Best Associate's in Mathematics Teacher Education Programs in 2026

All 9 programs reviewed from the IPEDS database, ranked on graduation rate, affordability, and more. CIP 13.1311.

An associate's degree in mathematics teacher education program is a transfer and pre-education track that covers your first two years of general education, core math courses, and an introduction to teaching. It suits community college students who want to teach math at the secondary level and want to trim the cost of their early credits. It is not a teaching license on its own, so treat it as the opening stage of a bachelor's degree that leads to certification.

A mathematics teacher working through an equation on the whiteboard with students
9Programs analyzed
$4,907Median in-state tuition
37%Median graduation rate
$72,040Median wage, secondary school teachers
  • In-state tuition typically runs from $2,287 to $8,190 a year, with a median near $4,907.
  • 9 of 9 ranked programs sit at public universities, and 1 offer an online or hybrid option.
  • We rank on graduation rate first, then selectivity and affordability, all from federal IPEDS data.
  1. 1

    Itawamba Community College

    Fulton, MSPublic

    94score
    • 50%Grad rate
    • $3,100/yrIn-state tuition
    • $5,500/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 5,139Undergrads
    • 2Grads/yr
    • Math Secondary Education, Associate of Arts
    About the program

    Itawamba Community College lists Math Secondary Education as an Associate of Arts within its School of Education. Earning the AA requires a minimum of 60 semester hours, including 35 hours of general education core, with a College Algebra or higher mathematics requirement. As an Associate of Arts it functions as an academic transfer degree, the first two years toward a bachelor's and secondary mathematics teacher preparation completed at a four year institution. The associate itself does not confer a Mississippi teaching license. A associate-level path in mathematics teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in Mississippi.

    Why it ranks here

    Three things decide where a program lands on this list: how many students finish, how selective it is, and what it costs. Start with the outcome that matters most, 50% of students graduate, top 1% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. Cost only helps its case: at $3,100 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. Strong on the measures that matter most, it earns a place near the top.

    Program page
  2. 2

    Clark College

    Vancouver, WAPublic

    64score
    • 39%Grad rate
    • $4,907/yrIn-state tuition
    • $10,857/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 7,463Undergrads
    • 3Grads/yr
    • Math Education (DTA/MRP), Associate of Arts
    About the program

    Clark College's Math Education Direct Transfer Agreement / Major Related Program is a 90 credit Associate of Arts designed as a transfer pathway, not a terminal or licensure degree. The catalog states it is applicable to students preparing to enter a secondary, that is high school, mathematics teaching degree or certification program at universities in Washington. Students complete general education plus lower division mathematics and introductory teaching coursework, then transfer to a four year institution where the actual teacher preparation and secondary math license are earned. Listed as active in the 2026 to 2027 catalog. Earning an associate degree in mathematics teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Washington's secondary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    We rank on the things that actually shape a teaching degree: whether students finish, how hard it is to get in, and the price of admission. Its strongest card is completion: a 39% graduation rate lands it in the top 25% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. Tuition is middle of the road for programs nationwide at $4,907 in state, so cost neither helps nor hurts its standing. Strong on the measures that matter most, it earns a place near the top.

    Program page
  3. 3

    Lake Washington Institute of Technology

    Kirkland, WAPublic

    61score
    • 37%Grad rate
    • $3,291/yrIn-state tuition
    • $8,804/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 3,564Undergrads
    • 1Grads/yr
    • Math Education, Direct Transfer Agreement/Major Related Program (DTA/MRP)
    About the program

    Lake Washington Institute of Technology's Associate in Math Education is a Direct Transfer Agreement/Major Related Program designed as a launchpad rather than a stand-alone credential, offered through the School of Education. It fulfills Washington's general education requirements while pointing students toward secondary math teacher certification, and it is engineered to transfer cleanly into four-year programs at universities such as Central Washington and Eastern Washington. The experience leans on small class settings, so students get close attention while building skills in communication, critical thinking, teamwork, and information literacy. All of it is meant to hand off smoothly to the certification programs that finish the licensure journey. One important caveat: the program is currently closed to new enrollment according to the official program page. A associate-level path in mathematics teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in Washington.

    Why it ranks here

    Where it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among programs nationwide at 37%, solid without being a standout. Cost only helps its case: at $3,291 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. Strong on the measures that matter most, it earns a place near the top.

