Best colleges for Teacher Education and Professional Development in Tennessee
Ranked by graduate earnings
Lee University, Carson-Newman University and Southern Adventist University are the top bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Tennessee by graduate earnings. Lee University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,397, College Scorecard. Tennessee Technological University, The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga and The University of Tennessee-Martin award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Tennessee: 170, 163 and 163 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 33 Tennessee colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development and award 1,440 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 | Lee University Cleveland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,397 | 38 | 63% | $18,918 | $23,832 |
| 2 | Carson-Newman University Jefferson City Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,685 | 83 | 53% | $19,537 | $26,500 |
| 3 | Southern Adventist University Collegedale Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,283 | 26 | 49% | $24,187 | $24,250 |
| 4 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,657 | 89 | 54% | — | $22,500 |
| 5 | The University of Tennessee-Martin Martin Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,834 | 163 | 53% | — | $21,000 |
| 6 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,743 | 95 | 40% | — | $25,000 |
| 7 | Freed-Hardeman University Henderson Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,936 | 40 | 71% | $19,418 | $23,125 |
| 8 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,276 | 110 | 53% | — | $15,000 |
| 9 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,481 | 163 | 50% | — | $22,517 |
| 10 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,034 | 170 | 58% | — | $14,566 |
Colleges awarding the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Tennessee
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 | Tennessee Technological University Cookeville Public | 170 | $39,034 |
| 2 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Chattanooga Public | 163 | $39,481 |
| 3 | The University of Tennessee-Martin Martin Public | 163 | $41,834 |
| 4 | East Tennessee State University Johnson City Public | 110 | $40,276 |
| 5 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville Public | 95 | $41,743 |
| 6 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Public | 89 | $42,657 |
| 7 | Carson-Newman University Jefferson City Private not-for-profit | 83 | $43,685 |
| 8 | Vanderbilt University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 63 | Not reported |
| 9 | Christian Brothers University Memphis Private not-for-profit | 59 | Not reported |
| 10 | University of Memphis Memphis Public | 55 | $33,502 |
ShowHide the other 23 Tennessee colleges offering Teacher Education and Professional Development
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 42 |
| Freed-Hardeman University | Henderson | Private not-for-profit | 40 |
| Lee University | Cleveland | Private not-for-profit | 38 |
| Tennessee State University | Nashville | Public | 36 |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 27 |
| Southern Adventist University | Collegedale | Private not-for-profit | 26 |
| Bryan College - Dayton | Dayton | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| Lipscomb University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| King University | Bristol | Private not-for-profit | 18 |
| Johnson University | Knoxville | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| Tennessee Wesleyan University | Athens | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Lincoln Memorial University | Harrogate | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| The University of Tennessee Southern | Pulaski | Public | 14 |
| Cumberland University | Lebanon | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Maryville College | Maryville | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Welch College | Gallatin | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Union University | Jackson | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| South College | Knoxville | Private for-profit | 6 |
| Milligan University | Milligan | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Bethel University | McKenzie | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Tusculum University | Greeneville | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | Knoxville | Public | 3 |
| Le Moyne-Owen College | Memphis | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
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 Tennessee
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Tennessee.
Which Tennessee colleges award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees?+
Tennessee Technological University (170 graduates a year), The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga (163 graduates a year) and The University of Tennessee-Martin (163 graduates a year) award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Tennessee, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 33 Tennessee colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development.
What is the best college for Teacher Education and Professional Development in Tennessee?+
By graduate earnings, Lee University leads among bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Tennessee, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,397, College Scorecard. Carson-Newman University and Southern Adventist University follow. By degrees awarded, Tennessee Technological University is the largest, with 170 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Teacher Education and Professional Development program in Tennessee has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Lee University tops the list at $44,397. 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 Tennessee?+
The average annual wage for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in Tennessee is $41,170 (median $34,280), across about 5,420 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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