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 Fayetteville State, Winston-Salem State University, East Carolina University, and UNC Charlotte.
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 Methodist University, Shaw University, Chowan, and Salem College.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Bennett, Meredith College, and Salem College.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Livingstone, North Carolina A & T, North Carolina Central University, and Elizabeth City State.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Wilson Community College, McDowell, Cleveland Community College, and Piedmont Community College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Warren Wilson College, Bennett, Elon University, and Johnson C Smith University.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of St Andrews Presbyterian College, Chowan, Livingstone, and Brevard.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at UNC, Elon University, NC State, and Appalachian State.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Johnson C Smith University, UNC, Campbell, and Shaw University.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Piedmont Baptist College and Graduate School, Bennett, Brevard, and Wake Forest University.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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NC State University • Raleigh, NC
Studying Elementary Education (completion in 2007)
• 4/29/2011
"I made lifelong friends at the university. I was also provided with a valuable internship experience to help me land a job. The facilities there are great and the extracurricular activities are extensive."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend this school because it allows future teachers to have hands-on experience in teaching. This is invaluable to teachers because that is the only way we can learn how to reach students. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | The school is not known to be a teaching college. Others believe that it is not as good as schools in Eastern NC for obtaining a teaching degree. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The school provides a great internship program for teachers. It also has many knowledgeable professors teaching the subject. |
| Instruction | 8 | The teachers all have doctorates or master's degrees. Also, many of them have been elementary school teachers in the past so they know what they are talking about. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The internship is the most difficult part. You have to work in a school without pay as a teacher for an entire year. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My elementary education program was very hands-on learning. All of the students had to do an internship and practicums. We also had to practice lessons on each other. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | There are plenty of online options for classes. I also went to summer school and evening classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The library is expansive and has every book you need. There are also computer labs all over campus that you can use for free. |
| Social Life | 9 | There are plenty of clubs that students can participate in. I also liked going to the student center on holidays because they always had something special going on. |
| Placement Services | 7 | The career center helped me write my resume. It also held a teaching job fair. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | Ever since I graduated, I keep getting letters updating me on what is happening at the school. They also have alumni gatherings. |
Winston Salem State University • Winston-Salem, NC
Studying Biology (completion in 1987)
• 6/29/2011
"I love my university. If I were able to, I would send my children to that particular university."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | They have a great undergraduate program in many disciplines. Their graduate program is awesome!! |
| Program Reputation | 10 | They are a very recognized school statewide and nationally. Their graduation rate per class is very high and they have turned out quite a few professionals. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I came out of my program with a very good background and was very grounded as well. I went into the job market immediately upon graduation and found a very good job. |
| Instruction | 9 | My professors were very, very knowledgeable and professional. They provided me with all the necessary tools to succeed. |
| How Difficult | 9 | It was difficult, however it became worth the effort. Working so hard to obtain my degree taught me discipline that was greatly needed for my success today. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The labs were loaded. The experiments were the teaching tools all by themselves at some points. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | The schedule was flexible and they offered classes at night as well. They even offered smaller classes almost every quarter. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | I rarely had to leave campus to write my papers. The library was top of the line. |
| Social Life | 10 | I met a lot of wonderful friends as well as many professionals. It helped my social life greatly. |
| Placement Services | 10 | As soon as I graduated I walked right into a job. I kept that particular job for over 10 years before changing careers. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | I'm not a big fan of the Alumni due to my extremely large family and husband. I keep in contact with some of my college friends but don't attend anything except an occasional football game. |
Montreat College • Asheville, NC
Studying M.A. Ed. (completion in 2010)
• 7/3/2011
"I was looking for a program that would enable me to achieve a master's degree in as little time as possible. Montreat College's program finishes in 18 months."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I learned as much as I expected to learn. I finished in 18 months, so I was happy about that. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I haven't really heard anything in the community about my program. Since it's just getting started, I'm not sure it has a reputation yet. |
