The best education research universities are those with rich histories of influence, proven through the work produced by the program’s faculty and alumni. Beyond demonstrating scholarly impact in the field, the best education degree programs maximize your opportunities to interact with outstanding education faculty.
In This Article: Ranking: Best Research Universities for Education Degrees The Best Education Schools in Your State What can I do with an education major? Is education a good major? What courses will I take as an education major? What jobs can I do with an education major? Is a research university right for me? Is a liberal arts college right for me? Is an online college right for me? Learn More About Education Majoring in education can help you start a career as a classroom teacher, guidance counselor, special education expert, district administrator, university professor and much more. The education major is among the most popular college degree programs both because it provides a clear pathway to a career in education, and because it is extremely versatile. Majoring in education can open the door to a wide range of career prospects.
Note: If you plan to teach public school for grades K-12, you must earn a bachelor’s degree from a recognized teaching education program, sit for your state license, and in some states or districts, earn an advanced degree. To learn more about earning an advanced degree, find out what you can do with a master’s in education .
If you’re getting started on the path to an undergraduate degree in education, note that the best bachelor’s degrees in education are those which are regionally accredited, which offer a full array of education concentrations, and which give you the chance to work with the best and most influential professors and classmates.
Degree popularity: Education bachelor’s degrees are the 24th most popular undergraduate degrees across all student demographics. It’s most popular among women, for whom it ranks as the 13th most desired degree. Education bachelor’s degrees rank as he 7th most popular degrees for white women, 11th for white men, and 15th for black women, according to the number of degree earners reported by the National Center for Educational Statistics
Frequently Asked Questions About Education Bachelor’s Degrees What can I do with an education major? Is education a good major? The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that rising enrollment in elementary, middle and high schools across the U.S. will increase the demand for teachers at every level of compulsory education over the next decade. The BLS does warn though that this demand will vary by region. As an aspiring educator, take stock of the career opportunities in your community and region.
However, note that wherever you teach, you have a good opportunity to achieve long-term job security. Once hired as a public school teacher, you’ll begin on your path toward tenure. While it can be challenging to achieve this status, tenure will provide you with inbuilt job protection against unfounded dismissal or dismissal based on budget cuts. Moreover, teachers are represented by a powerful labor union, which creates a strong negotiating position for fair pay, health coverage, retirement benefits and, of course, summers off!
Back to Top What courses will I take as an education major? Once you’ve declared your major in education, you will likely be required to complete a set of core courses in a number of related subject areas. While your concentration will give you a chance to choose from a wide range of highly-specialized education electives, there are a number of common courses that most education majors will be required to take, including:
Introduction to Instructional Design Adult Learning Theories Teaching for Cognitive Growth Project-Based Learning Science and Engineering Programs for Teachers Foundations of Positive Psychology Learning to Teach Online Literacy Education
Back to Top What jobs can I do with an education major? Naturally, majoring in education is the starting point if you wish to teach in the classroom. But it’s also the logical starting place if you hope to become a guidance counselor, high school principal, or college professor, as well as a good place from which to launch a career in educational technology, online teaching, college consulting, and much more. Your education major can lead to a wide range of career opportunities, including these top jobs:
Back to Top Frequently Asked Questions About Research Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, Online Colleges In pursuing a bachelor’s degree, you will need to choose between three kinds of schools: research universities, liberal arts colleges, and online colleges.
Is a research university right for me? Research universities
Do you prefer a larger university setting , such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines. Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you. If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel.
Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well.Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance. Back to Top Learn more about research universities by reading about the best research universities in the US .
Is a liberal arts college right for me? Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges
Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students. Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom).Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships, but also more pleasurable walks across campus. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers. Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment. Back to Top Learn more about liberal arts colleges by reading about the best liberal arts colleges in the US .
Is an online college right for me? Online colleges
Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands. Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain.Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands balancing work and life, or becuase the online colleges afford them the chance to attend a better school without moving. If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are aynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc.The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates . In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors. Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions. If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer , or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you . In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.
Back to Top If you think a liberal arts college may be a better fit for you, see our ranking of the best liberal arts colleges for a bachelor’s in education .
How do we determine the best education research universities? Methodology
The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why we rank the best colleges and universities based on what we call “Influence”.
The influence of a college or university is based on the schools’s top academic influencers related to the discipline in this ranking. We track the influence of faculty and alumni affiliate with these school counting not only the publications and citations of the school’s affiliated people, but we also consider the overall web presence of the faculty and alumni. The greater the citations, authority of web links, web searches, and page views, the greater the individuals’s influence. Those combined make up the departments’s influence in the field of study. We believe tracking the academic influence of the people affiliated with a school is the best indicator of academic excellence.