    Program page
  4. 4

    Vincennes University

    Vincennes, INPublic

    58score
    • 39%Grad rate
    • $6,551/yrIn-state tuition
    • $16,283/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 19,795Undergrads
    • 1Grads/yr
    • Education - Mathematics Concentration, A.A.
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Vincennes University's Education, Mathematics Concentration is an Associate of Arts delivered on campus, with the same concentration also available as an Associate of Science for students who prefer that track. Rather than a teaching license, it is a transfer-focused degree that lets students build a strong foundation before moving on, since Vincennes designs its associate education programs to hand off cleanly to four-year institutions. From there, graduates can complete a bachelor's and pursue secondary, grades 5-12, mathematics teacher licensure at their transfer school. The Education Program at Vincennes University is accredited by CAEP, which signals a program aligned with recognized standards from the start. It gives math-minded students an affordable, well-structured first step toward the classroom. Earning an associate degree in mathematics teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Indiana's secondary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    Its rank is built from three numbers: graduation rate, admission rate, and in-state tuition, in that order of weight. Its strongest card is completion: a 39% graduation rate lands it in the top 25% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. The one drag is price, $6,551 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. That combination is what puts it in the top handful here.

    Program page
  5. 5

    Bellevue College

    Bellevue, WAPublic

    49score
    • 36%Grad rate
    • $4,205/yrIn-state tuition
    • $10,271/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 12,485Undergrads
    • 1Grads/yr
    • Associate in Math Education (AME-DTA/MRP)
    About the program

    Bellevue College offers the Associate in Math Education, a Direct Transfer Agreement Major Related Program designed for students planning to teach mathematics at the secondary level. The two-year degree covers college-level mathematics and an introductory education course, building the foundation to transfer into a four-year mathematics, statistics, or math education program. It does not by itself grant a teaching credential; graduates complete a bachelor's degree and further licensure requirements afterward to become certified teachers. This associate-level mathematics teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in Washington.

    Why it ranks here

    Its place on the list comes down to outcomes, selectivity, and price, weighted in that order. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among programs nationwide at 36%, solid without being a standout. Cost only helps its case: at $4,205 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. Together, that is one of the strongest profiles on the page.

    Program page
  6. 6

    Delaware Technical Community College-Terry

    Dover, DEPublic

    45score
    • 22%Grad rate
    • $2,287/yrIn-state tuition
    • $5,718/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 13,337Undergrads
    • 1Grads/yr
    • Mathematics Secondary Education (MSE)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Delaware Technical Community College-Terry designs its Associate of Arts in Teaching in Mathematics Secondary Education as a launching point rather than an endpoint. Built around 60 or more credits, it is a Connected Degree pathway, so students finish the associate degree and transfer to a four-year institution as juniors, on track to complete the bachelor's that licensure requires. Even at this early stage, coursework sends students into secondary school settings for field experience, letting teaching begin before the transfer does. Classes are available across the college's Dover, Georgetown, Stanton, and Wilmington locations, and the Delaware Department of Education has granted the program full state approval. While a bachelor's remains necessary to teach, associate holders can work as paraeducators in the meantime. Earning an associate degree in mathematics teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Delaware's secondary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    We rank on the things that actually shape a teaching degree: whether students finish, how hard it is to get in, and the price of admission. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 22% the graduation rate trails the national median, which caps how high it can climb. Cost only helps its case: at $2,287 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. On balance it is a well-rounded pick, which is what earns it a spot this high.

    Program page
  7. 7

    Frederick Community College

    Frederick, MDPublic

    39score
    • 37%Grad rate
    • $6,903/yrIn-state tuition
    • $9,351/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 7,293Undergrads
    • 2Grads/yr
    • Secondary Education - Mathematics
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Frederick Community College offers an Associate of Arts in Teaching (A.A.T.) in Secondary Education - Mathematics, a 63-credit transfer pathway within its Education department. The degree is designed to meet Maryland state requirements for the first two years of teacher education and transfers to most Maryland four-year teacher preparation programs, with up to 64 semester hours transferring without further review upon admission to a Maryland public or independent four-year teacher education program. Coursework requires 45 hours of observation in a school-based setting. This is a transfer degree toward mathematics teacher licensure, not a standalone teaching credential. Earning an associate degree in mathematics teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Maryland's secondary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    Its place on the list comes down to outcomes, selectivity, and price, weighted in that order. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among programs nationwide at 37%, solid without being a standout. The one drag is price, $6,903 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. No single weakness drags it down, and that consistency lands it in the upper tier.

    Program page
  8. 8

    Bucks County Community College

    Newtown, PAPublicOnline available

    13score
    • 32%Grad rate
    • $8,160/yrIn-state tuition
    • $11,880/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 6,232Undergrads
    • 1Grads/yr
    • Secondary Education - Mathematics
    About the program

    Bucks County Community College's 62-credit Associate of Science in Secondary Education with a Mathematics emphasis is built for students who know they want to teach math but want an affordable start. Offered through the School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, it is explicitly a transfer program, delivering the first two years toward a baccalaureate in secondary education aimed at teaching mathematics at the secondary level. Most graduates move on to a four-year institution to finish a bachelor's, though the associate degree on its own may support work as a teaching assistant or science technician in the meantime. Coursework for this major is delivered on campus, keeping students close to faculty as they build their mathematical foundation. It is a practical, budget-friendly first step toward the classroom. This associate-level mathematics teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in Pennsylvania.

