Best colleges for Teacher Education and Professional Development in Washington
Ranked by graduate earnings
Central Washington University, Western Washington University and Eastern Washington University are the top bachelor's Teacher Education and Professional Development programs in Washington by graduate earnings. Central Washington University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $49,177, College Scorecard. Eastern Washington University, Central Washington University and Western Washington University award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Washington: 159, 105 and 63 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 20 Washington colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development and award 464 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 5 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 | Central Washington University Ellensburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $49,177 | 105 | 54% | — | $23,377 |
| 2 | Western Washington University Bellingham Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,795 | 63 | 65% | — | $26,000 |
| 3 | Eastern Washington University Cheney Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,914 | 159 | 43% | — | $23,009 |
| 4 | Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $57,683 | 9 | 69% | $19,944 | $29,740 |
| 5 | Washington State University Pullman Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $55,864 | 7 | 60% | — | — |
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 | Eastern Washington University Cheney Public | 159 | $41,914 |
| 2 | Central Washington University Ellensburg Public | 105 | $49,177 |
| 3 | Western Washington University Bellingham Public | 63 | $42,795 |
| 4 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle Public | 53 | Not reported |
| 5 | Northwest University Kirkland Private not-for-profit | 35 | Not reported |
| 6 | Seattle Pacific University Seattle Private not-for-profit | 10 | Not reported |
| 7 | Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma Private not-for-profit | 9 | $57,683 |
| 8 | Washington State University Pullman Public | 7 | $55,864 |
| 9 | Clark College Vancouver Public | 5 | Not reported |
| 10 | Pierce College District Lakewood Public | 3 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 10 Washington colleges offering Teacher Education and Professional Development
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Puget Sound | Tacoma | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Green River College | Auburn | Public | 2 |
| Walla Walla University | College Place | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Whitworth University | Spokane | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Centralia College | Centralia | Public | 1 |
| Columbia Basin College | Pasco | Public | 1 |
| Gonzaga University | Spokane | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| South Seattle College | Seattle | Public | 1 |
| Spokane Falls Community College | Spokane | Public | 1 |
| Northwest University - Center for Online and Extended Education | Kirkland | 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 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?+
Eastern Washington University (159 graduates a year), Central Washington University (105 graduates a year) and Western Washington University (63 graduates a year) award the most Teacher Education and Professional Development degrees in Washington, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 20 Washington colleges offer Teacher Education and Professional Development.
What is the best college for Teacher Education and Professional Development in Washington?+
By graduate earnings, Central Washington 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 $49,177, College Scorecard. Western Washington University and Eastern Washington University follow. By degrees awarded, Eastern Washington University is the largest, with 159 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, Central Washington University tops the list at $49,177. 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 Washington?+
The average annual wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in Washington is $97,970 (median $102,350), across about 28,980 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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