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What is Education?

An education degree is the area of practice, study, and employment that deals with processes and methods of imparting knowledge and training others.  Education covers a variety of practices, specializations, levels, and methods which may be applied to a specific classroom setting or a school as a whole. Individuals at the highest level of the field utilize theory to try to uncover which methodologies will work best in promoting educational growth, often constructing new theories and experimental pedagogies.

Career Summary

MEDIAN SALARY

$54,520

PERCENT ABOVE NATIONAL
INCOME AVERAGE

32.01%

TOTAL SECTOR EMPLOYMENT

8,636,430

Degree Median Salary vs Adjacent Degree Types

Source: BLS, US Census, and IPEDS

2024 Best Education Degree

Harvard University is one of the oldest and prestigious institutions. Considering it is also part of Ivy League School the university has been offering a quality education degree  program and training. The university is devoted to give the students excellent opportunities in research, learning and teaching to develop soon to be educators and leaders to make a difference globally. Moreover, the university offers a variety of programs related to Education. Where it produces more than 10,000 educators around the world with specialized backgrounds in early childhood, higher education professionals, and K-12 programs. 

Acceptance Rate

4.64

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

Columbia University in the City of New York is considered as one of the most important schools since it is known as the center of research. CU is known for their distinguished educational and learning environment with thousands of engaged alumni and faculty.  The school seeks leading-edge academics to provide students the tools they need to take the next steps in their vocational paths.  The English education degree program is a highly rated program in our study this year with various program choices.  Specifically, qualified students can enroll in initial teaching certificates, professional teaching certificates, advanced study, and doctoral degrees.  

Acceptance Rate

5.45

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

Brown University established on September 15, 1974 has been providing quality education and training for its students for decades. As part of the Ivy League, the university is considered to be one of the best universities in the United States for its quality academics and strong community.  BU offers degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate level for academic programs from teaching to criminal justice.  Specific to the teaching programs, Brown University created The Education Alliance back in 1975.  They have partnered with local state departments, schools, and teachers to solve complex education issues and apply relevant research findings.  A collaboration on this level helps students apply classroom knowledge with real world situations to best utilize the resources in the education system.

Acceptance Rate

7.07

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

University of Pennsylvania continues to push the bounds in academics to benefit current and prospective students.  Within the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, the Education, Culture, and Society department that offers the top ranked Master of Science in Education (M.S. Ed.).  Graduates of the program will have a scholarly lens to the education system using history, philosophy, and anthropology to best understand school within society.  UPenn offers students a low student to teacher ratio, multiple electives, and curriculum that allows for practical application.  Request admissions information from UPenn or apply via the schools primary web portal. 

Acceptance Rate

7.66

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

University of Chicago empowers individuals through education through integrative, challenging coursework.  As an urban research university, the University of Chicago leads the nation in several categories include the study performed this year in education degree programs.  The Chicago Center for Teaching is a degree program that brings together top-notch faculty with future educators to discuss classroom management, pedagogy, documentation, and professional portfolios.  Earning a teaching certificate from the University of Chicago offers students a quality start to a career in the classroom or as an administrator of an educational institution. 

Acceptance Rate

6.17

Student to Faculty Ratio

5:1

Stanford University is a private research university that was founded in 1885.  Once again, the university has secured a high ranking on our annual study of top teaching certificate programs for its focus on excellence and student community.  The Graduate School of Education at Stanford helps students understand the core issues facing administrators, teachers, and policy makers.  Exploratory degrees adjacent to the education degree can be taken by qualified students to enhance their academic toolkit in preparation for a career in a school district or in a classroom. 

Acceptance Rate

4.34

Student to Faculty Ratio

5:1

Bowdoin College was established on June 24, 1794 and offers qualified students access to a number of high quality degree programs across diverse areas of study.  The Education Department at Bowdoin College is known for its commitment to quality academics by connecting pedagogy, education theories, and history with contemporary education issues.  Interested students can pursue degree programs in contemporary education, educational psychology, diversity, research, and economics in education.  Each discipline allows students to apply specialized knowledge in various capacities to provide insights and solutions to issues facing teachers, faculty, and administrators. 