If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence . Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and misused performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine , provides a ranking that is more insulated from manipulation, and more reflective of real-world educational outcomes.
Ranking: Best Research Universities for Education Degrees Other Rankings What is Columbia University known for? Columbia University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni Columbia University Education Majors Educational Studies Urban Teaching-Elementary/Childhood Education Urban Teaching-Secondary/Adolescent Education Source
Other Rankings What is University of Michigan known for? University of Michigan’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni University of Michigan Education Majors Combined Program in Education and Psychology (CPEP) Educational Studies (ES) Educator Preparation Program (EPP) Joint Program in English and Education (JPEE) BA or BS with Teacher Certification Undergraduate Elementary Teacher Education Undergraduate Secondary Teacher Education Source
Other Rankings What is New York University known for? New York University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni New York University Education Majors EducationBFA MAArt + Childhood Education Early Childhood Education Education Studies Educational Theater English Education Foreign Language Education Math Education Music Education Science Education Social Studies Education Special Education Source
Other Rankings What is Duke University known for? Duke University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni Duke University Education Path License: Elementary Teacher Prep Program (K-6) License: High School Teacher Prep Program (9-12) Certificate: Civic Engagement & Social Change Source
Other Rankings What is University of Southern California known for? University of Southern California’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni University of Southern California Education Paths Dynamics of Early Childhood Minor Education and Society Minor Mathematics Education Minor Multilingualism and Multiculturalism Minor Education Policy Minor Progressive Degree Program (Accelerated Master’s) Source
Other Rankings What is Brown University known for? Brown University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni Brown University Education Concentration and Specializations Education Studies Concentration Education Policy Analysis Child Development Education and Inequality Teaching and Learning Immigrant Youth Education for Social Justice Source
Other Rankings What is Northwestern University known for? Northwestern University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni Northwestern University Education Majors Human Development in Context Learning and Organizational Change Learning Sciences Secondary Teaching Social Policy Source
Other Rankings What is University of California, Los Angeles known for? University of California, Los Angeles’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni University of California, Los Angeles Education Majors Education and Social Transformation Major Education Studies Minor Source
Other Rankings What is Vanderbilt University known for? Vanderbilt University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni Vanderbilt University Education Majors Human and Organizational Development Child Development Early Childhood and Elementary Education Secondary Education Special Education Child Studies Cognitive Studies Source
Other Rankings What is Carnegie Mellon University known for? Carnegie Mellon University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni Carnegie Mellon University Education Majors Source
Other Rankings What is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill known for? University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni UNC Chapel Hill Education Majors BAEd Human Development and Family Studies BA Human and Organizational Leadership and Development Source
Other Rankings What is Tufts University known for? Tufts University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni Tufts University Education Majors Undergraduate major in Education is a co-major only
BFA/MAT in Art Education BA or BS/MAT in Middle and High School Education Source
Other Rankings What is Washington University in St. Louis known for? Washington University in St. Louis’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni Washington University in St. Louis Education Majors Teacher Education Educational Studies Source
Washington University in St. Louis’s Online Degrees BS in Integrated Studies Required Credits : 120Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineOther Rankings What is University of Florida known for? University of Florida’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni University of Florida Education Majors BAE Early Childhood Education BA Education Sciences BAE Elementary Education Source
University of Florida’s Online Degrees BS in Advertising Required Credits : 124Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineBA in Anthropology Required Credits : 120Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineBA in Biology Required Credits : 120Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineBA in Business Administration Required Credits : 120Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineBS in Communication Science and Disorders Required Credits : 120Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineBS in Computer Science Required Credits : 120Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineBA in Criminology Required Credits : 120Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineBA in Digital Arts and Sciences Required Credits : 120Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineBA in Education Sciences Required Credits : 120Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineBS in Environmental Management Required Credits : 120Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineBS in Fire and Emergency Services Required Credits : 120Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineBA in Geography Degree Concentrations Environmental Geosciences Required Credits : 120Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineBA in Geology Required Credits : 120Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineBS in Health Education Required Credits : 120Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineBS in Journalism: Sports and Media Required Credits : 124Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineBS in Microbiology and Cell Science Required Credits : 120Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineBS in Nursing Required Credits : 120Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineBA in Psychology Required Credits : 120Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineBS in Public Relations Required Credits : 124Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineBA in Sociology Required Credits : 120Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineBS in Sport Management Required Credits : 120Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineMore Other Rankings What is Boston University known for? Boston University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni Boston University Education Majors Bilingual Education (Licensure: Grades Pre-K–6 or 5–12) Deaf Studies (no Licensure) Early Childhood Education (Licensure: Grades Pre-K–2) Elementary Education (Licensure: Grades 1–6) English Education (Licensure: Grades 5–8, 8–12, or 5–12) Mathematics Education (Licensure: Grades 5–8, 8–12, or 5–12) Modern Foreign Language Education (Licensure: Grades 5–12) Science Education (Licensure: Grades 5–8, 8–12, or 5–12) Social Studies Education (Licensure: Grades 5–8, 8–12, or 5–12) Special Education (Licensure in Moderate Disabilities: Grades Pre-K–8 or 5–12, or Severe Disabilities Ages 3–21) Source
