Teaching is one of the noblest professions in any society. The best teachers not only help children learn the basics — reading, writing and math — they instill a passion for lifelong learning and they inspire kids to do something great with their lives. But all great teachers start out as students themselves and where they learn the skills of their calling matters. That’s why we put together this list of some of the best colleges for online teaching degrees. To come up with the best, we used criteria like affordability, flexibility, faculty quality and programs offered.
- Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, FL offers a wide range of degrees for aspiring teachers including two at the bachelor’s level: elementary education – ESOL/Reading and exceptional student education – ESOL. At the graduate level, the school has a Master of Science in Education (MS), a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) and an Education Specialist (Ed.S.). All of these are offered online, though some may have on-site or practical requirements (like internships and student teaching) to meet state requirements. Nova Southeastern has earned accreditation from the Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and its education programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
- East Carolina University
Unrivaled on this list for the sheer number of education programs offered online, East Carolina University in Greenville, NC is a great place to go to specialize. In addition to traditional teaching programs, students can pursue a Master of Arts in Education in areas like art education, instructional technology, reading and literacy, health, music and more. For those who want to become a teacher at the post-secondary (university) level, ECU has an Education Specialist in Educational Administration and Supervision and a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration. Despite a huge student population of 28,718 (40% of which are online), ECU has maintained a small student-to-teacher ratio of 18:1.
- Ball State University
The teaching programs at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana are asynchronous (students learn at their own pace) and taught by the same faculty that teaches on-campus. Programs here are pretty numerous and varied, as well — aspiring teachers can choose online master’s degrees in adult and community education, curriculum and educational technology, elementary education, secondary education and business education. Doctoral degrees here include a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Adult and Community Education, a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Administration and Supervision, and a Specialist in Education (EdS) in Educational Leadership and Supervision.
- Western Governors University
Western Governors University, which is tucked in the shadow of the Wasatch Mountains in Salt Lake City, Utah, takes a holistic approach to teacher prep, offering students teachers, one-on-one mentors and evaluators, all of whom work in concert to mold successful, well-rounded educators.
WGU has over 15 online degree options for teachers including a bachelor of arts in special education (mild to moderate), special education & elementary education, or elementary education. Bachelor of Science degrees are available in science education (middle grades), secondary science education (biology, physics, earth science, or chemistry), and mathematics education (secondary or middle grades). At the next level, there’s an M.S. Curriculum and Instruction, an M.A. Science Education (Middle Grades) and an M.A. in Teaching, Elementary Education, among others. Programs here are uniquely accredited by both the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
- Granite State College
Granite State College is a small public university in Concord, New Hampshire with a student population of just over 2,000; 82 % of them are fully online and most classes have fewer than 20 students , which offers students an intimate learning experience and plenty of fellow distance learning students.
Undergraduate teaching degrees here include an associate’s in early childhood education and bachelor’s in social studies, math studies and English language arts. Granite State also offers a wealth of online Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification (PBTC) programs including Blind and Vision Disabilities, Deaf and Hearing Disabilities, Digital Learning Specialist and General Special Education and Elementary Education, among many others.
Honorable Mentions:
- University of Southern Mississippi
- Northwestern State University of Louisiana
- Minnesota State University-Mankato
- Western Kentucky University
- Concordia University-Chicago
