Best colleges for Teacher Education and Professional Development in Tennessee
Ranked by graduate earnings
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Vanderbilt University and Cumberland University award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Tennessee: 235, 30 and 27 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 26 Tennessee colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development and award 522 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 4 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 | $45,248 | 23 | 63% | $18,918 | $29,625 |
| 2 | Carson-Newman University Jefferson City Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $42,222 | 19 | 53% | $19,537 | $25,075 |
| 3 | University of Memphis Memphis Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $37,999 | 19 | 51% | — | $21,747 |
| 4 | Lane College Jackson Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $24,128 | 10 | 18% | $14,494 | $36,881 |
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 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville Public | 235 | Not reported |
| 2 | Vanderbilt University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 30 | Not reported |
| 3 | Cumberland University Lebanon Private not-for-profit | 27 | Not reported |
| 4 | Lee University Cleveland Private not-for-profit | 23 | $45,248 |
| 5 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Public | 21 | Not reported |
| 6 | Bethel University McKenzie Private not-for-profit | 19 | Not reported |
| 7 | Carson-Newman University Jefferson City Private not-for-profit | 19 | $42,222 |
| 8 | University of Memphis Memphis Public | 19 | $37,999 |
| 9 | Austin Peay State University Clarksville Public | 14 | Not reported |
| 10 | Belmont University Nashville Private not-for-profit | 14 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 16 Tennessee colleges offering Teacher Education and Professional Development
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Wesleyan University | Athens | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| East Tennessee State University | Johnson City | Public | 13 |
| Bryan College - Dayton | Dayton | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Lipscomb University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Lane College | Jackson | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Maryville College | Maryville | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| The University of Tennessee-Martin | Martin | Public | 10 |
| Union University | Jackson | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Southern Adventist University | Collegedale | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Fisk University | Nashville | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Welch College | Gallatin | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| King University | Bristol | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Milligan University | Milligan | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Christian Brothers University | Memphis | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Johnson University | Knoxville | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | Nashville | 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 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?+
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville (235 graduates a year), Vanderbilt University (30 graduates a year) and Cumberland University (27 graduates a year) award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Tennessee, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 26 Tennessee colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development.
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 $45,248. 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 Tennessee?+
The average annual wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in Tennessee is $59,850 (median $59,980), across about 28,240 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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card