Best colleges for Teacher Education and Professional Development in Washington
Ranked by graduate earnings
Pacific Lutheran University, Pierce College District and Western Washington University are the top bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Washington by graduate earnings. Pacific Lutheran University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $57,624, College Scorecard. North Seattle College, Washington State University and Columbia Basin College award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Washington: 545, 454 and 295 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 45 Washington colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development and award 5,059 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 | Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $57,624 | 62 | 69% | $19,944 | $19,500 |
| 2 | Pierce College District Lakewood Public · Bachelor's degree | $55,849 | 98 | 31% | — | $23,365 |
| 3 | Western Washington University Bellingham Public · Bachelor's degree | $53,133 | 96 | 65% | — | $22,000 |
| 4 | Central Washington University Ellensburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,359 | 170 | 54% | — | $20,205 |
| 5 | Washington State University Pullman Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,998 | 454 | 60% | — | $22,960 |
| 6 | Whitworth University Spokane Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,846 | 86 | 71% | $23,510 | $27,000 |
| 7 | North Seattle College Seattle Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,672 | 545 | 33% | — | $13,404 |
| 8 | Saint Martin's University Lacey Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,854 | 36 | 52% | $22,131 | — |
| 9 | Heritage University Toppenish Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,992 | 43 | 54% | $13,380 | $20,049 |
| 10 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,145 | 180 | 85% | — | $17,342 |
Top 3 certificate and associate programs
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 | Lake Washington Institute of Technology Kirkland Public · Associate degree | $33,869 | 263 | 37% | — | — |
| 2 | Clark College Vancouver Public · Associate degree | $28,118 | 242 | 39% | — | — |
| 3 | Spokane Falls Community College Spokane Public · Associate degree | $25,777 | 249 | 32% | — | $12,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Washington
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 | North Seattle College Seattle Public | 545 | $42,672 |
| 2 | Washington State University Pullman Public | 454 | $46,998 |
| 3 | Columbia Basin College Pasco Public | 295 | Not reported |
| 4 | Renton Technical College Renton Public | 188 | Not reported |
| 5 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle Public | 180 | $35,145 |
| 6 | Olympic College Bremerton Public | 178 | Not reported |
| 7 | Central Washington University Ellensburg Public | 170 | $47,359 |
| 8 | Wenatchee Valley College Wenatchee Public | 156 | Not reported |
| 9 | Bates Technical College Tacoma Public | 151 | Not reported |
| 10 | Highline College Des Moines Public | 144 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 35 Washington colleges offering Teacher Education and Professional Development
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 Washington
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Washington.
Which Washington colleges award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees?+
North Seattle College (545 graduates a year), Washington State University (454 graduates a year) and Columbia Basin College (295 graduates a year) award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Washington, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 45 Washington colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development.
What is the best college for Teacher Education and Professional Development in Washington?+
By graduate earnings, Pacific Lutheran University leads among bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Washington, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $57,624, College Scorecard. Pierce College District and Western Washington University follow. By degrees awarded, North Seattle College is the largest, with 545 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Teacher Education and Professional Development program in Washington has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Pacific Lutheran University tops the list at $57,624. 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 Washington?+
The average annual wage for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in Washington is $48,140 (median $45,660), across about 13,210 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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