Acceptance Rate

9.05

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

Swarthmore College was founded in 1864 and is located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.  As liberal arts college, the school constructs course work to inject a diverse set of integrative thinking into each degree program.  The College of Educational Studies at Swarthmore College support a student’s thirst to perform deep research and theoretical framework to analyze complex issues.  A Swarthmore student will sharpen skills to thoughtfully and creatively analyze existing school practices, theories, and research.  The ability to deploy qualitative, quantitative, and mixed thinking methods allow practitioners to adeptly solve classroom and administration issues of today. 

Acceptance Rate

8.93

Student to Faculty Ratio

8:1

Cornell University is a statutory land-grant university but also a private institution that was founded in April 27, 1865.  As a member of the Ivy League, Cornell University has an academic reputation that stands out from other universities.  The teaching programs offered at Cornell include undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, and teaching certificate programs.  The robust education degrees at CU allow students to select the best path for them in a competitive environment.  Recently, Cornell University announced their partnership with the North America Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning.  Commonly known as CITRL, both graduate students and post doctorate students can build additional skills to be applied to a range of vocational pursuits. 

Acceptance Rate

10.85

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

Northwestern University is a private research school founded in 1851.  The initial founding of the university was catalyzed by the need to serve the academic demands of inhabitants of the former Northwest Territory.  Located in Evanston, Illinois the school has garnered an exceptional academic reputation for decades on end.  Graduate and undergraduate degree programs include the humanities to the sciences.  This year, Northwestern University ranked high on our list of top education degree programs for future teachers and educators.  Within the School of Education and Policy, students can find the highly acclaimed secondary teaching program.  Constructed to be an interdisciplinary program, the faculty have created a leading program that blends both real-world experience with rigorous coursework. 

Acceptance Rate

9.05

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

Georgetown University is located in Washington DC in a neighborhood known as Georgetown.  The school was founded as Georgetown College in 1789 by Bishop John Carroll.  As a private research university, GU has garnered national acclaim for its academics making it a highly respected institution.  Students seeking to teach after college can consider the Teaching Certificate Program found within the school’s Center for Innovation and Leadership in Education.   Learn more about the myriad academic programs offered by Georgetown University today by searching the course catalog or reaching out to the admissions team.

Acceptance Rate

14.36

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

Vanderbilt University was founded in 1873 in Nashville, Tennessee.  Since that time, VU has been curating some of the most complete, engaging academic programs in the region.  Within Peabody College at Vanderbilt, students inclined to learn deeply about education can consider graduate programs in the field.  Specifically, the school offers a graduate degree in Learning, Teaching, and Diversity.  The areas of specialty offered within this elite program include: Learning and Design, Math and Science Education, Language and Literacy, & Justice and Diversity.  All programs have recently been revamped to provide optimal synergy between the students and Vanderbilt faculty. 

Acceptance Rate

9.12

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

Washington University is a private research university that was founded in 1853.  The school is named after George Washington and has several campus locations around Saint Louis.  Within the School of Art and Sciences, students enrolled at Washington University can enroll in the Department of Education.  The undergraduate degree programs can be extended into stand-alone master degrees or stand-alone PhD programs.  All aforementioned academic tracks can lead to a teaching certificate.  WU also offers a non-degree teaching certification for qualified students.     

Acceptance Rate

13.85

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

Johns Hopkins University believed that teaching the younger generation could change the world. Sharing knowledge and discoveries can make the world even a better place. Specific to education, the faculty and administration at JHU have invested substantive time and energy to create world-class teaching programs.  Students seeking a teaching certificate can pursue academic pathways such as special education; mind, brain, and teaching, online education degree, or a MS degree in education.  Each track has passionate faculty that support students desire to learn and teach.  Learn more about the teaching programs at Johns Hopkins University by connecting with the admissions team.

