Education
Students study learning theory, instructional methods, classroom management, curriculum design, and the social foundations of education. Graduates typically pursue careers as K-12 teachers, instructional coordinators, corporate trainers, and education administrators. Teaching offers strong job stability and the fulfillment of shaping the next generation, with salaries varying significantly by state and district.
What Education graduates do
Your career will center on designing learning experiences and mentoring students. As a postsecondary teacher, your days are a mix of preparing and delivering lectures, guiding student research, and holding office hours for one-on-one support. Outside the classroom, you’ll be grading papers, developing new curricula, and collaborating with colleagues on departmental goals. An early career often begins with lecturer or adjunct roles, which build the experience needed to pursue a tenure-track professorship. With seniority, you can advance to become a department head or academic dean, shifting your focus from teaching to institutional leadership.
AI is poised to become a powerful co-pilot in education, not a replacement for educators. With moderate exposure, expect technology to automate significant chunks of routine work, like grading simple assignments or generating first drafts of lesson plans. This change will free you to concentrate on the irreplaceable human elements of your job: mentoring, fostering critical thinking, and adapting your approach to each student’s needs. Your success will depend on your ability to leverage these new tools to enhance, not diminish, the learning experience.
You may also want to evaluate Education against Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education, Curriculum and Instruction, and Education Studies on salary and long-run job outlook.
Where Education graduates work
Common career paths for Education graduates, with median salaries, projected growth, and AI exposure per role. Roughly 5,600 combined openings per year across these roles.
| Role | Median Pay | Annual Openings | 10-yr Growth | AI Exposure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Education teachers, postsecondary
|
$72,090
$51K–$96K
|
5,600 | +2.1% | Moderate · 49% |
Best schools for Education
Schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score (earnings × AI resilience × ROI × job-market size). Top 10 of 66.
| # | School | DW Score | 1-yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 |
The University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, TX · Public
|
49 | $57,410 | 11.2x |
| 6 |
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL · Public
|
45 | $38,928 | 24.2x |
| 7 |
Empire State University
Saratoga Springs, NY · Public
|
44 | $39,046 | 16.5x |
| 8 |
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI · Public
|
43 | $43,867 | 10.9x |
| 9 |
Goddard College
Plainfield, VT · Private nonprofit
|
42 | $56,397 | 5.0x |
| 10 |
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN · Public
|
42 | $48,339 | 6.3x |
| 11 |
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Green Bay, WI · Public
|
42 | $42,768 | 12.5x |
| 12 |
Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, UT · Private nonprofit
|
42 | $41,421 | 13.2x |
| 13 |
Monmouth University
West Long Branch, NJ · Private nonprofit
|
41 | $55,579 | 2.4x |
| 14 |
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI · Public
|
41 | $44,705 | 7.1x |
| 15 |
Western Oregon University
Monmouth, OR · Public
|
41 | $43,879 | 8.9x |
| 16 |
Fairmont State University
Fairmont, WV · Public
|
41 | $40,931 | 12.6x |
| 17 |
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Seattle, WA · Public
|
40 | $44,201 | 7.7x |
| 18 |
University of Washington-Bothell Campus
Bothell, WA · Public
|
40 | $44,201 | 7.8x |
| 19 |
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
Tacoma, WA · Public
|
40 | $44,201 | 7.6x |
| 20 |
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver, CO · Public
|
40 | $42,320 | 9.6x |
Highest Earnings Top 5
| Bellevue University
NE |
$68,730 |
| University of Hawaii at Manoa
HI |
$60,288 |
| The University of Texas at Arlington
TX |
$57,410 |
| Goddard College
VT |
$56,397 |
| Monmouth University
NJ |
$55,579 |
Best ROI Top 5
| Florida Atlantic University
FL |
24.2x |
| Bellevue University
NE |
18.3x |
| University of Hawaii-West Oahu
HI |
18.1x |
| Empire State University
NY |
16.5x |
| Florida Gulf Coast University
FL |
14.7x |
Related majors
Similar fields of study often offered alongside Education.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Education offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Education trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Education
How much do Education graduates earn?
Across 66 schools, Education graduates earn an average of $39,302 per year in their first year after graduation. Earnings range from $20,039 to $68,730 depending on the school.
How exposed is Education to AI disruption?
AI exposure for Education is rated "High." With 55% of tasks potentially affected by large language models, most career functions face meaningful automation pressure in the coming decade.
Which school has the best Education program?
Our data ranks University of Hawaii-West Oahu first among 66 Education programs. Its score of 57/100 reflects strong outcomes across earnings ($52,079/yr), return on investment, and career durability.
Is a Education degree worth the investment?
On average, Education graduates earn 6.6x their in-state tuition over 10 years. This is a moderate return — school choice matters significantly.