Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Elementary School Teachers
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Gordon, Gainesville State, Kennesaw State, and Shorter College-Professional Studies.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider Armstrong Atlantic State, Gainesville State, Columbus State, and Georgia Southwestern State.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Wesleyan College and Brenau.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Paine College, Shorter College-Professional Studies, Georgia State, and Wesleyan College.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Shorter College-Professional Studies, Brenau, Wesleyan College, and Mercer University.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Savannah College of Art and Design, Covenant, Paine College, and Wesleyan College.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Wesleyan College, Truett-McConnell College, Berry, and Covenant.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at University of Georgia, Mercer University, Covenant, and Berry.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Emmanuel, Brenau, Paine College, and Georgia State.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Wesleyan College, Berry, Paine College, and LaGrange.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
Sort Reviews By:Sorting by: • Show All Details • Hide All Details
University Of Georgia • Athens, GA
Studying Early Childhood Education (completion in 1980)
• 7/5/2011
"I loved the school before I went there. I loved my experience there. I made good friends."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The professors definitely make it a great school. There are no negatives. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | I feel the school as a whole has a good reputation. I feel my program ranks highly in the US. |
| Program Quality | 9 | I feel I got a great education. The professors were excellent. |
| Instruction | 9 | The professors kept our attention well. They had a lot of experience to bring to the classroom. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I felt some courses were harder than others. Some professors were more demanding than others. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was a school nursery and preschool where we could work. That was very helpful. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | I like the hours of the classes. They had many offerings for students who were working and going to school. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | I did not utilize tutors or study groups, but I am sure they were available. Professors were very accessible. |
| Social Life | 8 | The school had something for everyone. I was older so did not participate in a whole lot of activities. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I did not take advantage of the career services. At the time I graduated, jobs were plentiful. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | I have no contact with the alumni department. That is my choice. |
University Of West Georgia • Carrolton, GA
Studying Elementary Education (completion in 2005)
• 7/3/2011
"I felt like I learned a lot. I felt like I improved my teaching skills."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It prepared me well and was inexpensive. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | In the state of GA it is well known. It's a smaller school, but people know about it. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The classes were appropriate. The professors were knowledgeable. |
| Instruction | 8 | The professors could answer questions. Lectures and assignments were well prepared. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I'm basing this on a guess. I haven't seen other programs. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We mostly did actual lessons or projects. We spent time working with students. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | I could usually get the times I needed. Often classes are available for multiple semesters. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | I had access to everything I needed to graduate. A lot of materials had to be purchased for projects though. |
| Social Life | 4 | I was a grad student. Little social opportunities for grad students. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I never used these services. I assume they are average. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | I only get a magazine once or twice a year. There is really no other contact. |
University Of Georgia • Athens, GA
Studying Health And Physical Education (completion in 1983)
• 7/9/2011
"UGA provided a well balanced academic and social experience. The key was to find that balance at such a large school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The facilities are state of the art at the present time. The many sub-specialties offered give students the opportunity to pursue teaching careers or a sports medicine careers. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | The sub-specialty aspect is very well respected throughout the region. There have been many well known graduates that have helped promote the program. |
| Program Quality | 7 | During the time when I received my diploma the curriculum and course offerings were somewhat limited. Currently, the course offerings are quite impressive and diverse. |
| Instruction | 8 | Professors were very supportive and wanted students to excel. They prepared students to become competent teachers. |
| How Difficult | 6 | When I earned my degree at UGA, the emphasis was solely on education, not physical therapy or other sub-specialties. Focusing entirely on education was beneficial IF the professor had some prior teaching experience. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Class work was very regimented as were written assignments. Upon completion there were many opportunities for field work. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | There were no weekend or evening options but there were wonderful summer opportunities. The course selection was very flexible. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The facilities were wonderful, with easy access. Academic advisers were readily available as were tutors if need be. |
| Social Life | 10 | School spirit was outstanding (football national champions in 1981). Social activities, both organized or spontaneous, were plentiful. |
