Best Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Education 2024
We have gathered the best colleges rated on accessibility, affordability, online programs, resources, and more. Ready to find your career in education all from home? Start with our top schools that will provide you with the best online bachelor’s degrees in education.
Education careers are critical in 2024. The country is facing a teacher shortage. From February to May 2020, the country lost about 730,000 public education jobs and has not recovered since. Some states may even pay you for student teaching if you decide to pursue certification. Keep reading to learn more about the best online bachelor’s degrees.
Why University of Florida Ranks No. 1 This Year
Our number one spot goes to the University of Florida. UF offers two education majors: early education, designed for students seeking teaching certification in Pre-K through third grade, and education sciences for non-certification-seeking students.
Of our top schools to attend, UF will cost you the least. While our other schools’ net prices hover around $17,000 to $18,000, UF lands at only $3,679 and grants 94% of students some financial aid. The only downside is that UF is the pickiest of our top picks, with the lowest admission rate of 30%.
If you live near UF, you can also opt into the “Optional Fee Package” to gain access to all UF on-campus services as an in-person student.
UF will also help you succeed through career service appointments and CHOMP, the appropriately gator-named “Career Planning for Major Planning,” to learn about your interests and career goals.
Top Online Bachelor’s in Education Programs of 2024
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
Programmatic Accreditation: N/A
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $129
Out-of-State | $553
Credits to Graduate: 120
Consider UF's BA in education sciences, where you can concentrate on early childhood studies or educational psychology and research. Classes in the core curriculum include educational psychology and social foundations of education. Experiential learning requirements let you apply academic knowledge in a K-12 classroom setting.
First-year admission requirements include a high school or GED diploma. UF prefers applicants with a minimum 2.5 high school GPA. UF also uses a 2.5 undergraduate GPA cutoff for transfer credit.
- In-State$4,477
- Out-of-state$25,694
- In-State$10,770
- Out-of-state$27,335
- Retention Rate97%
- Acceptance Rate30%
- Students Enrolled55,781
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment57%
- AccreditationYes
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
Programmatic Accreditation: N/A
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $435
Out-of-State | $552
Credits to Graduate: 120
Transfer students in Mizzou's early childhood education BS can finish their degree in two years. Coursework trains you to perform research, work with families, and apply appropriate learning interventions. The capstone experience involves a practicum at a local school.
Although Mizzou designed the early childhood education BS for transfer students, first-year degree-seekers may apply. The university uses a standardized test score cutoff for first-year applicants, and transfer students must hold a minimum 2.5 undergraduate GPA.
- In-State$10,074
- Out-of-state$30,441
- In-State$10,447
- Out-of-state$28,605
- Retention Rate89%
- Acceptance Rate79%
- Students Enrolled31,318
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment63%
- AccreditationYes
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
Programmatic Accreditation: Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $263
Out-of-State | $863
Credits to Graduate: 120
Apply to TTU's BS in education if you want to qualify for a Texas teacher license. Concentration options include English as a second language and special education. TTU lets you complete in-person experiences, such as student teaching, in and around Fredericksburg, Highland Lakes, or Waco.
First-year applicants may use the Common App or ApplyTexas Application. TTU recommends but does not require standardized test scores, essays, or recommendation letters. Applicants with 24 or more college credits must have a minimum 2.25 undergraduate GPA.
- In-State$8,934
- Out-of-state$21,174
- In-State$6,956
- Out-of-state$15,136
- Retention Rate86%
- Acceptance Rate67%
- Students Enrolled40,378
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment68%
- AccreditationYes
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
Programmatic Accreditation: N/A
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $394
Out-of-State | $394
Credits to Graduate: 120
In K-State's educational studies bachelor's degree, you prepare for a career in education policy, international teaching, or education outreach. Classes in the major curriculum include core teaching skills, educational technology for teaching, and foundations of education. Field experiences and an internship introduce you to potential careers and let you apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings.
Prospective students with a GED diploma may apply, and applicants with a minimum 3.25 high school GPA need not submit standardized test scores. All transfer credits must reflect a minimum 2.0 undergraduate GPA.
