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STEM Education

Colleges offering this major Rankings Trends

What you'll do in college

STEM Education majors blend rigorous coursework in their chosen scientific, technological, engineering, or mathematical discipline with intensive pedagogical training. While you will tackle core subjects relevant to your track—such as calculus, organic chemistry, classical mechanics, or computer programming—you will also take education classes focused on instructional methods, STEM curriculum design, cognitive development, and classroom management. Instead of just proving theorems or running lab experiments in isolation, you will learn how to make complex, abstract concepts accessible, safe, and engaging to diverse learners. Programs heavily feature hands-on field experiences, culminating in a semester or more of full-time student teaching in a real classroom or laboratory setting.

What you'll do after college

The most direct and common path is becoming a middle or high school teacher in a specific STEM discipline (such as biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, or mathematics)—roles with persistent, critical shortages and excellent job security nationwide. However, your career isn't limited to the traditional classroom. Graduates also step into roles in STEM curriculum development, educational technology (EdTech), science museum or nature center education, instructional coaching, and specialized tutoring. Many educators later pursue graduate degrees in educational leadership to become school administrators, or transition into STEM education policy.

Famous graduates

  • Jaime Escalante — Legendary high school calculus teacher whose students' remarkable success inspired the movie 'Stand and Deliver'; B.S. in Mathematics from California State University, Los Angeles
  • Eddie Woo — Renowned mathematics teacher and creator of the widely popular 'Wootube' channel used by students globally; Bachelor of Education (Secondary) in Mathematics from the University of Sydney
  • Danica McKellar — Actress and prominent STEM education advocate who has authored multiple bestselling math books aimed at middle schoolers; B.S. in Mathematics from UCLA
  • Sal Khan — Educator and founder of Khan Academy, a massive platform for free online STEM education; B.S. in Mathematics, Electrical Engineering, and Computer Science from MIT
  • Steve Spangler — Science teacher, author, and creator of the viral Diet Coke and Mentos experiment, highly regarded for his work in elementary science education; B.A. in Chemistry and Humanities from the University of Colorado

Selectivity vs. earnings

By acceptance rate

$55,836
384
100–90%
$55,075
753
90–68%
$64,997
381
68–0%
Acceptance rate · bar = degree-weighted earnings

By SAT median

$53,608
266
400–1090
$56,176
529
1090–1260
$66,625
267
1260–1600
Combined SAT composite median (submitters + non-submitters) · bar = degree-weighted earnings