| Placement Services | 5 | It's difficult to say as I had a job right out of college and didn't need to take advantage of any career counseling. I have heard that current job placement is a well organized service. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | An extremely active alumni network that I have enjoyed both personally and professionally. The alumni have always been generous in sharing with each other. |
Valdosta State University • Valdosta, GA
Studying Six Year Degree In Curriculum And Supervision (completion in 2005)
• 7/9/2011
"I was very satisfied with VSU. Online registrations and grade verification was helpful. The classes being held in a central location that accommodated all of the participants and the accessibility of the professors was great."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | VSU School of Education is very organized and provides variety in their undergraduate and graduate programs. The classes that you take will prepare you for the demands of the profession. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The School of Education at VSU is considered to be one of the best in the state. The professors stay current with issues in education and address them in their classes. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Some of the classes were very similar to Master's classes. School Law and Finance were classes that I enjoyed. |
| Instruction | 8 | The majority of the professors had classroom experience, so it wasn't just information from the Ivory Tower. There was several research papers from which I learned a lot while conducting research. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The workload was average but with this being a six year program, everyone in the program was teaching full-time. There were several classes, like school law, that were very challenging. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The program that I pursued did not lend itself to many hands-on opportunities. There were a couple of projects that required participation from the students we taught, but mostly it was writing papers. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | The schedule was extremely flexible due to the fact that program participants were teaching full-time. There were summer classes offered where the time was shorter. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | Most of the classes for this program were taught off campus which was an asset to the program participants. I cannot rate the library or computer resources on campus since I did not use them. |
| Social Life | 5 | I wish you had a not applicable choice! I was teaching full-time and classes met at off campus locations, so I was not involved in campus social events. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I have heard that the majority of students from VSU attend job fairs conducted by career services and get jobs. Due to the fact that I was pursuing a higher degree, I did not need to use career services. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | Alumni magazines and newspapers are mailed quarterly. I do not participate in alumni functions. |
Georgia College And State University • Milledgeville, GA
Studying Early Childhood Education (completion in 2006)
• 7/13/2011
"I completed my degree with no t rouble. I would go back to the same if I needed to add a degree."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I often mentor students in my classroom. I would recommend GCSU to anyone seeking an education degree. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Students come from all over the southeast to attend GCSU. It is well known outside the area. |
| Program Quality | 9 | the campus is small. the facilities were adequate. |
| Instruction | 10 | classes were very stimulating. Most instructors were very aware of current classroom conditions. |
| How Difficult | 9 | We had assignments daily to work on outside of class. Expectations from research papers were very high.. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We constantly worked on portfolios to provide artifacts of our learning. We used discussion and role play often. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | My classes were scheduled to allow me to work at my school then attend night classes. The summers allowed for maximum credits. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Up to date computer labs were available for classes and for student use. Professors were very accessible. |
| Social Life | 7 | I did not have any contact with social events. I understand that for undergrads the school spirit is congenial. |
| Placement Services | 6 | I am not familiar with job placement services. I was employed in a school system while I worked on my degrees. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | I don't keep up with it. I do know they work to offer many scholarship awards for educators. |
Georgia College And State University • Milledgeville, GA
Studying Early Childhood Education (completion in 2006)
• 7/13/2011
"I completed my degree with no trouble. I would go back to the same school if I needed to seek another degree."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I often mentor students in my classroom. I would recommend GCSU to anyone seeking an education degree. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Students come from all over the southeast to attend GCSU. It is well known outside the area. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The campus is small and the facilities were adequate. |
| Instruction | 10 | classes were very stimulating. Most instructors were very aware of current classroom conditions. |
| How Difficult | 9 | We had assignments daily to work on outside of class. Expectations from research papers were very high. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We constantly worked on portfolios to provide artifacts of our learning. We used discussion and role plays often. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | My classes were scheduled to allow me to work at my school and then attend night classes. The summers allowed for one to take a maximum number credits. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Up to date computer labs were available for classes and for student use. Professors were very accessible. |
| Social Life | 7 | I did not attend any social events. I understand that for undergrads the school spirit is congenial. |
