AACTE Releases New Data Briefs on Degrees, Certificates, and Trends in Educator Preparation

(Oct. 16, 2025, Washington, D.C.) — AACTE (American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education) has released new data resources examining the latest federal information on educator preparation programs across the United States. Authored by AACTE consultants Jacqueline King, Ph.D., and Chen-Su Chen, Ph.D., the new publications provide valuable insights into degrees and certificates conferred in education, as well as national trends in teacher preparation.

The first publication, 2025 Data Update: Degrees and Certificates Conferred in Education, reports on degrees and certificates in education awarded by U.S. postsecondary institutions during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing from the U.S. Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), the analysis covers completions data from fall 2004 through fall 2023.

A companion publication, 2025 Data Update: Teacher Preparation Program Trends, explores programs leading to initial teacher licensure at higher education institutions and other organizations. This report is based on data submitted by states and jurisdictions through annual Title II reports to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education.

“These reports provide a valuable check-up on the supply of new educators, and it is exciting that this year we can offer readers the opportunity to customize how they view the data through our new data dashboards,” King said. “It is essential that the federal government continue to provide the field—and the broader public—with this important information.”

Together, the briefs are built on AACTE’s longstanding research portfolio, including Colleges of Education: A National Portrait (Second Edition) and Institutions Offering Degrees in Education: 2009–2010 to 2018–2019.

“These reports offer a vital window into the evolving landscape of educator preparation,” said AACTE President and CEO Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy, Ph.D. “At AACTE, we’re committed to ensuring that institutions, policymakers, and researchers have the accurate, actionable data they need to shape bold, evidence-based solutions. By understanding these trends, we can build a stronger, more sustainable educator pipeline for the future.”

AACTE members may access the new reports free of charge, while nonmembers and the general public may purchase the two-report bundle for $19.99. Both publications are available at aacte.org.

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About AACTE

Established in 1948, AACTE is the leading voice in educator preparation. AACTE’s member institutions and programs prepare the greatest number of professional educators in the United States and its territories, including teachers, counselors, administrators, and college faculty. These professional educators are prepared for careers in PK-12 classrooms, colleges and universities, state and governmental agencies, policy institutes, and non-profit organizations. Learn more at aacte.org.