- In-State$9,632
- Out-of-state$25,944
- In-State$10,294
- Out-of-state$23,018
- Retention Rate86%
- Acceptance Rate95%
- Students Enrolled19,722
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment44%
- AccreditationYes
Buena Vista University
Storm Lake, IA
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
Programmatic Accreditation: N/A
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $475
Out-of-State | $475
Credits to Graduate: 120
You can explore many career fields with a BVU educational studies degree, such as academic advising, adult education, and education publishing. You train for these and other roles with classes in language methods, methods and materials for teaching middle school, and methods of teaching differentiated curriculum. You then customize your degree with electives from outside the education department.
Application materials include official transcripts and FAFSA results. Iowa community college graduates with an associate degree receive guaranteed admission.
- In-State$37,518
- Out-of-state$37,518
- In-State$9,936
- Out-of-state$9,936
- Retention Rate76%
- Acceptance Rate78%
- Students Enrolled1,290
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment59%
- AccreditationYes
University of Maine
Orono, ME
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
Programmatic Accreditation: Maine Department of Education
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $282
Out-of-State | $282-$480
Credits to Graduate: 120
Choose UMaine's BS in education if you want to concentrate in special education or inclusive early childhood. Both concentrations use an asynchronous curriculum and qualify graduates for an initial Maine teaching license. However, only special education degree-seekers can enroll in UMaine's 4+1 BS/MA program.
UMaine requires only official transcripts but recommends one recommendation letter, a personal essay, and standardized test scores. Transfer degree-seekers must hold a minimum 2.0 undergraduate GPA. UMaine offers merit-based scholarships award up to $5,500 per year.
- In-State$11,640
- Out-of-state$33,240
- In-State$9,738
- Out-of-state$29,214
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance Rate94%
- Students Enrolled11,571
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment66%
- AccreditationYes
How We Rank Schools
To create this ranking, BestColleges sourced the most recent data available from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. We then ranked each school according to the top variables college students selected in our College Choice and Admissions Survey. To learn more, check out our full rankings methodology or read the summary below.
More Bachelor’s in Education Programs
The University of Missouri and Texas Tech University take the number two and three spots, respectively. One factor keeping them from the top spot is the jump in net prices — both institutions cost around $17,000 in annual net fees.
Missouri Online prides itself on flexibility and adjusting your program to meet your schedule, not the other way around. Unlike UF, Missouri Online has a high admission rate of 79% and an admirable graduation rate of 75%.
If you’re looking for a teaching certification in Texas, Texas Tech may be for you. The online BS in education offers TeachTeach Across Texas. This one-year fast-track teacher preparation program combines in-person clinical experience with online courses in certain areas of the state. Texas Tech’s admission rate is 67%, and its graduation rate is similar at 64%.
Is an Education Degree Worth It?
A degree in education can open the door to teaching opportunities at K-12 schools nationwide. However, teaching isn’t your only option. Students with education degrees can work in fields like education administration, nonprofit management, and higher education positions like professorship.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, high school teachers made a median salary of $64,580 per year as of May 2024. Before you consider a degree in education, see how much you may make compared to the amount you’ll pay for your education.
Online education programs tend to be cheaper than in-person ones since you’re not paying for transportation, campus services, fees, food, and on-campus room and board. The average tuition cost of an online bachelor’s in education program is $9,594 per year. In contrast, an in-person program will cost you about $13,109.
What to Consider Before Choosing an Education Program
Before choosing an education program, see what matches your schedule. Online programs can be more or less demanding of your schedule. Some are synchronous, which often require attending lectures at certain times. Others are asynchronous, which gives you lectures to watch or other course materials and work to do within a certain period.
An online program may allow you to take classes and do coursework independently. If a program gives you flexibility, you could speed through your education faster than the typical four years it takes or chip at it over a longer period.
Just because your program is online doesn’t always mean it won’t have any in-person components. One of the most common in-person requirements for education majors is student-teaching hours at a local school.
If you’re considering teaching, see where your program is based and if the program connects you with student-teaching opportunities at local schools. Different states have different requirements for student teaching and teaching licensure.
Note: The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by BestColleges. Page last reviewed June 19, 2024.