With several online degree programs available, you can choose from a wide range of options to pursue a career as a teacher as we will be looking at the best online degrees for teachers.
Teaching as a profession has evolved over the past decades with the introduction of technology. Currently, pupils and students do not necessarily need to be in a classroom to interact with their teacher.
A teacher can teach his or her students through online classes. The same option is also available for individuals to earn an online teaching degree.
There are many types of online teaching degrees for teachers which we will be looking at in this article. You will also find out the best online institutions offering the best online degrees.
Accreditation
It’s important you conduct a little research before applying for an online degree program. Obtaining an online degree from an institution that lacks regional or national accreditation is unwise.
It may affect your eligibility for federal financial aid and employment as most employers only hire graduates from accredited institutions.
Also Read: 10 Best Online Degrees in Early Childhood Education with Certificate
Career Outlook
Obtaining a bachelor’s degree in education provides a variety of career opportunities. Graduates with online degrees in education have a career prospect to become successful special education specialists, early childhood educators, and preschool teachers.
According to Onlinecolleges.net, high school teachers and special education teachers earn a median salary of $55,000.
Preschool teachers earn a median salary of over $27,000. Kindergarten and elementary school teachers, career and technical education teachers, and middle school teachers earn over $50,000 as median salaries.
Types of Online Teaching Degree Programs
Below are the different types of online teaching degree programs;
- Online Education Teaching Degree
- Online Early Childhood Education Degree
- Online Health Education Teaching Degree
- Online Math Education Teaching Degree
- Online Elementary Education Teaching Degree
- Online Science Education Teaching Degree
- Online Montessori Education Teaching Degree
- Online Music Education Teaching Degree
- Online English Language Learning Teaching Degree
- Online Special Education Teaching Degree
List of Institutions Offering the Best Online Degrees for Teachers
Below are the top institutions offering the best online degrees in education.
- Liberty University
- Fort Hays State University
- University of Missouri- Columbia
- Drexel University
- Kansas State University
- East Carolina University
- Western Governor University
- LeTourneau University
- Florida International University
- University of Florida- Online
- Old Dominion University
- University of Georgia
- Southerwestern College
- University of North Carolina- Wilmington
- Maryville State University
Best Online Degrees for Teachers
Here are the top 15 institutions that offer the best online degrees in education.
#1. Liberty University
- Location: Lynchburg, Virginia
Liberty University is a private Christian university, one of the largest non-profit institutions in the United States. The university offers an online bachelor’s degree in elementary education.
The online degree program consists of 120 credit hours with an optional 90-hour practicum.
Liberty University currently accommodates over 90,000 online learners. The subject covered in the online degree program incorporates educational philosophy, instructional practices, and current educational issues.
#2. Fort Hays State University
- Location: Hays, Kansas
By enrolment, Fort Hays State University is the fourth-largest public institution out of the six state universities under the Kansas Board Regents.
FHSU offers one of the best online bachelor’s degrees in education. It offers an online elementary education bachelor’s degree.
The university’s online degree in education focuses on important areas like classroom management and foundations of education. The program consists of 127 credit hours and students are required to complete 12 credits of student teaching.
Through this online program, you will learn how to guide and teach young children in preschool.
Also Read: 7 Master’s Degree Options for Teachers
#3. The University of Missouri Columbia
- Location: Columbia, Missouri
The University of Missouri in Columbia is a public research institution, the largest school out of the four campuses of the University of Missouri System.
Mizzou offers one of the best online degrees in education you can find online. The university’s online bachelor’s degree in educational studies offers the best experiences required to excel as an adult educator.
Once you complete this online degree program, you can become an educator at community colleges, an expert in human resource training, as well as educating adult learners enrolled in continuing education programs.
#4. Drexel University
- Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Drexel University was established in 1891, as a private research institution named after Anthony J. Drexel.
The university offers an online bachelor’s of science in education for degree seekers eager to become qualified teachers in pre-kindergarten through fourth-grade settings.