| Program Quality | 5 | The masters program at Montreat was being "reworked" when I went through it. There were a lot of important issues that still needed to be sorted out. |
| Instruction | 8 | I learned a lot about best practices and became much more comfortable presenting to an audience. The only reason I didn't rate it a 10 is because there were many inconsistencies between professors. |
| How Difficult | 7 | For the most part, I had to work less than I expected. At the end of the program, though, the final project required hours and hours of work. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The answer to this question really depends on the professor's teaching style. Some professors relied heavily on the text, while others created their own activities to teach the material. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Our classes met one night a week on campus. Then we had a required weekly study group meeting that we could schedule with our study groups whenever it was convenient for us. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | I don't know about the tutors or study group support; no one in my program used those services. However, we were provided access to several online professional journals and databases that we used for our research. |
| Social Life | 5 | Again, I was obtaining a masters degree. So I was not involved in the social aspect of the school. |
| Placement Services | 5 | Again, I'm not sure these services exist. They probably do for undergraduate students. All of us in the Masters program were already employed. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | I'm not sure that there is an alumni network. If so, I've never had any interaction with it. |
Warren Wilson College • Swannanoa, NC
Studying English/Theatre (completion in 2010)
• 7/9/2011
"Warren Wilson College was well worth my four years. It was an educational experience that I would not take back. I have learned so much about the world around me and grew as a student and individual."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Warren Wilson prepares students well for future study in a graduate program, or to pursue your dreams right after graduation. If you are a person who knows what you are looking for then you'll fit in perfectly. If you're unsure, I know you can find your calling here. The school's motto is "Warren Wilson College…We're not for everyone. But then, maybe you're not everyone." |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Warren Wilson is one of the top small liberal arts colleges in the United States. The reputation is well known, and the education is well worth the tuition. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The program at Warren Wilson College is based on a liberal arts approach. Not only am I familiar with my chosen subject matter, but also many other subject areas. It has given me an overall better base of knowledge that I can pass on and draw from. |
| Instruction | 7 | My program prepared me better for career options than for a set career path. My professors were well trained and attended great universities. I feel that the instruction I received has prepared me well for the future and for future graduate study. |
| How Difficult | 9 | Warren Wilson College is a work college, so I had not only academics to consider, but also work and service. My overall work load was challenging, but it taught me how to balance the important things in my life and how to take time for myself as well. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most courses at Warren Wilson utilize both hands on and book learning. The faculty is really great at planning the courses with their students' learning approaches. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | Warren Wilson does not offer summer or online options. The courses are a semester long or half of a semester. Most courses utilize online options as part of the in class learning as well. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | I believe Warren Wilson's resources for my program are unique and well equipped. Since it's a work college and every student works, you can see the pride we put into what we do. We maintain our facilities, so they are the best they can be. I was satisfied with what was at our disposal. |
| Social Life | 9 | The Student Activities at Warren Wilson offer something for everyone, from our annual drag show to our Adventure race. There is always something going on during the weekends and in the evenings. You'll never be bored. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I don't believe that the college's career services are very helpful. I tried that avenue after graduation, and all they really helped me with was resume building, which I had already worked on in college. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | I don't feel that Warren Wilson's alumni network is too strong. Since graduating I haven't really had any support from alumni or the small amount of career services offered at the college. |
UNC Greensboro • Greensboro, NC
Studying Elementary Education (completion in 2009)
• 7/16/2011
"I loved my school. I had an amazing experience and graduated from a wonderful program. I felt prepared to become a teacher. I had a great social life in college and made lifetime friends. I don't regret anything, and I wouldn't change it for the world."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | As I stated earlier, UNCG is known for having one of the best teaching programs in the state. Schools/School systems know that when a graduate from UNCG applies for an opening that they have a wonderful and qualified candidate. I truly felt prepared for starting my teaching career. My first 2 years have been challenging, but also successful. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | I know that UNCG has one of the top education programs in the state. You are in this program for 2 years. You have 3 internships, student teaching, and methods classes in every subject. You are placed in teams specializing in different subjects. We also had to take licensure classes in subjects such as PE, music, and art. Each student must put in a lot of work and time in this program. |
