Best colleges for Teacher Education and Professional Development in Missouri
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Missouri-Columbia, Missouri State University - Springfield and Northwest Missouri State University are the top bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Missouri by graduate earnings. University of Missouri-Columbia leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,755, College Scorecard. Northwest Missouri State University, University of Central Missouri and Missouri State University - Springfield award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Missouri: 285, 218 and 92 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 37 Missouri colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development and award 1,488 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 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 | University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,755 | 68 | 75% | — | $17,654 |
| 2 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,211 | 92 | 58% | — | $30,294 |
| 3 | Northwest Missouri State University Maryville Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,057 | 285 | 54% | — | $26,221 |
| 4 | Southwest Baptist University Bolivar Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,507 | 20 | 55% | $20,939 | $25,762 |
| 5 | Evangel University Springfield Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,872 | 23 | 65% | $17,881 | $30,175 |
| 6 | Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,206 | 67 | 58% | — | $21,748 |
| 7 | University of Central Missouri Warrensburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,198 | 218 | 54% | — | $25,741 |
| 8 | College of the Ozarks Point Lookout Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $37,042 | 12 | 64% | $8,360 | — |
| 9 | Missouri Western State University Saint Joseph Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $33,183 | 9 | 39% | — | $24,704 |
| 10 | Lindenwood University Saint Charles Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $29,554 | 16 | 49% | $17,436 | $32,500 |
Top 3 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 | Three Rivers College Poplar Bluff Public · Associate degree | $30,830 | 72 | 33% | — | $9,000 |
| 2 | Ozarks Technical Community College Springfield Public · Associate degree | $21,220 | 95 | 33% | — | $10,119 |
| 3 | Crowder College Neosho Public · Associate degree | $19,814 | 59 | 49% | — | $6,000 |
Colleges awarding the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Missouri
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 | Northwest Missouri State University Maryville Public | 285 | $37,057 |
| 2 | University of Central Missouri Warrensburg Public | 218 | $33,198 |
| 3 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield Public | 92 | $38,211 |
| 4 | University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia Public | 68 | $39,755 |
| 5 | Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau Public | 67 | $34,206 |
| 6 | Metropolitan Community College - Kansas City Kansas City Public | 62 | Not reported |
| 7 | Mineral Area College Park Hills Public | 61 | Not reported |
| 8 | Truman State University Kirksville Public | 53 | Not reported |
| 9 | Moberly Area Community College Moberly Public | 44 | Not reported |
| 10 | State Fair Community College Sedalia Public | 33 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 27 Missouri colleges offering Teacher Education and Professional Development
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ozarks Technical Community College | Springfield | Public | 95 |
| Three Rivers College | Poplar Bluff | Public | 72 |
| Crowder College | Neosho | Public | 59 |
| St Charles Community College | Cottleville | Public | 47 |
| East Central College | Union | Public | 25 |
| Evangel University | Springfield | Private not-for-profit | 23 |
| Missouri State University - West Plains | West Plains | Public | 21 |
| Southwest Baptist University | Bolivar | Private not-for-profit | 20 |
| Lindenwood University | Saint Charles | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| University of Missouri-Kansas City | Kansas City | Public | 15 |
| College of the Ozarks | Point Lookout | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Park University | Parkville | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| University of Missouri-St Louis | Saint Louis | Public | 11 |
| Central Methodist University - College of Graduate and Extended Studies | Fayette | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts and Sciences | Fayette | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Missouri Southern State University | Joplin | Public | 10 |
| Missouri Western State University | Saint Joseph | Public | 9 |
| Missouri Baptist University | Saint Louis | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Webster University | Saint Louis | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| William Woods University | Fulton | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Missouri Valley College | Marshall | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Lincoln University | Jefferson City | Public | 3 |
| Avila University | Kansas City | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Westminster College | Fulton | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| William Jewell College | Liberty | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Drury University | Springfield | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Saint Louis University | Saint Louis | Private not-for-profit | 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 Missouri
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Missouri.
Which Missouri colleges award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees?+
Northwest Missouri State University (285 graduates a year), University of Central Missouri (218 graduates a year) and Missouri State University - Springfield (92 graduates a year) award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Missouri, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 37 Missouri colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development.
What is the best college for Teacher Education and Professional Development in Missouri?+
By graduate earnings, University of Missouri-Columbia leads among bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Missouri, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $39,755, College Scorecard. Missouri State University - Springfield and Northwest Missouri State University follow. By degrees awarded, Northwest Missouri State University is the largest, with 285 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Teacher Education and Professional Development program in Missouri has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Missouri-Columbia tops the list at $39,755. 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 Missouri?+
The average annual wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in Missouri is $56,730 (median $50,910), across about 33,180 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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