Best Teacher Education Colleges in Wisconsin (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 21 colleges in Wisconsin that offer a Teacher Education program by median earnings of Teacher Education graduates four years after completing. Marquette University leads the list with median earnings of $56,955 for its graduates four years after completing.
Across the 9 schools with a published figure, earnings range from $56,955 to $36,490, with a median of $43,805. For 3 of the 21 listed schools the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
The list splits almost evenly between public and private institutions, with 10 public and 11 private nonprofit schools. University of Wisconsin-Superior posts the lowest average net price at $12,220, while University of Wisconsin-Madison reports the highest six-year completion rate at 90%.
University of Wisconsin-Madison ranks 82nd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Teacher Education Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marquette University · Milwaukee, WI | $56,955 | $31,487 | $22,269 | 81.3% |
| Marquette University reports $56,955 in median earnings for its Teacher Education graduates four years after completing, the highest on this list. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (52 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (24 graduates), Education, General (14 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($56,955) | |||||
| 2 | Wisconsin Lutheran College · Milwaukee, WI | $53,548 | $23,245 | $18,190 | 78.2% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 64%, Wisconsin Lutheran College graduates 64% of its students within six years. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (17 graduates) | |||||
| 3 | Carroll University · Waukesha, WI | $50,285 | $15,193 | $15,718 | 66.8% |
| Carroll University admits 67% of applicants and carries an average net price of $15,193. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (37 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (23 graduates), Education, Other (7 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($50,285) | |||||
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI | $49,640 | $17,354 | $4,200 | 45.2% |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison holds the strongest Azimuth composite rank on the page, 82nd among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (76 graduates), Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education (47 graduates), Special Education and Teaching (23 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Special Education and Teaching ($50,302), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($49,640), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($48,435) | |||||
| 5 | Edgewood University · Madison, WI | $48,946 | $26,113 | $22,291 | 75.7% |
| An average net price of $22,291 for families earning under $30,000 is reported at Edgewood University. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (21 graduates), Education, Other (10 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (5 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($48,946) | |||||
| 6 | Carthage College · Kenosha, WI | $48,349 | $26,565 | $23,293 | 87.1% |
| Carthage College posts median earnings of $48,349 for its Teacher Education graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 87%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (18 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (7 graduates), Special Education and Teaching (5 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($48,349) | |||||
| 7 | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire · Eau Claire, WI | $47,473 | $16,550 | $10,270 | 82.3% |
| University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire shows a six-year completion rate of 64% and an average net price of $16,550. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (80 graduates), Special Education and Teaching (77 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (32 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Special Education and Teaching ($47,877), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($47,473) | |||||
| 8 | University of Wisconsin-Stout · Menomonie, WI | $47,256 | $17,490 | $10,966 | 87.7% |
| Admitting 88% of applicants, University of Wisconsin-Stout ranks 517th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (76 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (30 graduates), Special Education and Teaching (28 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($56,563), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($47,256) | |||||
| 9 | Alverno College · Milwaukee, WI | $46,708 | $22,540 | $22,032 | 85.7% |
| Alverno College reports median earnings of $46,708 for its Teacher Education graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (23 graduates), Education, General (20 graduates) | |||||
| 10 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater · Whitewater, WI | $46,637 | $14,158 | $8,440 | 85.7% |
| An average net price of $8,440 for families earning under $30,000 is listed at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (195 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (78 graduates), Special Education and Teaching (36 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Special Education and Teaching ($51,908), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($50,827), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($46,637) | |||||
| 11 | Saint Norbert College · De Pere, WI | $46,418 | $26,172 | $19,721 | 85.7% |
| Saint Norbert College graduates 71% of its students within six years and admits 86% of applicants. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (42 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (29 graduates), Education, General (5 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($47,861), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($46,418) | |||||
| 12 | University of Wisconsin-La Crosse · La Crosse, WI | $46,328 | $16,210 | $8,224 | 75.5% |
| University of Wisconsin-La Crosse carries an average net price of $16,210 and ranks 514th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (118 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (23 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($53,218), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($46,328) | |||||
| 13 | University of Wisconsin-River Falls · River Falls, WI | $46,004 | $14,054 | $8,472 | 81.7% |
| Admitting 82% of applicants, University of Wisconsin-River Falls reports a six-year completion rate of 57%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (88 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (75 graduates), Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language (16 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($54,043), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($46,004) | |||||
| 14 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh · Oshkosh, WI | $45,902 | $14,305 | $9,236 | 86.5% |
| University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh carries an average net price of $14,305 and ranks 594th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (111 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (53 graduates), Special Education and Teaching (38 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Special Education and Teaching ($47,828), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($45,902) | |||||
| 15 | Concordia University-Wisconsin · Mequon, WI | $45,665 | $36,201 | $34,991 | 78.2% |
| A private nonprofit university in Mequon, Concordia University-Wisconsin graduates 68% of its students within six years. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (21 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (12 graduates), Special Education and Teaching (5 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($45,665), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($42,923) | |||||
| 16 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point · Stevens Point, WI | $45,181 | $14,559 | $8,833 | 91.8% |
| University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point admits 92% of applicants and reports an average net price of $8,833 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (108 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (85 graduates), Special Education and Teaching (39 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($47,537), Special Education and Teaching ($46,315), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($45,181) | |||||
| 17 | University of Wisconsin-Platteville · Platteville, WI | $43,805 | $16,032 | $9,009 | 89.4% |
| Graduates of University of Wisconsin-Platteville earn a median of $43,805 four years after completing their Teacher Education degree. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (60 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (18 graduates) | |||||
| 18 | University of Wisconsin-Superior · Superior, WI | $43,561 | $12,220 | $9,679 | 93.0% |
| With the lowest average net price on this list at $12,220, University of Wisconsin-Superior also posts median earnings of $43,561 for its Teacher Education graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (86 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (27 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($43,561) | |||||
| 19 | Marian University · Fond Du Lac, WI | $40,461 | $21,937 | $17,449 | 75.0% |
| Marian University reports median earnings of $40,461 for its Teacher Education graduates two years after completing and an average net price of $21,937. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (12 graduates) | |||||
| 20 | Viterbo University · La Crosse, WI | $36,848 | $21,260 | $13,657 | 72.4% |
| Admitting 72% of applicants, Viterbo University reports median earnings of $36,848 for its Teacher Education graduates two years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (46 graduates) | |||||
| 21 | Lakeland University · Plymouth, WI | $36,490 | $24,212 | $22,453 | 86.3% |
| Lakeland University ranks 21st on this list, with an average net price of $22,453 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (10 graduates) | |||||
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Teacher Education graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only schools with a reported Teacher Education earnings cohort in Wisconsin appear. The figures cover federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled. For 3 of the 21 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range and median below cover the 9 schools with a published figure. Marquette University leads Wisconsin Lutheran College by $3,407, and the spread from top to bottom is $20,465.
Job market context in Wisconsin
Teacher Education graduates in Wisconsin enter a labor market linked to occupations such as Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, and Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education. The median annual wage across those occupations is $67,560, and a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $57,120. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 2.8% higher, with 10,220 projected openings a year, or about 381 openings a year for every hundred graduates, meaning more projected openings than graduates. Wages and top occupations exclude management occupations; openings include them. The ranking above uses the median earnings of graduates four years after completing, a different measure from the occupational wage data reported here.