| Placement Services | 6 | I am not familiar with job placement services. I was employed in a school system while I worked on my degrees. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | I don't keep up with it. I do know they work to offer many scholarship awards for educators. |
Emory University • Atlanta, GA
Studying Math/Economics (completion in 2008)
• 7/26/2011
"It prepared me beyond the classroom. I still use what I learned from Emory today."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The staff was wonderful in their preparation. The program was effective in using real world applications. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | It is still considered one of the best in Georgia. It is the most effective in teaching and job placement. |
| Program Quality | 7 | It is one of the best programs in Georgia. It covers multiple areas of the field. |
| Instruction | 8 | The faculty has plenty of real world experience. They take their time in prepping students. |
| How Difficult | 8 | It is a balance of group and individual work. If you don't prepare, you won't get far. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It presents a nice balance. Teachers use multiple angles to teach different subjects. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | The classes are held at any time of day. Schedules may only pose a problem if one has a full time job. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | There are many resources at the students' disposal. It certainly makes the curriculum easier to bear. |
| Social Life | 7 | It is a small knit school. It is surrounded by bigger schools which present a bigger social circle. |
| Placement Services | 8 | The name alone can open many doors. It prepares you for many fields needed in this economy. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | The alumni come from all sectors of the field. They don't come to the school as often as they should, though. |
Georgia Gwinnett College • Lawrenceville, GA
Studying Early Childhood Education (completion in 2012)
• 11/7/2011
"I have been satisfied with GGC! I have learned so much, enjoyed my classmates, and I'm loving my last semester!"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I loved the small classes at GGC! Also, the 1 on 1 from professors is very helpful when you are struggling with a project. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | The school that I am attending is new, and as such it is not well known. |
| Program Quality | 8 | My school allows me to work hands on in a classroom. I also love my professors who are helping me graduate. |
| Instruction | 10 | I have learned a lot in my Early education program. I have learned the best way to communicate with kids, and be the best teacher I can be. |
| How Difficult | 5 | My path to graduation has been a fun one! I had hard classes but also easy ones, like math. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I love the mix of hands on (classroom experience) and the book (core classes). | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | GGC offers spring, fall, and summer classes. Classes are offered all day and on weekends. No online classes are available. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | GGC is a very high tech school! We use technology to communicate with our professors and see our work. |
| Social Life | 10 | Even though GGC is a brand new school, we have created clubs. I love being in the student gov't and helping make GGC a better school. |
| Placement Services | 3 | My school does not provide job placement help. But the education and experience I was able to gain will help me find a good job. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | My school is a brand new school, so the alumni network is still being developed. I am hoping it will be good in the next few yrs. |
Emory University • Atlanta, GA
Studying English (completion in 1961)
• 10/28/2011
"I loved Emory. I made life-long friends. My education has provided me with a passion for teaching and for books. I met people from far beyond my own experience."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Education demands much of the students, but it also gives much in return. Emory is current in every dimension of the academic experience. One could not graduate without being better prepared for the future. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Emory's English department has an outstanding reputation. It continues to attract academics to teach and to do research. Major collections in the library provide opportunities for study. |
| Program Quality | 10 | At Emory I had some very exciting professors and teachers. Most were established in their fields. I do not recall a single graduate student as a teacher of an English class. I finished school with a profound love of 19th century English literature and of vocabulary. No professor ever inspired me to love writing. |
| Instruction | 6 | As an English Major, I had almost no preparation for a career as an elementary and middle school teacher. English classes certainly provided a wide range of literature, so I was well prepared to teach high school. But the education classes were taught by ineffective teachers who did little to prepare me for teaching younger students. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Because I loved most of the literature I was assigned, I was usually prepared with assignments. I wish there had been more opportunities for informal discussions with professors, especially when a work was less-known or particularly difficult. Too many classes were large and impersonal. The work load was never overwhelming. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I had very few hands-on learning opportunities, and they were mainly in science classes. I do not recall any "projects" in English class. Rarely there was an off-campus gathering for open discussion. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | There is scheduling flexibility with some classes available in the late afternoon or evening. I took several graduate classes in early evening after my teaching day. Their summer schedule is excellent. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Based on the library alone, resources are excellent. Faculty is accessible. Labs are up to date. Emory's campus is constantly changing to meet current demands for housing, classroom space, etc. |