    Why it ranks here

    Its rank is built from three numbers: graduation rate, admission rate, and in-state tuition, in that order of weight. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 32% the graduation rate trails the national median, which caps how high it can climb. The one drag is price, $8,160 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. On balance it is a well-rounded pick, which is what earns it a spot this high.

    Program page
  9. 9

    Montgomery College

    Rockville, MDPublic

    7score
    • 32%Grad rate
    • $8,190/yrIn-state tuition
    • $11,400/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 18,835Undergrads
    • 3Grads/yr
    • Secondary Education—Mathematics
    About the program

    Montgomery College's Associate of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education, Mathematics is a transfer pathway designed as the opening two years of a teaching degree rather than a credential that stands on its own. Offered through the School of Education at the Germantown, Rockville, and Takoma Park/Silver Spring campuses, the roughly 60-credit sequence runs over four semesters and pairs general education with core professional coursework. Two early field placements, one in a general education setting and one in special education, put students in classrooms while the mathematics itself runs deep, carrying coursework through multivariable calculus. The AAT is built to articulate cleanly with every Maryland four-year program in secondary math education, so credits carry forward. Students meet GPA and basic-skills requirements to earn the degree and continue toward licensure. This associate-level mathematics teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in Maryland.

    Why it ranks here

    Its place on the list comes down to outcomes, selectivity, and price, weighted in that order. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 32% the graduation rate trails the national median, which caps how high it can climb. The one drag is price, $8,190 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. No single weakness drags it down, and that consistency lands it in the upper tier.

    Program page
How we rank

Each program is scored 0 to 100 against the other associate's programs in its specialty: graduation rate (55%) and affordability by in-state tuition (45%). Scores are percentile-based within the specialty, so they compare like with like, and a program missing a field gets the neutral median. Because an associate's in elementary education is a two-year transfer degree offered almost entirely by open-admission community colleges, selectivity is not used. Earnings are excluded because they depend on transferring and finishing a bachelor's degree. Every associate's program in the specialty is ranked and shown, with no per-state cap.

  • Graduation rate: 55%
  • Affordability (in-state tuition): 45%

What careers can you get with an associate's in Mathematics Teacher Education?

Graduates most often go on to work as secondary school teachers. Nationally, the median wage for that occupation is $72,040, with most earning between $48,780 and $107,600, and roughly 1,065,210 people employed across the United States, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Teachers of this subject are reported within this grade-level occupation; the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish a separate wage series for it.

Read the full guide on how to become a secondary school teacher, or see secondary school teachers pay by state →

$72,040Median annual wage
$48,780 to $107,60010th to 90th percentile
1,065,210Employed nationally

Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 25-2031), and BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Wages are national and not school-specific.

Secondary School Teachers Salary by State in 2026

Median annual wage for secondary school teachers, by state. Highest is Washington at $102,670, lowest is Oklahoma at $48,710.

StateMedian wage
Washington$102,670
California$101,370
New York$97,070
Massachusetts$95,260
Rhode Island$92,610
District of Columbia$82,750
New Jersey$82,200
Connecticut$80,970
Illinois$79,990
Alaska$79,650
Oregon$79,570
Ohio$78,800
Pennsylvania$78,800
Maryland$78,670
Delaware$77,960
New Hampshire$77,060
Minnesota$76,460
Utah$76,330
Vermont$76,220
New Mexico$75,900
Georgia$75,480
Hawaii$74,310
Colorado$72,900
Virginia$72,170
Michigan$66,030
Nevada$65,520
Maine$64,880
Texas$63,590
Nebraska$63,450
Wisconsin$62,870
Guam$62,860
Wyoming$62,690
South Carolina$62,580
Alabama$61,990
Indiana$61,880
Tennessee$61,860
Idaho$61,690
Kentucky$61,560
North Dakota$61,210
Iowa$61,200
Montana$60,990
Florida$60,410
Kansas$59,920
Louisiana$59,850
Arkansas$59,660
Virgin Islands$59,520
Missouri$59,240
Puerto Rico$59,100
Arizona$58,360
North Carolina$57,650
West Virginia$56,610
South Dakota$51,050
Mississippi$50,980
Oklahoma$48,710

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

How much an associate's in Mathematics Teacher Education program costs

Published in-state tuition across the 9 ranked associate's programs typically runs from $2,287 to $8,190 a year, with a median near $4,907. Most of that spread is public versus private: public universities charge state residents the least, while private colleges set a single sticker price that applies to everyone. 9 of the 9 programs here are public, which is usually where the lowest in-state numbers come from.

