Education Major

What does an education major do?

An education major studies how people learn and how best to teach them.

What types of jobs do education majors take after graduation?

There are a variety of career paths available to education majors, including:

• Teacher
• Principal
• Professor
• School Counselor/Psychologist
• Coach
• Librarian
• Corporate Trainer

What degrees do education majors pursue?

Most states require public school teachers to have at least a Bachelor’s degree and a teacher’s license. Many teachers have a love for learning and pursue higher education. Once you earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, you can also pursue a Master’s or Doctorate in Education, or your subject matter of expertise.

Are there any required exams or certifications for education majors?

Most states will require you to obtain a teacher’s license in order to teach public school within the state. Each state has their own requirements, but you may be required to pass a state mandated exam and have passed required education courses. There is also a national certification available for teachers, which may allow you to carry your license from one state to another. For more information on national teaching certification, visit The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

How much does an education program cost?

School costs vary widely, depending on the type of school you choose and what type of program you are pursing. You can find average school costs for public education colleges and private education colleges in our compare colleges section.

How do I pay for an education program?

Whether you are paying for an undergraduate or graduate education program, it’s important that you complete the FAFSA and review your financial aid options. You should start by trying to obtain college scholarships and college grants (free money) to pay for your Education program. Then use federal student loans, such as the Federal Stafford Loan. If free money and federal loans are not enough to pay for your Education program, you can begin to research private student loans to cover the remainder of your school costs.

What is the average entry-level salary for education majors?

According to the American Federation of Teachers, the entry level salary for a teacher with a bachelor's was $33,227 in the 2005-2006 school year¹.

An education major generally possesses the following skill sets:

• Communication skills
• Teaching skills
• Math/reading/writing skills