Education

About Education

Wondering whether Education is worth studying? What matters is what graduates actually earn, where they end up working, and which colleges produce the most of them. Most graduates end up in this field, so it is worth knowing what Training and Development Managers earn and how the role is projected to grow.

Teaching, curriculum design, and school leadership degrees that lead directly to K-12 classrooms, special education, and administration careers in schools. Four years after finishing the degree, graduates in this field earn a national median of $50,499, per College Scorecard. You can study it at 2,359 colleges and universities across the country, so location is rarely the limiting factor. About 317,102 students complete a degree in this area every year.

Median Earnings · 1yr

$42,219

Median Earnings · 4yr

$50,499

Colleges Offering

2,359

Graduates / Year

317,102

Specializations

15

Avg Net Price / yr

$15,222

Is an Education Degree Right for You?

Is the Investment Worth It?

Solid ROI. Median earnings of $50,499 after 4 years. Against an estimated $60,888 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 3.0 years.

How Much Do Education Majors Earn?

Pay for Education graduates climbs fast in the first few years out. The median start is $42,219 one year after graduation, rising to $50,499 by year four, so the early salary is not the ceiling. Source: College Scorecard, across all 2,359 US institutions offering programs in this field.

What Can You Do With an Education Degree?

Career Paths for Education Graduates

Studying Education does not lock you into one job title. It opens 8 occupations tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, from entry-level roles to senior ones, and Training and Development Managers pays the most among them at a median $133,000 a year. Each row below adds national wages, employment levels, and the 10-year growth outlook so you can weigh the rest.

Another common path leads to what Health Specialties Teachers typically earn and how the field is trending.

Education Specializations

Which specialization you pick inside Education matters more than usual here. Education breaks into 15 specializations, and four-year earnings swing from $42,259 to $78,359 depending on which one you choose. Each row below links to a full program profile, sorted highest-paying first. Source: College Scorecard.

The highest-paying specialization is the cost and outcomes for an International Education program, which is worth a closer look before settling on the broader field.

Best Colleges for Education

These are the 20 colleges that graduate the most students in Education, ranked by how many completed the degree in the most recent reporting year, not by selectivity or prestige. Acceptance rate, net price, earnings, and graduation rate for each one come from College Scorecard and IPEDS.

By that measure, the list starts with the cost and admissions data for Grand Canyon University.

Ranked by number of Education graduates per IPEDS completion data. Acceptance rate, net price, earnings, and graduation rate from College Scorecard. Read our methodology →

How Education Compares to Similar Majors

Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of an Education degree, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find programs that match your profile.

Education Degree: Pros & Cons

Weigh the financial trade-offs in Education carefully before committing to it. The 2 strengths and 3 concerns below come from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts, so you can see exactly what is driving the caution.

Education Degree: Frequently Asked Questions