Sticker price is rarely what a student pays. Grants and scholarships lower the net cost, and future teachers have aid written specifically for them: the federal TEACH Grant provides up to $4,000 a year to students who agree to teach a high-need subject in a low-income school, and many states add service scholarships and loan-forgiveness programs for people who commit to the classroom. Two costs to watch are out-of-state tuition, which at public schools often runs two to three times the resident rate, and mandatory fees and living expenses, which the tuition figure leaves out entirely.

What none of this changes is the paycheck at the end. The median wage for secondary school teachers is $72,040 regardless of where the degree was earned, so two graduates can reach the same salary having paid very different tuition to get there. That is exactly why affordability, essentially graduation rate per tuition dollar, is one of the factors we weight rather than an afterthought.

Sources: tuition and program data from IPEDS; the TEACH Grant from Federal Student Aid; wages from BLS OEWS.

Ways to earn your associate's in Mathematics Teacher Education

An associate's in Mathematics Teacher Education is usually the first two years of a longer teaching path rather than a destination in itself. Of the 9 ranked programs, 1 offer an online or hybrid option, which suits students balancing work or family, though any required classroom-observation hours still happen in person. Many are designed explicitly as a transfer, or pre-education, track that maps onto a four-year degree.

The move that saves the most money is articulation: completing general-education and introductory teaching coursework at a community college, then transferring those credits into a bachelor's program to finish the degree and student teaching. Statewide transfer agreements in many states guarantee that an approved associate's applies in full, so it pays to choose a program with a clear articulation pathway to the university you eventually want to attend.

An associate's on its own does not lead to a standard teaching license, which is the norm for this level rather than a shortcoming. What it does do is open the door to classroom roles now, paraprofessional and teacher-aide positions, and in some states a step toward early-childhood or substitute credentials while you keep studying toward the bachelor's.

Sources: online and program counts from IPEDS; alternative-certification pathways per the US Department of Education.

How to use an associate's in mathematics teacher education program to become a teacher

The path runs from the two-year degree into a bachelor's teacher-prep program and then to a state license.

  1. 1

    Earn the associate's

    Complete about 60 credits combining general education, calculus and other core math courses, and an introduction to teaching. A strong record in your math courses helps when you transfer into a teacher-prep program.

  2. 2

    Follow an articulation agreement

    Use any transfer agreement your community college has with four-year schools so your credits are guaranteed to count. An advisor can guide you toward the math and education courses that transfer cleanly.

  3. 3

    Transfer into a bachelor's teacher-prep program

    Move your credits into a bachelor's in mathematics education program or math with a secondary teaching concentration. This stage deepens your subject knowledge and adds teaching methods for the secondary classroom.

  4. 4

    Complete student teaching

    Finish the supervised classroom placement your program and state require. You will teach math in a real secondary school under the guidance of a mentor teacher.

  5. 5

    Pass exams and apply for your license

    Pass your state's required math content and pedagogy tests, then apply to the state for certification. Once licensed, you can be hired as a secondary math teacher.

Requirements summarized from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook and each state's department of education. Exact requirements vary by state.

Frequently asked questions about an Associate's in Mathematics Teacher Education

Does an associate's in mathematics education let you teach math?

No, an associate's degree does not let you teach math on its own, since it does not qualify you for a lead-teacher license. States require at least a bachelor's degree, student teaching, and passing exam scores to teach math in a public school. The associate's is a stepping stone toward those requirements.

Will an associate's in mathematics education transfer to a bachelor's program?

Your associate's credits usually will transfer to a bachelor's program, especially when your community college has an articulation agreement with a four-year school. These agreements are built so your general education and introductory courses count toward the bachelor's. Confirm that your specific math and education courses transfer before enrolling.

How long does an associate's in mathematics education take?

The associate's takes about two years for full-time students, while part-time students take longer. At roughly 60 credits, it covers about the first half of a bachelor's degree. You then complete the remaining two years of teacher preparation.

How does starting an associate's in mathematics education at a community college save money in 2026?

Starting at a community college saves money because community college tuition is generally lower than four-year tuition, so completing your first two years there reduces the total cost of a bachelor's. You take the same foundational math and general education courses for less and then transfer. That savings is a common reason students start with the associate's.

What jobs can you get right after an associate's in mathematics education?

Right after the associate's, you can get paraprofessional and teacher-aide roles that support a licensed teacher, along with math tutoring positions. These roles do not require a full license. They let you gain classroom experience while you finish your bachelor's.

Is an associate's in mathematics education worth it?

The associate's is worth it for a student aiming to teach secondary math, as a smart, lower-cost start toward a bachelor's and license, and math teachers are often in demand. Secondary school teachers earn a median wage of about $72,040, according to federal data for Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, but that figure reflects the bachelor's-and-license career the associate's leads toward, not the two-year degree itself. If your credits transfer, it is a reasonable first move.

Answers draw on IPEDS, the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, and each state's department of education.

Data sources for our Associate's in Mathematics Teacher Education ranking