Best colleges for Teacher Education and Professional Development in Pennsylvania
Ranked by graduate earnings
Elizabethtown College, Messiah University and Pennsylvania State University are the top bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Pennsylvania by graduate earnings. Elizabethtown College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $50,918, College Scorecard. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, Wilkes University and Kutztown University of Pennsylvania award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Pennsylvania: 154, 152 and 129 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 62 Pennsylvania colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development and award 1,667 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 | Elizabethtown College Elizabethtown Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $50,918 | 37 | 76% | $22,907 | $27,000 |
| 2 | Messiah University Mechanicsburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $50,825 | 35 | 75% | $25,675 | $27,000 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public · Bachelor's degree | $50,006 | 54 | 86% | — | $26,000 |
| 4 | Lebanon Valley College Annville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $49,263 | 30 | 65% | $24,925 | $27,000 |
| 5 | Temple University Philadelphia Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,019 | 106 | 75% | — | $26,000 |
| 6 | Duquesne University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,890 | 53 | 77% | $32,060 | $27,000 |
| 7 | East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania East Stroudsburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,566 | 55 | 43% | — | $27,000 |
| 8 | Robert Morris University Moon Township Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,936 | 27 | 66% | $24,175 | $27,000 |
| 9 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,800 | 129 | 54% | — | $27,000 |
| 10 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,599 | 60 | 85% | — | $26,176 |
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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drexel University Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Graduate degree | $49,944 | 64 | 78% | $36,004 | — |
Colleges awarding the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Pennsylvania
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 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock Public | 154 | Not reported |
| 2 | Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre Private not-for-profit | 152 | Not reported |
| 3 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown Public | 129 | $36,800 |
| 4 | Temple University Philadelphia Public | 106 | $46,019 |
| 5 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester Public | 91 | Not reported |
| 6 | Eastern University Saint Davids Private not-for-profit | 73 | Not reported |
| 7 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh Public | 60 | $25,599 |
| 8 | East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania East Stroudsburg Public | 55 | $42,566 |
| 9 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 55 | Not reported |
| 10 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public | 54 | $50,006 |
ShowHide the other 52 Pennsylvania colleges offering Teacher Education and Professional Development
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drexel University | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 64 |
| Duquesne University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 53 |
| Point Park University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 50 |
| Holy Family University | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 44 |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania | Indiana | Public | 39 |
| Elizabethtown College | Elizabethtown | Private not-for-profit | 37 |
| Pennsylvania Western University | California | Public | 37 |
| Messiah University | Mechanicsburg | Private not-for-profit | 35 |
| Lebanon Valley College | Annville | Private not-for-profit | 30 |
| Robert Morris University | Moon Township | Private not-for-profit | 27 |
| Carlow University | Pittsburgh | Private not-for-profit | 24 |
| Grove City College | Grove City | Private not-for-profit | 21 |
| Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 20 |
| Arcadia University | Glenside | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| York College of Pennsylvania | York | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Marywood University | Scranton | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Harrisburg | Middletown | Public | 14 |
| Gwynedd Mercy University | Gwynedd Valley | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania | Millersville | Public | 13 |
| Cairn University - Langhorne | Langhorne | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Bucks County Community College | Newtown | Public | 11 |
| King's College | Wilkes-Barre | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Seton Hill University | Greensburg | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Moore College of Art and Design | Philadelphia | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | Shippensburg | Public | 10 |
| Geneva College | Beaver Falls | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Juniata College | Huntingdon | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Susquehanna University | Selinsgrove | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Widener University | Chester | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania | Bloomsburg | Public | 7 |
| Immaculata University | Immaculata | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Mercyhurst University | Erie | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Misericordia University | Dallas | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Westminster College | New Wilmington | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Keystone College | La Plume | Private not-for-profit | 5 |
| DeSales University | Center Valley | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Butler County Community College | Butler | Public | 4 |
| Albright College | Reading | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Gannon University | Erie | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Gettysburg College | Gettysburg | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Bradford | Bradford | Public | 3 |
| University of Valley Forge | Phoenixville | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Neumann University | Aston | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Saint Francis University | Loretto | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Thiel College | Greenville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Waynesburg University | Waynesburg | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Wilson College | Chambersburg | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Bucknell University | Lewisburg | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg | Greensburg | Public | 1 |
| Saint Vincent College | Latrobe | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Washington & Jefferson College | Washington | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Pennsylvania State University - World Campus (Online) | University Park | Public | 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 Pennsylvania
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Pennsylvania.
Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees?+
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (154 graduates a year), Wilkes University (152 graduates a year) and Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (129 graduates a year) award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 62 Pennsylvania colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development.
What is the best college for Teacher Education and Professional Development in Pennsylvania?+
By graduate earnings, Elizabethtown College leads among bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Pennsylvania, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $50,918, College Scorecard. Messiah University and Pennsylvania State University follow. By degrees awarded, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is the largest, with 154 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Teacher Education and Professional Development program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Elizabethtown College tops the list at $50,918. 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 Pennsylvania?+
The average annual wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in Pennsylvania is $75,780 (median $77,060), across about 48,370 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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