| Social Life | 5 | Far too frequently I chose to spend weekends at home. Thus I denied myself opportunities to be more involved in campus life. I did participate spring trips by glee club. And I was a Greek, but I short-changed myself for social opportunities. |
| Placement Services | I have very limited knowledge of job placement, except in the medical and nursing schools which strive to help students in the next step of their training. I have heard that the theology school also helps find positions for its graduates. | |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Emory has a very active alumni network. Personal profiles are kept up to date. Underclassmen are also actively involved in maintaining contact with alums. There are huge reunions and other social events, and there is an outstanding magazine to keep graduates informed about Emory life. |
Emory • Atlanta, GA
Studying IDS (completion in 2006)
• 1/9/2012
"I would not change it for the world. I would go through undergrad once more, just to relive my experience there."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It is definitely a program that is up and coming, but for those interested, it is something to consider! I am trying to go there for my PhD also, so that should say something. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | Since not every school has an IDS major or something similar, it is hard to compare it to other schools. I would rate it a six, because it is still developing. |
| Program Quality | 8 | IDS was an odd major. The people in the program really made it stand out, though. |
| Instruction | 10 | I would say it is world class. You get to learn everything you possibly could to prepare you for "the real world." |
| How Difficult | 6 | It was definitely one of the easier majors at my school. In comparison to the business and pre-med classes, IDS was a breeze. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Seemed like professors had the perfect mix. Always tried to tie everything in at the end of lectures, which kept students interested. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | It was not like state schools, which offered multitudes of summer classes and night classes. This did, however, give more of a traditional college experience. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | For what it was worth, the facilities were amazing. Really high-tech on some parts of campus, and very traditional and serene at others. |
| Social Life | 10 | Experienced traditional Greek life. Just like in the movies, to say the least. |
| Placement Services | 8 | I got placed where I wanted to be placed and I was satisfied with the process. If you make the effort, you will get help from anyone you ask at my alma mater. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | One of my current students has a parent who was an alum. We are everywhere. We are always easy to contact and we are very helpful! |
Georgia Tech • Atlanta, GA
Studying Child Psychology (completion in 1998)
• 12/29/2011
"I had a wonderful experience. I wouldn't trade it for anything."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I think they are in the top of their field for child psychology. I would recommend it to anybody who would like to enter that field. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | They are regarded highly in their field. They are respected. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I felt the professors were great. The teaching materials were state of the art. |
| Instruction | 8 | The teachers were all wonderful. They spent time with me and helped me become the teacher I am today. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I would say it was very difficult. There were many reading assignments, and I found myself typing many papers. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | A little of both. Quite a bit of book reading. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | About average. I normally kept up with all classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Above average. State of the art hands on learning tools. |
| Social Life | 9 | I learned what I needed to succeed in my field. I will always respect my professors, and I had a wonderful time during school. |
| Placement Services | I did not make use of these services. | |
| Alumni Network | I do not participate in job placement programs, and I do not participate in the alumni network. |
Georgia Southern University • Statesboro, GA
Studying Math (completion in 1998)
• 12/25/2011
"I enjoyed the school very much. College life their was interesting and kept me very busy."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | GSU was a great experience for me. I do and will continue to recommend the Eagles as a school to attend for a great overall college experience. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | I had four interviews for teaching jobs right out of school. Two jobs were offered just because I was a GSU graduate. I would say the math department had and continues to have a great reputation. |
| Program Quality | 8 | GSU is an excellent college. They prepared me well in the math and science fields I have been teaching in. |
| Instruction | 8 | There weren't any online programs when I was going, so all instruction was in the classroom. The instructors were all experienced and very professional. |
| How Difficult | 8 | GSU is a good college with a demanding curriculum. Anyone dealing with math is going to be in for a battle. All-in-all it was very difficult. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Math is book learning and problem solving. I spent plenty of time in the books. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | When I went to GSU the classes were mostly in the mornings. They did have evening classes, but no official evening program. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | GSU was and still is a great football school which in turn helped keep many tutors available. The facilities are top notch. Great school. |
| Social Life | 10 | GSU is a party school and a great athletic school. It offered anything and everything you could possibly want. |
| Placement Services | 10 | The job placement center is outstanding. They helped me find a teaching internship. The internship eventually became my first full time teaching job. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | I was in a fraternity and am still in touch with a few. One of my fraternity brothers just called me last week with a job opportunity. |
Online Course Finder
Find the path to your
education in 3 easy steps.