Earnings by acceptance rate and institution category

$48,269p10 $62,965p90 Liberal Arts Public University Religious University Private University 20–30% 10–20% College of Saint Mary · $57,127 Claflin University · $54,701 Florida Southern College · $66,924 Providence College · $62,309 Grove City College · $54,698 Adrian College · $48,969 Cornell College · $54,426 Carroll College · $48,991 Ohio Wesleyan University · $49,223 Elizabethtown College · $64,232 Augustana College (IL) · $58,445 Calvin University · $48,642 Huntingdon College · $57,986 Juniata College · $58,807 Keuka College · $50,899 Pfeiffer University · $55,047 Gustavus Adolphus College · $53,922 Taylor University · $41,198 Hamline University · $53,877 Dakota Wesleyan University · $55,831 Doane University · $56,488 Huntington University · $61,196 Roanoke College · $49,055 York College of Pennsylvania · $60,612 Saint Mary's College (IN) · $60,050 McPherson College · $55,363 Hope College · $52,165 Bethel University · $56,645 Keene State College · $50,422 Elmira College · $56,090 Miles College · $46,597 Coker University · $58,734 University of Mary Hardin-Baylor · $54,893 University of Montana Western · $51,896 University of Georgia · $55,669 University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire · $50,201 North Carolina State University · $58,964 University of South Florida · $51,099 University of Washington · $71,441 Clemson University · $60,879 State University of New York at New Paltz · $61,369 Auburn University · $54,450 Delaware State University · $58,467 Ohio State University · $97,553 CUNY Queens College · $73,414 West Chester University of Pennsylvania · $63,555 University of Connecticut · $60,140 CUNY Lehman College · $84,658 CUNY York College · $76,303 Florida Atlantic University · $54,206 Northwestern Oklahoma State University · $56,335 State University of New York at Cortland · $62,931 Jackson State University · $44,140 Minnesota State University, Mankato · $54,829 Western Carolina University · $51,441 Ball State University · $55,568 Eastern Michigan University · $55,347 University of North Florida · $52,540 Minnesota State University Moorhead · $56,293 University of Michigan - Dearborn · $51,522 SUNY Oneonta · $66,131 Eastern Illinois University · $59,873 University of Delaware · $61,834 Wichita State University · $58,522 University of Vermont · $48,314 Miami University - Ohio · $53,603 SUNY College at Geneseo · $57,037 Southeastern Oklahoma State University · $54,181 Bemidji State University · $50,407 University of Louisville · $75,668 University of Illinois Chicago · $62,965 SUNY Brockport · $55,116 SUNY Old Westbury · $74,822 Winona State University · $52,743 University of Oklahoma - Norman · $60,477 University of New Hampshire · $48,984 Youngstown State University · $46,618 Arkansas State University · $54,135 Saginaw Valley State University · $51,887 Southeast Missouri State University · $42,837 University of Iowa · $53,500 Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania · $57,307 State University of New York at Oswego · $60,122 University of Nebraska, Lincoln · $57,356 Bowie State University · $59,869 SUNY College at Potsdam · $52,034 University of Central Oklahoma · $53,107 Indiana University - Northwest · $56,962 Eastern Washington University · $57,777 Kent State University at Kent · $49,506 Nevada State University · $63,966 University of North Dakota · $63,564 Valley City State University · $63,679 Ferris State University · $51,744 Savannah State University · $45,316 Western Michigan University · $51,408 University of Nevada, Reno · $69,630 Michigan State University · $54,649 SUNY Buffalo State University · $53,379 Central Washington University · $57,656 Emporia State University · $54,703 Northern State University · $54,498 Rhode Island College · $50,639 Saint Cloud State University · $52,140 Southern Utah University · $50,155 University of Akron · $52,265 Indiana University Southeast · $55,544 Northern Michigan University · $48,600 Northwest Missouri State University · $51,969 University of Southern Maine · $42,589 Illinois State University · $55,491 Bridgewater State University · $59,427 Francis Marion University · $46,082 Indiana University - South Bend · $56,583 Towson University · $56,187 Minot State University · $60,780 University of Minnesota - Duluth · $57,197 Northern Arizona University · $52,011 University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh · $56,255 Central Michigan University · $53,330 SUNY at Fredonia · $55,571 Southwest Minnesota State University · $49,767 Indiana State University · $57,582 North Dakota State University · $58,628 Utah State University · $63,672 East Carolina University · $55,487 Grand Valley State University · $55,097 University of Kentucky · $50,410 Western Washington University · $62,928 Pittsburg State University · $55,043 University of Maine at Farmington · $46,526 Southern Illinois University - Carbondale · $73,367 College of Staten Island CUNY · $74,670 Lewis-Clark State College · $51,400 University of Wyoming · $61,719 Salem State University · $53,423 University of Mississippi · $53,539 Arkansas Tech University · $56,099 Dickinson State University · $56,241 Northeastern State University · $54,689 Montana State University · $48,750 Chadron State College · $56,288 Dine College · $42,742 Lake Superior State University · $49,429 Mayville State University · $63,278 Montana State University - Billings · $48,072 Oglala Lakota College · $51,178 Peru State College · $51,037 Southwestern Oklahoma State University · $57,741 Utah Valley University · $55,512 Washburn University · $53,322 Wayne State College · $55,494 Weber State University · $57,524 Union University · $53,646 Texas Christian University · $60,651 Liberty University · $57,238 Livingstone College · $39,644 Madonna University · $54,029 Baylor University · $58,669 John Brown University · $52,256 Ohio Dominican University · $49,353 Oklahoma Baptist University · $52,728 Charleston Southern University · $52,126 Capital University · $54,213 Texas Wesleyan University · $56,812 William Penn University · $52,850 Emmanuel University · $49,714 Olivet Nazarene University · $52,361 Southeastern University · $52,697 Anderson University · $50,557 Cedarville University · $47,059 Harding University · $60,050 Evangel University · $49,048 University of Mobile · $50,513 East Texas Baptist University · $56,020 MidAmerica Nazarene University · $55,416 Spring Arbor University · $50,631 Our Lady of the Lake University · $52,184 Simpson University · $51,823 Brigham Young University · $50,632 Ashland University · $46,609 Averett University · $55,637 California Baptist University · $51,328 Concordia University Wisconsin · $50,750 Pepperdine University · $54,647 North Greenville University · $44,382 Reinhardt University · $61,159 Elmhurst University · $51,849 Lee University · $52,739 Centenary University · $60,200 Niagara University · $55,024 Lindsey Wilson College · $56,244 College of St. Scholastica · $51,554 Morningside University · $60,108 Colorado Christian University · $52,175 Mercer University · $56,105 Millikin University · $51,576 Waynesburg University · $59,385 Loyola University Chicago · $58,819 Dominican University New York · $52,796 University of Dubuque · $60,157 Brigham Young University - Hawaii · $42,251 Fresno Pacific University · $62,112 McMurry University · $50,035 Midway University · $48,269 Malone University · $46,360 Geneva College · $52,521 University of Mary · $58,380 St. Joseph's University - New York · $63,062 Walsh University · $48,431 Maranatha Baptist University · $39,036 Saint Joseph's College of Maine · $60,220 Shorter University · $57,778 Wayland Baptist University · $40,144 Messiah University · $53,941 Marywood University · $54,273 Grace College and Theological Seminary · $48,598 Siena College · $60,202 Neumann University · $59,560 University of Findlay · $50,056 Xavier University · $55,475 Houston Christian University · $51,438 Saint Norbert College · $55,611 Saint Xavier University · $56,821 St. John's University - New York · $47,273 Wingate University · $48,908 Martin Luther College · $57,237 Catholic University of America · $56,749 Heidelberg University · $51,892 Mount Marty University · $52,489 Duquesne University · $55,288 Mount Vernon Nazarene University · $41,624 Roberts Wesleyan University · $49,262 DePaul University · $65,639 Northwest Nazarene University · $43,017 Misericordia University · $51,977 University of Pikeville · $43,536 Cornerstone University · $46,429 Indiana Wesleyan University · $52,875 Concordia University - Chicago · $59,093 Dallas Baptist University · $61,200 Virginia Union University · $59,957 Bryan College - Dayton · $46,672 Hardin-Simmons University · $51,954 Southwest Baptist University · $46,927 Brigham Young University - Idaho · $49,022 Union Adventist University · $56,642 Blue Mountain Christian University · $57,901 Marist University · $75,470 Drake University · $57,142 Daemen University · $48,838 Bradley University · $52,648 Trine University · $53,859 Tiffin University · $53,583 Mercy University · $56,748 Long Island University · $60,040 Roger Williams University · $53,798 Utica University · $52,839 Nova Southeastern University · $48,558 National University · $63,295 Turtle Mountain Community College · $66,074 University of Rio Grande · $43,026 Wilmington University · $54,765 CUNY Hunter College · $68,829 University of California, San Diego · $64,496 Berea College · $49,465 Boston University · $59,177 Boston College · $66,487 Liberal Arts: mean $54,987 Public University: mean $56,638 Religious University: mean $52,993 Private University: mean $56,046 20–30%: mean $60,930 10–20%: mean $62,832 All colleges: p10 $48,269 All colleges: p90 $62,965
Each dot = a college · y = degree-weighted earnings

