Best institutions to study Physics Teacher Education
A program that prepares individuals to teach physics programs at various educational levels.
39 U.S. institutions graduated 120 Physics Teacher Education students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 13.1329, a specialization of Teacher Education and Professional Development (CIP 13.13), and leads most directly to the Education Teachers, Postsecondary occupation (BLS SOC 25-1081).
About Physics Teacher Education programs
A program that prepares individuals to teach physics programs at various educational levels.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Physics Teacher Education program is designed to prepare individuals for teaching physics at various educational levels. This program falls under the broader category of Teacher Education and Professional Development, equipping future educators with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively teach physics concepts to students. Ideal for those passionate about both physics and education, this program offers a pathway to becoming a qualified physics teacher. Graduates will be prepared to inspire the next generation of scientists and thinkers, contributing to the field of education and the advancement of scientific understanding.
Students in the Physics Teacher Education program will develop core skills in speaking, active listening, critical thinking, and writing. They will gain knowledge in education and training, psychology, and communications, alongside practical coursework that includes preparing course materials, conducting research, and supervising students' fieldwork.
Credentials awarded
What Physics Teacher Education graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree68 graduates / yr · 13 institutions57%
- Bachelor's degree36 graduates / yr · 22 institutions30%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate13 graduates / yr · 4 institutions11%
- Associate's degree2 graduates / yr · 2 institutions1.7%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.8%
Graduates over time
Physics Teacher Education completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 122 |
| 2013 | 119 |
| 2014 | 129 |
| 2015 | 113 |
| 2016 | 95 |
| 2017 | 110 |
| 2018 | 100 |
| 2019 | 122 |
| 2020 | 121 |
| 2021 | 150 |
| 2022 | 103 |
| 2023 | 110 |
| 2024 | 113 |
| 2025 | 120 |
Top 39 institutions for Physics Teacher Education, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Governors University Salt Lake City, UTPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's | 50 | 46% | $11,580 | $44,958 |
| 2 | Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global Marion, INPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert.Master's | 15 | 35% | $18,316 | — |
| 3 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NYPublicMaster's | 5 | 76% | — | — |
| 4 | SUNY College at Potsdam Potsdam, NYPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 5 | 45% | — | $45,110 |
| 5 | Montana State University Bozeman, MTPublicPost-degree cert. | 3 | 57% | — | $38,576 |
| 6 | University at Buffalo Buffalo, NYPublicMaster's | 3 | 75% | — | — |
| 7 | Wichita State University Wichita, KSPublicBachelor's | 2 | 51% | — | $47,121 |
| 8 | SUNY Brockport Brockport, NYPublicMaster's | 2 | 55% | — | $37,167 |
| 9 | SUNY College at Geneseo Geneseo, NYPublicBachelor's | 2 | 71% | — | $34,435 |
| 10 | Teachers College at Columbia University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 2 | — | — | — |
| 11 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester, PAPublicBachelor's | 2 | 71% | — | — |
| 12 | Utah State University Logan, UTPublicBachelor's | 2 | 59% | — | $37,521 |
| 13 | Arkansas Tech University Russellville, ARPublicBachelor's | 1 | 49% | — | $41,160 |
| 14 | Daytona State College Daytona Beach, FLPublicBachelor's | 1 | 43% | — | — |
| 15 | Brigham Young University - Idaho Rexburg, IDPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 55% | $6,760 | $42,094 |
| 16 | DePaul University Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | 68% | $28,141 | $44,068 |
| 17 | University of Louisville Louisville, KYPublicMaster's | 1 | 61% | — | $56,188 |
| 18 | Montgomery College Rockville, MDPublicAssociate's | 1 | 32% | — | — |
| 19 | Prince George's Community College Largo, MDPublicAssociate's | 1 | 18% | — | — |
| 20 | Bridgewater State University Bridgewater, MAPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 53% | — | $38,216 |
| 21 | Merrimack College North Andover, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | 70% | $33,877 | — |
| 22 | Hope College Holland, MIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 80% | $21,746 | $45,137 |
