Best Colleges for an Education Degree

Thinking about getting an education degree? Keep reading to find out the best colleges for an education degree.

When thinking about the best colleges for an education degree, there are so many options out there. It is important to ask yourself what you are looking for in your college. Do you want to take courses online or in person? Are you getting an undergraduate or graduate degree? There is a lot to think about when looking at the best colleges for an education degree.

What is an Education Degree?

The first thing to understand is what exactly an education degree is. Education is either receiving or giving knowledge or instruction. An education degree will combine theory and practice into a set of courses. Your education degree will not only teach you how to write lessons, give instruction and create effective learning environments, it will also teach you many transferable skills such as learning to communicate effectively, learning to research and analyze information, how to problem solve, and time management skills.

In your courses, you will learn about how socio-economic factors affect students, the history of the education system as well as legislation, child development and the psychological studies that have framed what we know about child development, and most importantly, you will learn pedagogy.

Pedagogy is “the art, science, or profession of teaching” according to Merriam-Webster. In these classes you will learn how to be inclusive of students with disabilities and varying learning levels, you will practice teaching and learn various methods of teaching including formal and informal methods.

Courses you take will also vary based on your specialization. Education majors can choose from a wide array of specializations. Students can choose from early childhood, elementary education, middle grades, high school, special education and more . The last semester of any education degree will be spent in the classroom doing student teaching.

Factors to Consider

When trying to decide the best college for an education degree, there are many factors to consider to determine what college is right for you.

1. Cost

Are you able to afford this college? Take a look at how much the tuition is and determine if you will be able to afford it. Also see what kind of scholarships or financial aid is available to offset some of those costs. Keep in mind that the cost does not only include tuition, but textbooks and cost of living as well.

2. Admission Requirements

Do you meet their test score and GPA requirements? How do you compare to the admission requirements? Be honest and realistic with yourself if you do not fall in the requirement range. It is still ok to apply to schools that you fall outside of their requirement range.

3. Location

Location will determine some of your costs as well. If you go to school near your home, you can live at home and don’t have to pay for housing at school. Location of your school will also determine your cost of living budget as well. Think about if the school is located in a city center or a small town, in the mountains or near a beach. You will be there for a few years, so make sure you like where the school is located.

4. Specialization

There are many options for specializations with an education degree. Not every school with an education degree will have all the different specializations. Do some research on the school’s website to find out what education degrees they offer.

5. Online or In-Person

Do you want to attend class every day and learn in a lecture or do you want to learn on your own time, so your courses fit into your schedule? This is important to consider.

Source: Unsplash

Best Colleges for an Undergraduate Education Degree

Niche compiled a list of the top undergraduate school for an education degree.

1. Vanderbilt University

• Vanderbilt University is located in the heart of Nashville, TN. It has 6,861 undergraduates in a range of majors. Students are taught through direct teaching, research and experiential learning.
• Application deadline is Jan 1
• $23,150 per year
• Majors to choose from:
  • Human and Organizational Development
  • Child Development
  • Elementary Education
  • Secondary Education
  • Special Education
  • Child Studies
  • Cognitive Studies
  • Early Childhood

2. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

• University of Michigan is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and has 27,969 undergraduate students majoring in a range of fields.
• Application deadline is Feb 1
• $16,107 per year
• Majors to choose from:
  • Elementary Teacher Education
  • Secondary Teacher Education

3. Boston College

• Boston College is located near Boston in Newton, Massachusetts. The 9,681 undergraduate students have a range of majors to choose from.
• $27,299 per year
• Majors to choose from:
  • Elementary Education
  • Secondary Education
  • Applied Psychology and Human Development

Best Colleges for a Graduate Education Degree

US News compiled a list of the top graduate schools for an education degree.