Acceptance Rate

11.17

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

Tufts University was founded in 1852 as Tufts College as a small, liberal arts university.  Since that time, it has transitioned into a larger research institution that has earned national accolades.  This year, we have determined through our analysis the Tufts University Department of Education has earned high marks given the overall quality of the teaching degree programs.  The university seeks independent, curious learners to make a substantive impact in the world of education.  Combining intellectual growth with community growth is a laudable goal of all educators and a value statement from the administrators at Tufts University.       

Acceptance Rate

14.95

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

University of Southern California was founded in 1880 by Robert Widney and has the distinction of being the oldest private research college in California.  USC enrolls nearly fifty thousand students a year when you combine undergraduate, graduate, and online learners.  Rossier School of Education at USC is one of the leading centers for the study of urban education.  Faculty at Rossier help students grapple with methods to improve urban teaching and learning globally, regionally, and locally.  Through innovative solutions and key community partnerships, students have found success improving education for urban students for decades.   

Acceptance Rate

11.42

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

University of California, Los Angeles has roots in California dating back to 1882 when the current site of San Jose State University was a southern location of the California State Normal School.  The UCLA Department of Education and Information Studies began in 1919 as a teachers college and many consider this the heart of the university.  Academic pathways a student can pursue within the GSEIS include urban studies, early childhood education, and multi-ethnic environments.  Within each distinct program, students grapple with big questions around the quality of education, access, and equity for all students. 

Acceptance Rate

12.32

Student to Faculty Ratio

18:1

University of Virginia was founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as a public university and was designed to provide eager students advance learning opportunities. Since that time, UVA has provided thousands of students access to quality curriculum and engaging learning programs.  The top ranked School of Education and Human Development college at UVA continues to impress academics and practitioners.  The bachelor degrees in teaching include pathways for ECE, elementary education, and special education.  Master degree programs span ESL, elementary education, math, science, social studies, and English.  The online master’s degree for teachers are special education and ESL. 

Acceptance Rate

23.94

Student to Faculty Ratio

15:1

Colby College is a small liberal arts college that was founded in 1813 in Waterville, Maine.  The school was originally known as the Maine Literary and Theological Institution until later named after Garder Colby who was an influential philanthropist that lived in Waterville.  The Department of Education at Colby College built its program on a liberal arts approach to practice, research, and theory.  Within this nexus, students work to understand the inner workings of privilege, power, and influence in schools across the nation.  In addition to a solid academic track record, Colby offers community collaboration and civic engagement projects to expose students to life outside the college.

Acceptance Rate

9.67

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

University of California at Berkeley was founded in 1868 as the state of California’s first land grant university.  It was also the first school in the University of California system of schools and the original member of AAU.  The school offers qualified students access to over three hundred and fifty degree programs across fourteen schools.   The School of Education at UC Berkeley is one of the top-rated programs in the country for its efforts to understand the complex world of educating young learners.  Learn more about the PhD, Master of Arts, professional programs, minors, and additional teaching degrees offered through the Berkeley School of Education. 

Acceptance Rate

16.25

Student to Faculty Ratio

20:1

University of Michigan in Ann Arbor is a public research school and is the oldest university in Michigan.  The university was founded in 1817 in Detroit and was known as the University of Michigania for two decades.  The broad academic programs have garnered UM national attention and helped it earn numerous accolades.  More specifically, the University of Michigan Department of Education offers motivated teachers academic options to pursue their dreams.  Bachelor’s degrees in teaching at UM come in two tracks: elementary education and secondary education.  The instructional practices are specifically designed to disrupt inequities and root out social justice issues at any level of the education system. 

Acceptance Rate

22.91

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

Emory University was founded in 1836 as Emory College after bishop John Emory.  The school is located in Atlanta, Georgia and is a private research university.  From mathematics to medieval studies, Emory provides a robust suite of academic programs for students at the graduate and undergraduate level.  The major in Educational Studies is a Bachelor of Arts program that is often cited as a foundation program for students seeking a future in teaching or other careers in education.  As a liberal arts university, the university has a breadth requirement for students to ensure they are exposed to concepts and ideas outside their area of specialty. 

