 | 34 | 59% | $21,096 | $23,021 |
| 8 | Mississippi University for Women Columbus Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,812 | 33 | 47% | — | $27,000 |
| 9 | Blue Mountain Christian University Blue Mountain Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,029 | 32 | 55% | $18,117 | $22,500 |
| 10 | Rust College Holly Springs Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $25,814 | 10 | 12% | $8,711 | $31,000 |
Top 2 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 | Holmes Community College Goodman Public · Associate degree | $18,553 | 50 | 39% | — | $6,200 |
| 2 | Northwest Mississippi Community College Senatobia Public · Associate degree | $18,490 | 51 | 45% | — | $8,803 |
Colleges awarding the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Mississippi
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 | Mississippi State University Mississippi State Public | 292 | $37,945 |
| 2 | William Carey University Hattiesburg Private not-for-profit | 191 | $39,520 |
| 3 | University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg Public | 187 | $38,766 |
| 4 | Delta State University Cleveland Public | 144 | $39,008 |
| 5 | University of Mississippi University Public | 132 | $37,838 |
| 6 | Jackson State University Jackson Public | 113 | $40,448 |
| 7 | Itawamba Community College Fulton Public | 59 | Not reported |
| 8 | Mississippi Christian University Clinton Private not-for-profit | 34 | $37,051 |
| 9 | Mississippi University for Women Columbus Public | 33 | $36,812 |
| 10 | Blue Mountain Christian University Blue Mountain Private not-for-profit | 32 | $36,029 |
ShowHide the other 12 Mississippi colleges offering Teacher Education and Professional Development
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Mississippi Community College | Senatobia | Public | 51 |
| Holmes Community College | Goodman | Public | 50 |
| East Mississippi Community College | Scooba | Public | 32 |
| Copiah-Lincoln Community College | Wesson | Public | 27 |
| Alcorn State University | Alcorn State | Public | 24 |
| Belhaven University | Jackson | Private not-for-profit | 23 |
| Mississippi Valley State University | Itta Bena | Public | 11 |
| Tougaloo College | Tougaloo | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Rust College | Holly Springs | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Mississippi Delta Community College | Moorhead | Public | 9 |
| Coahoma Community College | Clarksdale | Public | 6 |
| Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College | Perkinston | Public | 3 |
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 Mississippi
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Mississippi.
Which Mississippi colleges award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees?+
Mississippi State University (292 graduates a year), William Carey University (191 graduates a year) and University of Southern Mississippi (187 graduates a year) award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Mississippi, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 22 Mississippi colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development.
What is the best college for Teacher Education and Professional Development in Mississippi?+
By graduate earnings, Jackson State University leads among bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Mississippi, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $40,448, College Scorecard. William Carey University and Delta State University follow. By degrees awarded, Mississippi State University is the largest, with 292 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Teacher Education and Professional Development program in Mississippi has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Jackson State University tops the list at $40,448. 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 Mississippi?+
The average annual wage for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in Mississippi is $35,500 (median $36,250), across about 3,600 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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