If you enjoy working with children and have a passion for making the world a better place, pursue one of the best bachelor's in education.
Educators do more than teach content. They also provide comfortable, safe environments where children of all ages can learn and grow. Pursuing a bachelor's degree in education can give you the skills you need to manage a classroom, deliver instruction, assess learning, and address the needs of diverse learners.
You'll also learn to implement technology that enhances student learning, and you'll examine current issues in education. If you're passionate about making a difference in the lives of children – and in the world – these bachelor's in education degrees can give you the tools to make it happen.
What kind of bachelor's in education degree should you get?
You should pursue a bachelor's in education degree related to the grade level and subject you would like to teach. For instance, you can major in elementary education, secondary education, adolescent education or middle grades, early childhood education, and special education. Many degree programs allow concentrations or specializations in a content area like science, mathematics, English, music, social studies, or Spanish.
In addition, it's typically a good idea to pursue your education degree in your state. If you attend a program in another state, ensure that the program can also fulfill your state's teacher certification requirements.
You can earn your degree on a college campus or online. There are advantages to both approaches, but online courses allow you to work around your schedule and at your own pace. If you're interested in earning your degree online, check out our list of the Best Online Bachelor's of Education Degrees.
How much money do people make with a bachelor's in education degree?
Teacher salaries can vary slightly by grade level. Below are the median salaries for various grade levels, based on information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Preschool teachers: $28,990
Kindergarten and elementary school teachers: $56,900
Middle school teachers: $57,720
High school teachers: $59,170
Teacher pay can vary widely by state. Alaska, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and California offer the highest teacher salaries. Teachers are in high demand, with teacher positions at all levels growing as fast or faster than average.
What can you do with a bachelor's in education degree?
A bachelor's degree in Education can lead to work as a teacher at the early childhood, preschool, elementary, middle, or high school level. You may also work with community organizations or as a curriculum developer.
With a more advanced degree, you can seek work as a school administrator or a college professor. Whatever you'd like to do in the field of education, earning your bachelor's degree is an essential first step.
What are the requirements for a bachelor's in education degree?
To earn a bachelor's degree in education, you'll complete general education requirements and professional coursework related to teaching. You will also be required to complete multiple field experiences, culminating in a full-time student teaching internship. You may need to keep a portfolio throughout your field experiences.
Many schools don't admit students to the teacher preparation program until junior year. You may have to meet GPA and prerequisite requirements. Other schools require students to pass the state licensing exam before beginning their internship. To become a certified teacher, you will need to pass your state's licensing examination.
What are the best bachelor's in education degrees?
In this guide, you'll find a list of the 50 best bachelor's in education degrees. We've included degrees in early childhood, elementary, and secondary education. To determine which schools offered the best programs, we evaluated factors like school reputation, overall cost of tuition, and return on investment. We also only included accredited schools in our list.
All College Choice rankings use data from trusted sources like:
Bureau of Labor Statistics
PayScale
- Princeton Review
- U.S. News and World Report
Official college and university websites
If you're looking for top-notch teacher preparation, these programs are for you.
See our rankings methodology page.