Acceptance Rate

15.6

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

Colgate University is one of the leading liberal arts institutions in the nation. Its roots date back to 1819 as the Baptist Education Society in NY until being renamed in 1923.  The breadth of academic programs are matched by the quality of education in each learning domain.  As an example, we ranked Colgate in our study this year for their exceptional Department of Educational Studies.  The value statement of the department is for students to grasp a critical understanding of the intertwined relationship between education, society, knowledge and power.  Degree programs include an undergraduate major, undergraduate minor, graduate degree, and teaching certificate program. 

Acceptance Rate

22.58

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university and was chartered in 1789.  It is commonly referred to as a Public Ivy school and is the flagship university in the North Carolina system.  The School of Education at UNC espouses a three-tier mission of research, teaching, and service.  The graduate degree program in the School of Education was crafted to meet the evolving needs of educators in both instructional and non-instructional roles. Learn more about the education degree programs for educators from UNC by requesting information from the admissions department or searching the course catalog. 

Acceptance Rate

22.63

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

Vassar College located at Poughkeepsie, New York is a private liberal arts school that was established in 1861 by Matthew Vassar.  The college offers students access to robust degree and certificate programs in a wide array of learning domains.  In our study this year, we determined the school to rank high when comparing the quality of education with its peers across a very competitive landscape.  The Department of Education at Vassar College espouses the value of a liberal arts education to think deeply and critically about the world around us.  As such, students can be thoughtful about their role in education and teaching while maximizing the impact of their time with students.  

Acceptance Rate

23.74

Student to Faculty Ratio

8:1

How To Become a Teacher

To become a teacher or professional in the education field, you will need to follow a series of steps to achieve your goal. Akin to other licensed professionals, you will need to invest time and resources into your education before having the opportunity to apply early for licensure in your state. The steps to help you become a teacher include the following:

  1. Align Your Priorities Creating a personal priority list first will serve you well. This list will include your career goals and academic aspirations. Ultimately, this will serve you much better than a media conglomerate pitching zero percent credit cards or discounted timeshares in Bali. You can quickly find a list of starter questions on pages three and four of our college admissions guide. After digesting this comprehensive guide, investing time to understand how to get into your top school and minimizing college costs will be next on your list.
  2. Get Feedback Ask family members, teachers, counselors, alumni, and friends for feedback. This process will help ensure your priority list is on track and aligned with your long-term objectives prior to making any formal decisions about college admissions.
  3. Self-Assess Take stock of your strengths and weaknesses, to help you more efficiently narrow down your college options in the education field. The assessment should include grades, personality, passions, lifestyle goals, and career aspirations. winnow down school options leading to a computer programming degree.
  4. Getting Matched & Apply Get matched to quality, accredited colleges by requesting information from them via this resource page or our proprietary matching After receiving school information from a handful of top colleges, you can then assess your likelihood of admissions. By taking the time to understand a schools admissions requirements, policies, education parameters, cost, program length, and curriculum is essential before submitting your application for admissions. On your college application, invest the time to highlight any and all work experience in teaching or leadership positions to help you stand out in a pool of qualified college applicants.
  5. Financial Aid As your college application is in queue with the admissions department, take the time to ask specific questions about financial aid options. Collect information on the schools financial aid application, grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and loans before committing to an education program.
  6. College Acceptance By taking the time to align your goals with the schools offerings and overall costs, you will be more readily able to make a quality decision about college. After deciding on the best college program for you, it will be time to schedule time for orientation and register for classes.
  7. Earn Your Degree The next step in the process is to complete the education program and student teaching requirements of your college. Pay special attention to skill development and projects in education that transfer to the workplace or classroom. These transferrable skills will be invaluable in your career regardless of the sector you work.
  8. Examinations and Licensure - After earning your degree in teaching, you must pivot to address your state's requirements. State agencies will typically require teachers to pass background checks and fingerprinting along with professional requirements and a teacher certification program. Teachers must hold proper certifications, licensure, and pass applicable tests prescribed by states. After meeting all state-based requirements, you can apply for teaching jobs. Jobs are typically obtained through private schools or public-school districts. The key to finding a great teaching job for you is to understand the culture, expectations, teaching methodologies, and school pedagogy.
  9. Work Experience After being in the work force for a period of time, you may choose to continue your education. Earning an additional teaching certifications or degree can help increase your pay and overall skill set. Teachers are required to maintain a teaching license active perpetually with continuing education courses.

