by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Science Education covers Science Teacher Education/general Science Teacher Education. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Teach General Science Programs, Or A Combination Of The Biological And Physical Science Subject Matter Areas, At Various Educational Levels. Continue reading for the important information every science education major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering science education programs.
Nationwide, science education is a widely-pursued major, with 1,022 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Science Education Schools ranking analyzes these 163 schools to determine the best overall colleges for science education students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of science education programs later in this article.
Programs in Science Education emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations science education graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a science education program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a science education major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several science education degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 3 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 4 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 318 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 660 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 37 |
People currently working in careers related to science education tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 46.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 17.6% |
| Master’s degree | 16.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 12.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.6% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in science education careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in science education opens doors to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to science education.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to science education.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,441,246 | 2.4% |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 692,039 | -1.4% |
| Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 615,002 | 10.3% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 497,622 | 4.3% |
| Physics Teachers, Postsecondary | 415,392 | 14.3% |
| Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | 398,348 | 7.1% |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 297,433 | 4.5% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of science education graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $49,919 |
| 4 years | $50,204 |
| 5 years | $56,331 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for science education graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers science education grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Education Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,329 |
| Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $83,485 |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $83,105 |
| Physics Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,685 |
| Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,966 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $72,801 |
| Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | $69,509 |
With 163 different science education programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased science education school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in science education, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physical Education Teaching and Coaching | 6,964 |
| Reading Teacher Education | 5,986 |
| Music Teacher Education | 4,544 |
| English/Language Arts Teacher Education | 3,018 |
| Mathematics Teacher Education | 2,993 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other | 2,352 |
| Social Studies Teacher Education | 1,963 |
| Art Teacher Education | 1,860 |
| Health Teacher Education | 1,472 |
| Agricultural Teacher Education | 1,051 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