1. University of California–Los Angeles

• 732 students enrolled full time
• Application deadline is Dec 1
• Degrees to choose from:
  • Higher Education and Organizational Change
  • Human Development and Psychology
  • Social Research Methodology
  • Social Sciences and Comparative Education
  • Urban Schooling
  • Student Affairs
  • Principal Leadership Institute
  • Teacher Education Program
  • Educational Leadership Program

2. Harvard University

• 757 students enrolled full time
• Application deadline is Dec 1
• Degrees to choose from:
  • Arts in Education
  • Education Policy and Management
  • Higher Education
  • Human Development and Psychology
  • Language and Literacy
  • Learning and Teaching
  • Mind, Brain and Education
  • Prevention Science and Practice/CAS in Counseling
  • School Leadership
  • Specialized Studies
  • Teacher Education
  • Technology, Innovation and Education

3. University of Wisconsin–Madison

• 783 students enrolled full time
• Rolling admissions
• Degrees offered in the following categories:
  • Fine art
  • Counseling Psychology
  • Curriculum and Instruction
  • K-12 Leadership
  • Educational Policy Studies
  • Educational Psychology
  • Kinesiology
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Rehabilitation Psychology
  • Special Education
  • Secondary Education

Source: Unsplash

Best Online Colleges for an Education Degree

US News compiled a list of the top graduate schools for an education degree.

1. Clemson University (Moore)

• $460 Per Credit (out-of-state)
• 199 Enrolled
• Rolling admissions
• All of the classes for the online education program are recorded and archived allowing students the ability to access them when it is convenient for them.
• Clemson offers an M.ED in Teaching and Learning and allows students to choose to specialize in STEAM, Experiential Learning for Early Childhood, or Instructional Coaching.

2. University of Florida

• $518 per credit (out of state)
• 196 erolled
• All of the classes for the online education program are recorded and archived allowing students the ability to access them when it is convenient for them. The degrees are cohort based and you are able to complete them while working.
• Rolling admissions
• Degrees offered:
  • Art Education
  • Curriculum and Instruction (Specialization in Education Technology)
  • Curriculum and Instruction (Specialization in Teacher Leadership for School Improvement)
  • Educational Leadership
  • Health Education and Behavior
  • Music Education
  • Program Evaluation in Educational Environments
  • Reading Education
  • Special Education
  • Student Personnel In Higher Education

3. Utah State University

• $418 per credit (out of state)
• 43 enrolled
• All of the classes for the online education program are recorded and archived allowing students the ability to access them when it is convenient for them.
• April 1 admission deadline
• Degrees offered:
  • Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education
  • Curriculum and Instruction
  • Educational Technology and Learning Sciences
  • Family and Human Development
  • Family, Consumer and Human Development
  • Fitness Promotion
  • Health and Human Movement
  • Health Education and Promotion
  • Instructional Leadership
  • Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences
  • Physical and Sport Education
  • Psychology
  • Rehabilitation Counseling
  • Special Education

4. University of the People

• Tuition-Free
• US accredited Masters degree
• Rolling Admissions with 5 terms per year
• Take courses on your own time as it fits into your schedule from anywhere in the world with any internet connected device.
• Students can specialize in Elementary/Middle School Education or Secondary Education

Best International Colleges for an Education Degree

Times of Higher Education compiled a list of the top schools around the globe for an education degree.

1. University of Hong Kong

• Graduate degrees offered:
  • Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
  • Master of Education
  • Master of Science in Audiology
  • Master of Science in Information Technology in Education
  • Master of Science in Library and Information Management

2. University of Oxford

• Graduate degrees offered:
  • Educational Assessment
  • Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition
  • Education
  • Learning and Teaching
  • Teacher Education
  • Applied Linguistics for Language Teaching

3. University of Cambridge

• Graduate degrees offered:
  • Arts, Creativity and Education
  • Critical Approaches to Children’s Literature
  • Education, Globalism and International Development
  • Educational Leadership and School Improvement
  • Educational Research
  • Psychology in Education
  • Research in Second Language Education

As you can see, there are many options to choose from for choosing the best college for an education degree that will work for you. Maybe you want to learn online, or maybe you want to try living in a new area so you choose in-person courses. The most important thing to do is make sure they have the major that you want and are the most interested in.