| 23 | Martin Luther College New Ulm, MNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 72% | $17,946 | — |
| 24 | Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato, MNPublicBachelor's | 1 | 54% | — | $43,307 |
| 25 | University of Nevada - Reno Reno, NVPublicBachelor's | 1 | 61% | — | $47,544 |
| 26 | CUNY Hunter College New York, NYPublicBachelor's | 1 | 57% | — | $49,245 |
| 27 | CUNY Queens College Queens, NYPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 53% | — | $58,894 |
| 28 | Hofstra University Hempstead, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | 69% | $34,539 | $38,556 |
| 29 | Binghamton University Vestal, NYPublicMaster's | 1 | 82% | — | — |
| 30 | SUNY Buffalo State University Buffalo, NYPublicMaster's | 1 | 33% | — | $34,646 |
| 31 | State University of New York at Cortland Cortland, NYPublicBachelor's | 1 | 68% | — | $42,132 |
| 32 | State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz, NYPublicBachelor's | 1 | 72% | — | $39,714 |
| 33 | State University of New York at Oswego Oswego, NYPublicBachelor's | 1 | 60% | — | $39,689 |
| 34 | University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, OKPublicBachelor's | 1 | 37% | — | $47,741 |
| 35 | Oregon State University Corvallis, ORPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 70% | — | — |
| 36 | Elizabethtown College Elizabethtown, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 76% | $22,907 | $50,918 |
| 37 | Brigham Young University Provo, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 81% | $13,712 | $47,153 |
| 38 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 65% | $28,911 | — |
| 39 | University of Wyoming Laramie, WYPublicBachelor's | 1 | 59% | — | $49,587 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Teacher Education and Professional Development field (CIP 13.13) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 20 states
Where Physics Teacher Education graduates come from. Each state links to all Teacher Education and Professional Development programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utah | 3 | 53 | Western Governors University50 / yr |
| New York | 14 | 27 | Stony Brook University5 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 15 | Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global15 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | 3 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania2 / yr |
| Montana | 1 | 3 | Montana State University3 / yr |
| Maryland | 2 | 2 | Montgomery College1 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 2 | 2 | Bridgewater State University1 / yr |
| Minnesota | 2 | 2 | Martin Luther College1 / yr |
| Kansas | 1 | 2 | Wichita State University2 / yr |
| Arkansas | 1 | 1 | Arkansas Tech University1 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 1 | Daytona State College1 / yr |
| Idaho | 1 | 1 | Brigham Young University - Idaho1 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 1 | DePaul University1 / yr |
| Kentucky | 1 | 1 | University of Louisville1 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 1 | Hope College1 / yr |
| Nevada | 1 | 1 | University of Nevada - Reno1 / yr |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 1 | University of Central Oklahoma1 / yr |
| Oregon | 1 | 1 | Oregon State University1 / yr |
| Virginia | 1 | 1 | Liberty University1 / yr |
| Wyoming | 1 | 1 | University of Wyoming1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-1081, Education Teachers, Postsecondary, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Physics Teacher Education program can pursue careers as postsecondary education teachers or secondary school teachers. The job outlook for education teachers is about as fast as average, with an annual growth rate of 2.1% and approximately 5,600 annual openings. The median wage for these positions is $72,090, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 13.1329
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Education Teachers, Postsecondaryprimary SOC 25-1081 | $75,350 | +2.1% About as fast as average | ~5,600 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education SOC 25-2031 | $72,040 | -1.6% Decline | ~66,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1054 | $100,310 | +2.5% About as fast as average | ~1,300 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Physics Teacher Education programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Supervise students' fieldwork, internship, and research work.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
Tools and technology used
Other Teacher Education and Professional Development specializations
The 37 other 6-digit CIP codes under Teacher Education and Professional Development (CIP 13.13).
