Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Math teacher education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a math teacher. Math teachers usually study mathematics, education, or elementary education. 72% of math teachers hold a bachelor's degree, and 20% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 24,867 real math teacher resumes to see exactly what math teacher education sections show.
The most common colleges for math teachers are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online math teacher courses to help get the education required to be a math teacher.
There are certain math teacher certifications that you should consider. These math teacher certifications include Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE) and First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor.
What education do you need to become a math teacher?
What degree do you need to be a math teacher?
- Bachelor's, 72%
- Master's, 20%
- Associate, 4%
- Doctorate, 2%
- Other Degrees, 2%
What should I major in to become a math teacher?
- Mathematics, 30%
- Education, 13%
- Elementary Education, 10%
- Other Majors, 38%
Most common colleges for math teachers
| Math teacher common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 9.77% |
| Florida State University | 6.67% |
| Texas A&M University | 6.01% |
| University of Florida | 5.28% |
| Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey | 5.28% |
Best majors for math teachers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mathematics | 29.6% |
| 2 | Education | 12.6% |
| 3 | Elementary Education | 10.3% |
| 4 | General Education, Specific Areas | 9.4% |
| 5 | Business | 6.4% |
Best colleges for math teachers
The best colleges for math teachers are Harvard University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
A math teacher with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for math teachers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become math teachers.
1. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
4. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
5. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
6. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
7. University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$14,184
Enrollment
30,845
8. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
9. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
10. University of California - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$13,226
Enrollment
31,568
20 best online courses for math teachers
Advertising disclosure
1. Music Education for Teachers
In the Music Education for Teachers specialization, you will explore ways of integrating popular music into your teaching. You'll begin by learning from two highly experienced teachers, Krystal Banfield, the Vice President of Educational Outreach for Berklee College of Music, and David Alexis a Berklee Professor and long-time instructor for the Berklee City Music Program. They will take you through their process of incorporating popular music, improvisation, arranging, and music technology into...
2. Pre-Algebra Explained
Master Pre-Algebra with 700 Practice Questions! Prepare for High School Math: Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry...
3. College Algebra, Pre-Calculus, & Trigonometry Explained
Master College Level Algebra with our Step by Step Video Tutorials. Over 4500 Practice Questions! Ace your Algebra Exam!...
4. Abstract Algebra: Group Theory with the Math Sorcerer
A beautiful course on the Theory of Groups:)...
5. College Algebra with the Math Sorcerer
College Algebra Course with HUNDREDS of Video Examples:)...
6. Math Fundamentals 101 - Learn Math from Scratch to Algebra
Master 130+ basic math concepts with engaging videos, quizzes, real-world problems, and a free textbook!...
7. Algebra 2 & Trigonometry: A Complete High School Curriculum
Includes videos and over 300 pages of quizzes/worksheets (answer keys provided!)...
8. Linear Algebra for Data Science & Machine Learning - Math
Complete linear algebra - Mathematics for data science, machine learning & Deep Learning - Math for Data Science Algebra...
9. Become an Algebra Master
Learn everything from Algebra 1 and Algebra 2, then test your knowledge with 1,150+ practice questions...
10. The Beginner's Guide To Understanding Algebra 1 & Algebra 2
Master The Fundamentals of Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 and be ready to pass any test!...
11. Algebra 1 Explained
Master Algebra 1 with our Step by Step Video Tutorials and Practice with 1000 Practice Questions! Ace your Algebra Exam!...
12. Linear Algebra for Data Science & Machine Learning A-Z 2023
Linear Algebra for Data Science, Big Data, Machine Learning, Engineering & Computer Science. Master Linear Algebra...
13. Complete High Speed Vedic Math Course
Learn the World's Fastest Mental Math System...
14. Master Math by Coding in Python
Use Python to learn algebra, calculus, graphing, trigonometry and more math topics!...
15. Algebra I (Beginning Algebra)
Videos on a first course in Algebra (Beginning Algebra)...
16. Complete linear algebra: theory and implementation in code
Learn concepts in linear algebra and matrix analysis, and implement them in MATLAB and Python...
17. Mathematical Foundations of Machine Learning
Essential Linear Algebra and Calculus Hands-On in Num Py, Tensor Flow, and Py Torch...
18. Master Linear Algebra 2020: The Complete Study Of Spaces
Learn How to Define Space And How it is Characterized And Measured. We Make Linear Algebra Math Fun And Easy...
19. Math For Video Games: The Fastest Way To Get Smarter At Math
Learn Math for Video Game Design & Coding through Solving fun Video Game Problems...
20. Educational Psychology & Special Education (Certificate)
Informational content for educators and parents to learn about teaching and understanding exceptional children...
Top 10 most affordable universities for math teachers
The most affordable schools for math teachers are Hunter College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and california state university - long beach.
If the best universities for math teachers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for math teachers.
1. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
2. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
3. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
4. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
5. Queens College of the City University of New York
Queens, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,338
Cost of attendance
14,281
6. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
7. Lehman College of the City University of New York
Bronx, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,210
Cost of attendance
14,359
8. City College of New York of the City University of New York, The
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,140
Cost of attendance
14,430
9. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
10. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for math teachers
The hardest universities for math teachers to get into are Harvard University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
Some great schools for math teachers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for math teachers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
4. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
5. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
6. University of Chicago
Chicago, IL • Private
Admissions rate
7%
SAT average
1,520
7. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
8. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
9. University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN • Private
Admissions rate
18%
SAT average
1,502
10. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for math teachers
The easiest schools for math teachers to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, san francisco state university, and barry university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a math teacher without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for math teachers.
1. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
2. San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,054
3. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
4. Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,053
5. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
6. California University of Pennsylvania
California, PA • Private
Admissions rate
97%
SAT average
1,007
7. College of New Rochelle, The
New Rochelle, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
982
8. Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana, PA • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,019
9. Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Kingsville, TX • Private
Admissions rate
89%
SAT average
1,035
10. Notre Dame of Maryland University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,069
Average math teacher salary by education level
| Math teacher education level | Math teacher salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $58,231 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $49,001 |
| Doctorate Degree | $58,865 |
Math teacher education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.
Search for math teacher jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025