Majors in this category

Major Colleges Degrees ▼ Male/Female Intl Earnings Employment
STEM Education 355 1,518 37% / 63% 1% $56,696 96%
Mathematics Teacher Education 171 407 38% / 62% 0% $54,852 96%
Mathematics Education 111 360 31% / 69% 1% $54,195 96%
Science Education 71 143 38% / 62% 0% $52,765 96%
Biology Teacher Education 107 118 26% / 74% 1% $56,740 97%
Biology Education 45 73 25% / 75% 1% $55,272 95%
Agriscience Education 1 64 91% / 9% 0% $97,553 99%
Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education 18 55 22% / 78% 2% $56,322 94%
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Educational Methods 2 42 43% / 57% 0% $54,033 95%
Computer Teacher Education 4 37 8% / 92% 0% $58,814 95%
Chemistry Teacher Education 51 31 45% / 55% 0% $57,302 96%
Science Teacher Education 30 29 34% / 66% 0% $52,736 96%
Technology Teacher Education 12 24 88% / 12% 0% $50,819 96%
Earth Science Teacher Education 13 17 35% / 65% 0% $58,526 96%
Physics Teacher Education 27 14 64% / 36% 0% $59,515 95%
Integrated Mathematics Education (Grades 7-12) 1 13 23% / 77% 0% $53,603 97%
Mathematics - Secondary Education 1 12 67% / 33% 8% $64,496
Chemistry Education 18 10 10% / 90% 0% $54,936 93%
Adolescence Education Mathematics 1 9 11% / 89% 0% $57,037 100%
Physics Education 10 7 71% / 29% 0% $56,960 93%
Earth Science Education 8 6 33% / 67% 0% $59,271 98%
Adolescence Education Earth Science 1 6 67% / 33% 0% $57,037 100%
Integrated Science Education (Grades 7-12) 1 6 33% / 67% 0% $53,603 97%
Secondary Education (Grades 6-12): Mathematics 1 6 0% / 100% 0% $56,415
STEM Education 4 5 40% / 60% 0% $49,255 94%
Adolescence Education Biology 1 5 60% / 40% 0% $57,037 100%
Integrated Science Education 1 4 75% / 25% 0% $52,265 94%
Teacher Education: Mathematics Education 1 4 25% / 75% 0% $48,314 93%
Teacher Education: Science Education 1 3 33% / 67% 0% $48,314 93%
Earth/Space Science Teacher Education 2 2 0% / 100% 0% $51,774 97%
Adolescence Education Physics 1 2 50% / 50% 0% $57,037 100%
Math Teaching 1 1 0% / 100% 0% $51,328
Secondary Education (Grades 6-12): Biology 1 1 0% / 100% 0% $61,625 92%
Secondary Education (Grades 6-12): Chemistry 1 1 0% / 100% 0% $57,440
Secondary Education (Grades 6-12): Physics 1 1 0% / 100% 0% $57,588
Computer Education 1 0 $56,099 98%