| Program Quality | 9 | I loved the program I was in. It did a great job of preparing me to teach lessons in any subject for any age group. We had 3 internships and we student taught for a semester. I felt prepared. The only thing I wasn't prepared for was the amount of paperwork. |
| Instruction | 9 | I had wonderful professors in the program. They had a lot of experience in the classroom. They really took time to help my team become wonderful teachers. I enjoyed all of their classes. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I was constantly challenged. We had to make unit studies, lesson plans, and reflect on every lesson taught. We had projects to help us learn the material we needed to teach. We had to read textbooks and children's books outside of class. It was a lot of work, but it was worth it. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Honestly, there was a pretty good mixture of textbooks and hands-on learning. It depended on the teacher's style and subject matter being taught (ex. more hands-on in Science, and less in History). | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | There were a lot of students with many requirements and various times to take these classes. Overall, they have a wide offering of times and online options. I used all of the options available to complete my course load. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | First, the education majors had an amazing library to use. They had many teacher's manuals for each grade level. They also had people there to help and many computers to use. My professors were always available during office hours or by email. The classrooms/labs were large enough to accommodate the amount of students we had. There were many help centers on campus for various needs, such as The Writing Center and The Speaking Center. |
| Social Life | 10 | I belonged to a campus ministry for all 4 years I attended school. I attended basketball games, soccer games, and baseball games. The University had many social events including live music, speakers, plays, musicals, discussions, etc. I attended many of the above and enjoyed every minute of them. |
| Placement Services | 8 | I didn't go through career serves much, but I do know they helped those who did. I did go to them for help with creating my resume. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I know the alumni network was supportive of people finding a job upon graduating. I didn't really go through the network for help. I do receive emails and paper bulletins for the alumni to keep in touch with one another. |
Appalachian State University • Boone, NC
Studying Arts Management (completion in 2002)
• 8/13/2011
"It was a well-rounded and focused education. The professors were always accessible to help guide me to my future career."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | The school is located in a remote mountain town. If you are seeking a urban, busy environment, then the degree field, despite it's strengths, isn't for you. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | When I graduated it was a new program. The specific degree will never be a popular degree. It is specific to a business and arts blended career choice. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I had real-world training for arts-management. I knew how to look for and plan for a career in community-arts, private, and public arts spaces. |
| Instruction | 10 | I was required to work in an arts-based internship. I worked at a community-arts school and a private gallery while still in school and analyzed my work experiences as part of the curriculum. |
| How Difficult | 6 | It was a balance of book and hands-on learning. As a group we had to present theoretical arts programs that had to meet real-world budgets. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Books are the standard of teaching. One can only have so much hands-on work before the students need to now how to research and find materials or answers on their own. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | At the time, the internet was in its early stages. The school is a classroom based school. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The library system had/has a top-notch borrowing system and the art department had quality, relevant computers and software. |
| Social Life | 9 | It was easy to join any type of social or academic group. I, a non-athlete, participated in a football scholarship support group. |
| Placement Services | 10 | I had zero problems seeking guidance for internships and job connections after graduation. I immediately worked for the model community art center of North Carolina after graduating. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | It is easy to get more information about the alumni program. I currently live states away and was able to find an alumni chapter. |
University Of North Carolina - Chapel Hill • Chapel Hill, NC
Studying Music Education (completion in 2010)
• 9/13/2011
"Aside from my quibble with the alumni network and resources, I have to say I am pleased with my whole experience. The ability to complete the program in one year and be in the workforce that much sooner was a huge boon."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Quality instruction. What's not to like? My time at UNC was well-spent and I am fairly satisfied with where I am in my career right now. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Part of the reason I applied to UNC was that it was known to have a strong Masters program in Education. Most of the people with whom I interviewed for my job seemed to be of the same opinion. |
| Program Quality | 9 | I could not have been more pleased, the classes were relevant and challenging. Placement at local schools was flawlessly executed and run. |