Boston University’s Online Degrees BS in Undergrad Completion Program Required Credits : 64Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineOther Rankings What is University of Washington known for? University of Washington’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni University of Washington Education Majors BA in Early Childhood and Family Studies (ECFS) BA in Early Care and Education (ECE Online Degree) BA in Education, Communities, & Organizations (ECO) Minor in Education Learning and Society (ELS) Source
University of Washington’s Online Degrees BA Integrated Social Sciences Required Credits : 120-128Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineBA Early Care & Education Required Credits : 120-128Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineOther Rankings What is Emory University known for? Emory University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni Emory University Education Majors Source
Other Rankings What is Boston College known for? Boston College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni Boston College Education Majors BA Applied Psychology and Human Development BA Elementary Education BA Secondary Education BA Transformative Educational Studies Source
Other Rankings What is University of Georgia known for? University of Georgia’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni University of Georgia Education Majors Communication Sciences and Disorders Elementary Education English Education Exercise and Sport Science Health and Physical Education Mathematics Education Middle Grades Education (Grades 4-8) Science Education (Biology) Science Education (Chemistry) Science Education (Earth/Space Science) Science Education (Physics) Social Studies Education Special Education (Adapted Curriculum and Autism) Special Education (General Curriculum) Special Education – General Curriculum (Online) Sport Management TESOL and World Language Education Source
University of Georgia’s Online Degrees BS in Education Required Credits : 120Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineOther Rankings What is Ohio State University known for? Ohio State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni Ohio State University BS in Education Majors Business Education Teacher Education specialization in Technical Education and Training Career and Technical Education specialization in Technical Education and Training Chemistry Education specialization in Science and Mathematics Education Child and Youth Studies Earth Sciences Education specialization in Science and Mathematics Education Exercise Science specialization in Exercise Science Education Family and Consumer Sciences Education specialization in Technical Education and Training Integrated Language Arts/English Education Life Sciences Education specialization in Science and Mathematics Education Mathematics Education specialization in Science and Mathematics Education Middle Childhood Education Physics Education specialization in Science and Mathematics Education Primary Education (P-5) Primary Education (P-5) with Visual Impairment License Special Education Sport Industry Sports Coaching, Recreation, and Physical Education Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages World Language Education Source
Other Rankings What is University of California, San Diego known for? University of California, San Diego’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni UC San Diego Education Major Source
Other Rankings What is Brigham Young University known for? Brigham Young University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni BYU Education Majors Communication Disorders Early Childhood Education Elementary Education Special Education Secondary Education Source
Other Rankings What is Fordham University known for? Fordham University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni Fordham University Education Majors Five-year integrated teacher education track and MST teaching degrees
Early Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 2) Childhood Education (Grades 1-6) Adolescence Education in English, Social Studies, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science or Physics (Grades 7-12) Exceptional Adolescents (Special Education) Generalist with Subject Extension or Dual Certification(Grades 7-12) TESOL - Teaching English to Students of Other Languages (Grades Pre K -12) Source
Other Rankings What is American University known for? American University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni American University Education Majors BA Elementary Education BA Secondary Education Source
Other Rankings What is Drexel University known for? Drexel University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni Drexel University Education Majors Bachelor’s in Elementary Education Bachelor’s in Secondary Education BS/MS in Education Degree (Five-Year Program) Source
Drexel University’s Online Degrees BS Computing and Security Technology Required Credits : 120-128Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineBS Business Administration Required Credits : 120-128Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineBS Education Degree Concentrations Elementary Education Special Education Required Credits : 120-128Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineBS Communication Required Credits : 120-128Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineBS Nursing (RN-to-BSN) Required Credits : 120-128Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineBS Dance Required Credits : 120-128Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineBS Behavioral Health Counseling Required Credits : 120-128Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineBS Criminology and Justice Studies Required Credits : 120-128Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineBS General Studies Required Credits : 120-128Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineBS Behavioral Health Counseling Required Credits : 120-128Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineBS Health Services Administration Required Credits : 120-128Completion Time : None ReportedFormat : OnlineMore Go to all Research Universities for Education programs
The Best Education Schools in Your State Back to Top Learn More About Education If you want to know more about education, then check out our related content:
Private university in Durham, North Carolina, United States
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