Top Online Teaching Degrees

With a number of education degrees to choose from, how do you know which online teaching degree is best for you? The answer is a personal choice and not a global choice so you will need to determine what is most important to you and find a program that best fits you and your career aspirations. Once you have a working priority list in place, the path towards earning a teaching degree online from a top college for you will come into focus. Degree options in education include the following programs:

Bachelor Teaching Degrees

Bachelors degrees Education are conferred as a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) depending on the curricular design of the degree program. Bachelor degrees are typically 4-year programs for full-time students that provide an opportunity for students to blend general education classes such as speech communication, English composition, and philosophy with core courses.

Core curriculum in the education degree program will often include courses such as portfolio management, educational philosophy, childhood psychology, learning theory, principles of education, educational philosophy, classroom management, a capstone course, and student teaching. The student teaching piece of the program provides hands-on learning in a real-world classroom to best prepare teachers for a classroom of their own.

Master Teaching Degrees in Education

An online master degree in education is often a 1-2 year program of full-time matriculation after successfully meeting all lower-level course requirements. Masters degree programs in education equip students and working professionals for leadership positions in education and help to enhance career opportunities in the education field.

As you research graduate degree programs, you will learn that many schools offer a variety of choice. Admitted graduate students will have the choice to enroll in a standard master's program or a specialty track. Those students seeking a specific educational concentration may have the opportunity to select from various choices. A sampling of education concentrations at the master's degree level includes the following: science education, counseling, early childhood education, literacy and language, educational leadership, teacher leadership, special education, secondary education, reading and language arts, leadership, international education, or digital literacy.

Online Doctorate Education Degree Programs

Doctorate degree programs in education are conferred as a PhD and last 3-6 years after meeting all lower-level degree requirements and dependent upon the number of classes taken at a given time. The bulk of accredited colleges and universities offering degrees in education allow students to elect an area of specialization in lieu of a general education degree education.

Examples of areas of concentration for PhD students in an education program include organizational design, educational leadership, curriculum & instruction, early childhood education, counseling, special education, public policy, and school administration. The doctorate programs prepare students for advanced teaching opportunities in higher education, administrative positions, or research opportunities in the private or public sector.

Online Certificate in Education

Online certificates in education are tools used by graduate students to upskill and take advantage of learning modalities to continue learning and advancing in their field of study. The online certificate programs provide skills and knowledge to trained, licensed teachers to help them expand career opportunities and grow in a defined area of education. To qualify for a graduate certificate program from an accredited college or university, you will need to meet all lower-level prerequisites prior to matriculation.

Benefits of Earning an Online Teaching Degree

Universities and colleges in all corners of the country are quickly adding online degree programs to keep pace with demand from employers and students. As the single fastest growing segment in higher education degree programs, distance learning programs are projected to continue evolving and being a core learning modality for the foreseeable future. The reasons for students to consider earning a college degree online are multi-varied yet commonalities are grouped together in a few areas: cost, convenience, access, and quality. An overview of the benefits of earning an education degree online include:

