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.

- 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
Itawamba Community College
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 programView Itawamba Community College's Math Secondary Education, Associate of Arts ProgramItawamba 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.
- 2
Clark College
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 programView Clark College's Math Education (DTA/MRP), Associate of Arts ProgramClark 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.
- 3
Lake Washington Institute of Technology
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 programView Lake Washington Institute of Technology's Math Education, Direct Transfer Agreement/Major Related Program (DTA/MRP) ProgramLake 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.
- 4
Vincennes University
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 programView Vincennes University's Education - Mathematics Concentration, A.A ProgramVincennes 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.
- 5
Bellevue College
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 programView Bellevue College's Associate in Math Education (AME-DTA/MRP) ProgramBellevue 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.
- 6
Delaware Technical Community College-Terry
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 programView Delaware Technical Community College-Terry's Mathematics Secondary Education (MSE) ProgramDelaware 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.
- 7
Frederick Community College
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 programView Frederick Community College's Secondary Education - Mathematics ProgramFrederick 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.
- 8
Bucks County Community College
13score- 32%Grad rate
- $8,160/yrIn-state tuition
- $11,880/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 6,232Undergrads
- 1Grads/yr
- Secondary Education - Mathematics
About the programView Bucks County Community College's Secondary Education - Mathematics ProgramBucks 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.
- 9
Montgomery College
7score- 32%Grad rate
- $8,190/yrIn-state tuition
- $11,400/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 18,835Undergrads
- 3Grads/yr
- Secondary Education—Mathematics
About the programView Montgomery College's Secondary Education—Mathematics ProgramMontgomery 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.
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 →
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.
| State | Median 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
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
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
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
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
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
- Program counts, tuition, graduation and admission rates: IPEDS, US Department of Education.
- Wages and employment outlook: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics and the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
- Program descriptions: each school's official catalog and program pages.