- Physical Education Teaching and CoachingCIP 13.13147,066 graduates / yr415 institutions
- Reading Teacher EducationCIP 13.13156,128 graduates / yr305 institutions
- Music Teacher EducationCIP 13.13124,104 graduates / yr447 institutions
- Mathematics Teacher EducationCIP 13.13113,340 graduates / yr347 institutions
- English/CIP 13.1305
Language Arts Teacher Education 2,847 graduates / yr349 institutions - Teacher Education and Professional DevelopmentCIP 13.13992,468 graduates / yr113 institutions
- Social Studies Teacher EducationCIP 13.13181,922 graduates / yr219 institutions
- Art Teacher EducationCIP 13.13021,858 graduates / yr258 institutions
- Health Teacher EducationCIP 13.13071,475 graduates / yr75 institutions
- Agricultural Teacher EducationCIP 13.13011,051 graduates / yr68 institutions
- Science Teacher Education/CIP 13.1316
General Science Teacher Education 1,021 graduates / yr160 institutions - History Teacher EducationCIP 13.1328976 graduates / yr128 institutions
- Biology Teacher EducationCIP 13.1322702 graduates / yr145 institutions
- Trade and Industrial Teacher EducationCIP 13.1320695 graduates / yr31 institutions
- School Librarian/CIP 13.1334
School Library Media Specialist 578 graduates / yr34 institutions - Social Science Teacher EducationCIP 13.1317498 graduates / yr66 institutions
- Technology Teacher Education/CIP 13.1309
Industrial Arts Teacher Education 389 graduates / yr33 institutions - Technical Teacher EducationCIP 13.1319356 graduates / yr27 institutions
- Spanish Language Teacher EducationCIP 13.1330342 graduates / yr96 institutions
- Foreign Language Teacher EducationCIP 13.1306264 graduates / yr61 institutions
- Family and Consumer Sciences/CIP 13.1308
Home Economics Teacher Education 261 graduates / yr38 institutions - Drama and Dance Teacher EducationCIP 13.1324242 graduates / yr49 institutions
- Chemistry Teacher EducationCIP 13.1323209 graduates / yr63 institutions
- Computer Teacher EducationCIP 13.1321183 graduates / yr27 institutions
- Business and Innovation/CIP 13.1303
Entrepreneurship Teacher Education 165 graduates / yr38 institutions - Earth Science Teacher EducationCIP 13.1337144 graduates / yr27 institutions
- Environmental EducationCIP 13.1338105 graduates / yr16 institutions
- Health Occupations Teacher EducationCIP 13.132789 graduates / yr10 institutions
- Speech Teacher EducationCIP 13.1331partial data60 graduates / yr8 institutions
- Driver and Safety Teacher EducationCIP 13.1304partial data40 graduates / yr4 institutions
- French Language Teacher EducationCIP 13.132526 graduates / yr17 institutions
- Communication Arts and Literature Teacher EducationCIP 13.1339partial data14 graduates / yr5 institutions
- Sales and Marketing Operations/CIP 13.1310
Marketing and Distribution Teacher Education limited data8 graduates / yr2 institutions - Latin Teacher EducationCIP 13.1333partial data7 graduates / yr3 institutions
- Psychology Teacher EducationCIP 13.1335partial data5 graduates / yr4 institutions
- German Language Teacher EducationCIP 13.1326partial data4 graduates / yr4 institutions
- Geography Teacher EducationCIP 13.1332limited data2 graduates / yr2 institutions
See all Teacher Education and Professional Development programs →
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Master's degree, Bachelor's degree, Postbaccalaureate certificate, or an Associate's degree.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 39 colleges offering the Physics Teacher Education program in the U.S.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in speaking, critical thinking, active listening, and writing.
What is the job outlook for physics teachers?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with 5,600 annual openings and a median wage of $72,090.
What is the CIP code for Physics Teacher Education?+
Physics Teacher Education is CIP 13.1329 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Teacher Education and Professional Development (CIP 13.13). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to teach physics programs at various educational levels.
How many institutions offer Physics Teacher Education programs?+
39 U.S. institutions reported Physics Teacher Education graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 20 states, awarding 120 credentials in the year. That is 0.3% of all Teacher Education and Professional Development graduates.
How much do Physics Teacher Education graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Education Teachers, Postsecondary occupation, which Physics Teacher Education most directly leads to, pays a median of $75,350 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Teacher Education and Professional Development field report median earnings of $44,068 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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