  1. Cost The indirect and direct costs of an online degree tend to be inherently less than on-site degrees. Three drivers for this difference include the following elements: a) distance learning allows students greater access and flexibility to continue working. Generating income and attending college reduces opportunity cost from lost wages; b) online learners do not live on-campus and save significant cost associated with housing, food, and transportation; c) distance learning programs accredited by national or regional organizations allow students to qualify for federal financial aid. In aggregate, the cost savings of these items can be significant for teachers of all abilities and backgrounds.
  2. Curriculum Online learning programs have rapidly advanced in the last ten years. Online degrees in education will typically have a capstone course, final project, thesis, student teaching, cumulative exam, dissertation, and/or portfolio project at varying levels of degree programs. Having a degree overview, a published syllabus, and quality curricular design, students are provided key milestones and checkpoints to ensure comprehension and continued engagement.
  3. Accreditation Schools offering online learning opportunities that have earned a regional or national accreditation will be essential to your future. It is important to understand that accreditation is only granted to schools by independent, third-party organizations that have extensively vetted a schools processes, procedures, and curriculum to ensure quality standards are maintained.
  4. Speed Online degree programs in education can be self-paced, thereby allowing students to spend time learning when they see fit on their way towards degree completion. With many schools starting online classes every 6-8 weeks, distance learning students are no longer bound by traditional school year schedules and can start throughout the year.
  5. Flexibility Students enrolled in an online degree program can join class when convenient and not be constrained by the traditional trappings of the physical requirements of an on-site class. Flexibility is a big win for students and working professionals intent on growing professionally and upskilling in the field of education.
  6. Access Students can log-on and access their education classes at any time without needing to be in a specific location at a set time of day. Fewer restrictions means that students have a broad range of degree options to choose from depending on passion, career trajectory, and intent of the degree.

Educational Requirements for Teachers

A degree in education can be earned at a variety of levels, starting from certification all the way to a doctorate. The level of education is dictated by the type of work the student wishes to be qualified for, with high level degrees typically providing access to higher level and more varied forms of teaching jobs.

Students of these programs like UW Bothell will cover a variety of topics, including methods and techniques to promote interest in typically underwhelming subjects, how to hold a student's attention, what forms of activities best promote memory retention and other such subjects.

Students may also work under the supervision of professionals during externships in order to obtain practical experience and familiarize themselves with the application of learned methodologies. A curriculum in education may include:

  • Education Theory
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Art Education and Application
  • Student Behavior and Development

Employment for Teachers and Licensure

Education is very large field that offers a variety of employment opportunities and specializations; for instance, an individual having earned a bachelor's degree may seek to specialize in the education of art and seek certification in that area of study in order to be qualified as an art educator.

There is a need for professional educators throughout the country for all types, including those who have a broader general and comprehensive approach to education. Individuals with higher level degrees may seek employment at colleges and universities. If so, they may eventually be involved in policy development, construction of theory, and/or pedagogy development via research studies. Every state will have requirements governing the licensure of educators which must be followed when seeking employment.

Individuals seeking a career in a specific state should research the state's licensure procedure and try to fulfill them as quickly as possible. It is important to note that licensure is only required for individuals seeking employment with public institutions.

Top Rated Education Degree Programs

The National Council on Teacher Quality or NCTQ has ranked the following accredited colleges and universities by quality of programming for elementary education in the United States of over 2,600 programs on 19 different criterion. The list of schools landing in the 96th percentile or higher include:

School Percentile Rank
Lipscomb University 99%
Arizona State University 99%
University of Utah 99%
CUNY - Hunter College 99%
Western Governors University 99%
Ohio Wesleyan University 99%
University of Wisconsin - Platteville 99%
University of Iowa 98%
St. Olaf College 98%
University of Minnesota - Duluth 98%
Coe College 98%
Gordon College 98%
Messiah College 98%
Colorado Christian University 98%
University of Southern Mississippi 98%
Clemson University 98%
Hope College 98%
Appalachian State University 97%
University of Mississippi 97%
Montana State University 97%
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse 97%
University of Nebraska - Lincoln 96%
East Carolina University 96%
High Point University 96%
Purdue University 96%
College of St Benedict & St John's University 96%
University of Alabama in Huntsville 96%
Seton Hall University 96%
Goshen College 96%
Albion College 96%

Teaching Salary & Job Growth

Salary for an educator will vary greatly based on location, education and position. For example, the median annual income for a high school teacher is $58,030. It is important to point out the immense range in income for teachers. To illustrate, the BLS estimates the top 10% of teachers earn $92,920 annually while the bottom ten percent earn $38,180 per year.

Education is a growing field. As population increases the need for educators increases naturally, particularly in the United States where public education is available and students under the age of 18 in particular are required to attend school.

Opportunities tend to be higher in areas with large concentrations of people, such as urban centers, though budgetary conflicts may reduce employment opportunitiesin a given state or area for a period of time.

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