Are you passionate about education and considering a career as a teacher? Our blog presents an in-depth overview of the best colleges for education majors. From renowned education programs to hands-on teaching experiences, we provide valuable insights to help you make an informed decision. Discover the colleges that prioritize your growth as an educator, offering comprehensive curricula, exceptional faculty, and robust networking opportunities. Visit our blog today to explore the top institutions that will equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the dynamic field of education.
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Educators are critically needed in many areas across the country and around the world. Teaching the next generation is a role that you might feel called to, but first, you must attend college and major in education to earn your teaching license.
Before you get busy filling out a bunch of college applications, do some research to learn which schools are the best colleges for education majors. Because it’s true that every student is unique with different needs and goals, not every school or program is ideal for every one of them.
If you’re interested in becoming a teacher, search for the “best college for career in education” and take advantage of these tips.
Best College for Career in Education: What to Look For
Everyone has their own opinion on what makes a college great, and if you were to ask 1,000 education majors what the “best college for career in education” is, you’d get almost as many different answers.
However, ranking colleges for their education programs is possible when you look at objective facts and information instead of subjective opinions. Some of the factors that are used to determine the best colleges for education degrees include the following:
- The popularity of the education major within the school
- The reputation of the education program at the school
- The overall quality of the school
- The overall reputation of the school
- The size of the education program
If you plan on studying to earn your teaching degree, there’s no better time to get started investigating the best colleges for education majors than now.
When gathering information on what school you should apply to, it’s important for you to keep your own goals and preferences in mind. Consider your personal needs to help you narrow down your options.
Ask yourself:
- Do you want to go to a college that is near your home, or would you rather go to a school farther away?
- Do you prefer a small close-knit campus community, or do you want the excitement of a big university?
- Are you looking for smaller classes and a more intimate learning environment, or do you prefer large lecture halls filled with many other classmates?
- Is cost a concern? Public schools are generally less expensive than private institutions.
Once you have an idea of what you want in a college, you will be closer to finding the right one for you.
The Best Colleges for Education Degrees
To be a teacher in the United States, you must earn your teaching license in the state where you want to teach. Education is a broad and varied field that blends various other fields together, from math and social studies to psychology and science. Many outstanding universities in the U.S. offer undergraduate education majors.
The University of California, Berkeley
Founded in 1868, this large university with almost 30,000 undergrad students is situated in the San Francisco Bay area. The Berkeley School of Education offers Master of Arts, Doctor of Philosophy, credential degree programs, and undergraduate degrees and minors.
The program supports positive social transformation in education and prepares education majors for meeting the standards of enrichment — not just to get their teaching licenses but also to become the best teachers they can be.
Harvard University
Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard is a college with just under 10,000 undergraduate students. Education majors here are encouraged to enroll in the Teaching and Teacher Leadership program, which allows them to complete coursework to earn a Massachusetts teaching license in science, math, English, or history.
The Graduate School of Education also offers doctoral and master’s degrees and online options for distance learning. Students often pursue a secondary concentration in Educational Studies, which allows them to expand their teaching methods to include multiple disciplinary perspectives.
The University of Michigan
The city of Ann Arbor is home to the University of Michigan, which has an undergraduate enrollment of over 30,000 students. It’s ranked #1 consistently in Education and Educational Research, according to the Center for World University Subject Rankings.
Undergraduates can pursue a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in elementary education in the esteemed program, which focuses on developing instructional practices to overcome classroom inequity.
Alternatively, students can pursue a three-year secondary teacher education program and are encouraged to apply through the university’s Teacher Education Preferred Admissions Program.
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College offers programs across a wide variety of specializations in education, including special education, secondary education, early childhood education, and elementary education. Located in Nashville, TN, the college has an undergraduate enrollment of about 7,000 students.
Future teachers at this college are required to pursue a non-education second major to broaden their knowledge of other topics. There are 21 master’s degrees available from Peabody College, along with six Ph.D. programs and two Ed.D. programs. Vanderbilt’s online doctorate program is ranked #1 by Fortune.
University of Washington
In Seattle, WA, you’ll find another of the best colleges for education majors at the University of Washington. It’s a larger university with 32,000 undergraduate students on campus. The UW College of Education is composed of award-winning faculty who lead studies in Education, Learning & Society; Early Childhood & Family Studies; Education, Communities, & Organizations; and more.
The University of Washington collaborates with schools across the state to prepare future educators to become agents of change and solve real-world challenges, earning it a top spot in several “best colleges” lists.
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI, is home to one of the best colleges for education degrees. Michigan State University has 40,000 undergraduate students and ranks consistently in “top college” lists each year. In fact, the elementary and secondary education programs have ranked #1 for 28 years in a row on U.S. News & World Report’s list.
Education majors at MSU are heavily engaged in internships, experiential learning, and fieldwork, which are central to the education curriculum. The experience students gain in real-world settings proves year after year to be a valuable asset for teachers in Michigan and beyond.
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Students who are enrolled in UW Madison’s School of Education have a vast array of opportunities regarding experiential learning, conducting research, study abroad programs, and internships.
Several undergraduate programs are available, and each division offers courses at the undergraduate level in subjects that include educational psychology, special education, educational leadership, policy analysis, and more.
With over 32,000 undergraduate students enrolled, UW Madison is a larger school with an acceptance rate of 57%. Programs within the School of Education consistently rank in the top 10 in various “best college” lists for specialty areas like education.
Pennsylvania State University
Penn State’s College of Education allows students to pursue an impressive range of undergraduate degrees, including eight education majors with teacher preparation instruction in almost two dozen specialty degree programs. The college operates with the firm belief that every student has the power to positively impact those they teach.
The school has 40,000 undergraduate students enrolled, and those who pursue an education degree can focus on specialties like special education, educational psychology, policy making, and counseling. Experiential, hands-on learning is at the core of the education programs at Penn State, which is located in University Park, Pennsylvania.
Columbia University
As one of the most prestigious universities in New York City and the world, Columbia University boasts an equally lauded education program. The world-renowned Teachers College extends beyond basic teaching degrees, and the graduate school offers education programs that are some of the most innovative and well-respected in the country.
There are about 8,200 undergraduate students at Columbia. Those pursuing an education degree begin by enrolling in programs like the Barnard Education program, which offers a major in Educational Studies and a minor in Urban Teaching, ultimately leading to teaching certification for the state of New York.
Clemson University
With almost 20,000 undergraduate students and a beautiful location in Clemson, South Carolina, this college offers education degrees that are respected throughout the world. Clemson’s College of Education has long been considered a transformative leader in education and offers award-winning education degree programs across a variety of concentrations.
While the education department is renowned on its own accord, its acclaim is heightened by the opportunities students have to participate in exclusive organizations and programs. These include ClemsonLIFE, which provides experiences and skills for students with intellectual disabilities, and Call Me MISTER, which helps minority male students prepare for their educational careers.
The Best Colleges for Teaching Degrees
The United States is fortunate to have a plethora of outstanding colleges that award teaching and education degrees. Some additional institutions of higher learning you might consider for your education degree are:
- The University of Oregon
- Indiana University
- The University of Alabama
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- UCLA
- The University of Florida
- Purdue University
- Arizona State University
It’s important that you choose a school that offers a wide range of program options, resources, and opportunities so you can fine-tune your education to match your passions and skills. Get started early researching schools — the more you learn about each one, the better your chance of finding the perfect program for you.
