Best colleges for Teacher Education and Professional Development in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
Shenandoah University, George Mason University and Virginia Commonwealth University are the top bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. Shenandoah University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $51,601, College Scorecard. Virginia Commonwealth University, Liberty University and Old Dominion University award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Virginia: 276, 173 and 100 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 21 Virginia colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development and award 1,014 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 8 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 | Shenandoah University Winchester Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $51,601 | 43 | 67% | $27,455 | $27,000 |
| 2 | George Mason University Fairfax Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,108 | 51 | 68% | — | $24,250 |
| 3 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,677 | 276 | 63% | — | $26,901 |
| 4 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,690 | 100 | 46% | — | $25,000 |
| 5 | Radford University Radford Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,071 | 77 | 49% | — | $25,523 |
| 6 | Ferrum College Ferrum Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $29,100 | 25 | 32% | $22,258 | $31,000 |
| 7 | Virginia State University Petersburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,547 | 63 | 39% | — | $30,000 |
| 8 | Regent University Virginia Beach Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $49,750 | 19 | 57% | $18,677 | $23,250 |
Colleges awarding the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Virginia
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 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public | 276 | $34,677 |
| 2 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit | 173 | Not reported |
| 3 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public | 100 | $33,690 |
| 4 | Radford University Radford Public | 77 | $31,071 |
| 5 | Virginia State University Petersburg Public | 63 | $26,547 |
| 6 | Longwood University Farmville Public | 57 | Not reported |
| 7 | George Mason University Fairfax Public | 51 | $45,108 |
| 8 | Shenandoah University Winchester Private not-for-profit | 43 | $51,601 |
| 9 | William & Mary Williamsburg Public | 28 | Not reported |
| 10 | Ferrum College Ferrum Private not-for-profit | 25 | $29,100 |
ShowHide the other 11 Virginia colleges offering Teacher Education and Professional Development
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Averett University | Danville | Private not-for-profit | 24 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Blacksburg | Public | 20 |
| Regent University | Virginia Beach | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| James Madison University | Harrisonburg | Public | 16 |
| University of Lynchburg | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| Roanoke College | Salem | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Emory & Henry University | Emory | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Hampton University | Hampton | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Bluefield University | Bluefield | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Virginia Union University | Richmond | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Eastern Mennonite University | Harrisonburg | 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 Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees?+
Virginia Commonwealth University (276 graduates a year), Liberty University (173 graduates a year) and Old Dominion University (100 graduates a year) award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 21 Virginia colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development.
What is the best college for Teacher Education and Professional Development in Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, Shenandoah University leads among bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $51,601, College Scorecard. George Mason University and Virginia Commonwealth University follow. By degrees awarded, Virginia Commonwealth University is the largest, with 276 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Teacher Education and Professional Development program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Shenandoah University tops the list at $51,601. 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 Virginia?+
The average annual wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in Virginia is $71,540 (median $65,550), across about 37,880 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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