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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.

Schools
66
Programs analyzed
Earnings
$39,302
Avg 1-yr grad earnings
Range $20,039–$68,730
AI Risk
High
55% task exposure
Field Overview

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.

Career Trajectories

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%
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. Salary range shows 25th–median–75th percentile (national).
Top Institutions

Best schools for Education

Schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score (earnings × AI resilience × ROI × job-market size). Top 10 of 66.

Rank #1 · DegreeOutlook Score 57
University of Hawaii-West Oahu
Kapolei, HI · Public
$52,079 1-yr earnings
18.1x ROI multiple
High AI risk
# 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
Which school is best for Education? See our complete ranking of 66 programs →

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

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 →
FAQ

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.