#5. Kansas State University
- Location: Manhattan, Kansas
Kansas State is a public research institution established in 1863, the first public institution of higher learning in Kansas.
This university offers a variety of online education programs. At Kansas State University, you can choose an online bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, an online bachelor’s in educational studies or an online bachelor’s in elementary education.
As an online student at Kansas State, expect to enrol in courses like educational technology for teaching and learning, teaching as a career, exceptional development in early childhood, and schooling and popular culture.
#6. East Carolina University
- Location: Greenville, North Carolina
East Carolina University is a public research institution with over 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
ECU offers an online bachelor’s degree in elementary education. It’s one of the best degrees online for aspiring teachers. This 120-credit hour online program prepares students for successful careers as elementary educators.
East Carolina University also provides supportive services to its students.
#7. Western Governors University
- Location: Millcreek, Utah
Western Governors University is a private online university currently offering online programs to over 150,000 students.
At the undergraduate level, WGU offers eight different programs in teaching maths, special education, science, as well as an overview of teaching grades kindergarten through eighth grade according to Collegevaluesonline.com.
#8. LeTourneau University
- Location: Longview, Texas
Established in 1946, LeTourneau University is a private Christian university with an enrolment of over 3,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Through the online bachelor’s degree in elementary education offered at LETU, students acquire the best experiences to excel as qualified educators.
LETU’s online teaching degree provides two age concentrations for its online learners. You can choose between the early childhood through sixth grade or the fourth grade through eighth grade.
Also Read: University of Kansas Acceptance Rate, Admissions, SAT/ACT, GPA, Tuition, Ranking
#9. Florida International University
- Location: Miami, Florida
Florida International University in Miami is another institution that offers an online degree in education.
At FIU, you can earn an online bachelor’s of science in educational student education and an online bachelor’s of science in early childhood education.
#10. University of Florida- Online
- Location: Gainesville, Florida
The University of Florida Online offers a variety of online degree programs in education.
This university offers an online Bachelor of Arts degree in Educational Sciences, as well as an online Bachelor of Science in Health Education. The latter prepares students for teaching roles in health education in high schools.
The BS in health education include courses like health education professional development, women’s health issues, trends in international health, and personal and family health.
#11. Old Dominion University
- Location: Norfolk, Virginia
Old Dominion University is widely recognized for offering one of the best online bachelor’s degrees for teachers.
The university offers an online Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education through its Darden College of Education and Professional Studies and the Department of Teaching and Learning.
#12. University of Georgia
Location: Athens, Georgia
If you are searching for an online degree in teaching in the area of special education, then you should consider the online bachelor’s degree offered at this university.
The University of Georgia offers an online BS in special education. The two-year accelerated program is the best option for students seeking state certification/teaching licenses.
#13. Southwestern College
- Location: Winfield, Kansas
This college was originally established as Southwest Kansas Conference College in 1885. Today, it enrols over 1,900 undergraduate students and offers an online elementary education degree.
Southwestern College’s online elementary education degree consists of 120 credit hours and it includes pre-professional education, exploratory education coursework, and professional teacher courses.
Also Read: 33 South Carolina Universities and Ranking
#14. University of North Carolina Wilmington
- Location: Wilmington, North Carolina
Established in 1947, the University of North Carolina Wilmington is a public research institution with over 17,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
The University of North Carolina Wilmington offers an online bachelor’s degree, one of the best degrees available online for teachers. The online bachelor’s degree focuses on behavioural studies, science, international studies, health, maths, technology, etc.
#15. Mayville State University
- Location: Mayville, North Dakota
Mayville State University is another public university where you can find a good number of online programs.
The university offers a BSEd in Mathematics Education, BA in Early Childhood, BSEd in Early Childhood Education, BSEd in Special Education, and BSEd in Elementary Education.
Conclusion
The institutions on this list of best online degrees in education are all accredited by recognized agencies. You can visit the official website of these colleges and universities to get more information on online bachelor’s degrees in education.