| Instruction | 9 | The whole program was very well-run, and even though I ended up taking summer classes, it was arranged in such a way that I was able to complete all classes in one year. This was challenging and required a good deal of effort, especially while student-teaching, but I worked all day studying and teaching and it never seemed like too much material. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The difficulty of the curriculum was challenging but not overly so; it was simple to grasp, though less simple to practice. What made UNC more difficult than average was the time I seemed to put into studying and working. It required lots of time though not a staggering amount of mental dexterity, if that makes sense. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The nature of education programs is that they tend to be hands-on and UNC is no exception. We did a lot of student-teaching and I picked up a lot of the skills I utilize now in my job from those hands-on experiences. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | I never had the opportunity to take classes online (although I think that they do exist). I did take the summer classes they offered which allowed me to complete my Master's in one year. Other than that, flexibility seems to be a tit for tat kind of thing at UNC. With some of the larger classes you have options, but there are a few required classes for my major that were only held at one time and you were forced into taking them and arranging your schedule around those. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | I was not wanting for any outside resources at UNC. The whole program was executed and run smoothly. Whether I needed to secure a music practice room or needed a school to student teach at, the university had all the resources readily available. |
| Social Life | 8 | Even as a grad student I felt school pride in attending sporting events, and had fun at some of the education events. Go Tar Heels! |
| Placement Services | 6 | UNC did a fabulous job with placement for student-teaching, but I mostly attacked full-time teaching employment on my own. I was engaged to a man working in the DC area and knew I wanted to work there, so perhaps I didn't allow UNC to place me for full-time employment. If I had been more flexible in my job search I suppose the university might have helped more. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | Perhaps it is because I was only a grad student for a year, or perhaps because not too many people in the education field in the DC area attended UNC, I have not personally reaped the benefits of an active alumni network. My undergraduate school (William & Mary) has given me much better contacts. |
University Of NC At Greensboro • Greensboro, NC
Studying Elementary Education (K-6) (completion in 2002)
• 10/17/2011
"Very well rounded - met lots of people through social activities. Got a great educational experience - rigorous and lots of classroom work. I felt very prepared for my first year of teaching."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I HAVE recommended my school to others. At least 2 students I know of have taken my recommendation and have graduated or are currently attending. In addition, I have spoken with people in a position to make changes at other universities, asking them to consider my school program's high points in their own school's programs. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | The two years I was in the school of education, we received the distinction of the #1 Education School in the state!!! Nuff said!!! |
| Program Quality | 10 | Once in the school of education, the plan of study exposed us to lots of classroom experiences. By the time we were to student teach, we had been in a classroom for a lot of hours. |
| Instruction | 10 | Again, we had lots of classroom experience by the time we did our student teaching. In addition, we were placed in a cohort team for 2 years in which we took all our classes together. We also had a weekly seminar where we learned an additional aspect of literacy (my cohort focus) that wasn't covered in our regular literacy classes. |
| How Difficult | 8 | I have seen and heard from other School of Education programs and we were required to do many tasks that went above and beyond what I hear from other schools. For example, in my language arts class, I had to write 2 papers - one in full manuscript print and the other in cursive. The point was two fold - first we learned how to write in these two ways and second we learned how hard it is for our students to write for long periods of time with just pencil and paper. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We had lots of classroom experience by the time we had our student teaching experience. We learned our book content while working directly with students in a classroom. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | At the time, we were placed in a cohort. The cohort took all classes together (no online, weekend, etc. options). In addition, we had regular internship times that were a part of our class where we had to be in a classroom during the school day (no online, weekend, night, etc. option). |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | Professors had posted office hours. The library was well stocked with professional educational titles. We had to go to local city libraries for books to read to the kids and use our internship schools for specific educational titles. |
| Social Life | 8 | We had a variety of school sports, but there was no football team. Our fall sport was soccer and that was not my forte. There were lots of other extracurricular activities that I regularly participated in. |
| Placement Services | 5 | There was a career services center on campus. The School of Education didn't have anything "extra" to help teachers. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | They have an alumni magazine that I receive on a regular basis. In addition, the School of Education produces a magazine on a less frequent basis. In the back of the magazine, there are updates of alumni (new jobs, babies, marriages, etc). |
Appalachian State University • Boone, NC
Studying Elementary Education (completion in 2011)
• 11/5/2011
"The instruction was great. I feel like I am prepared and looking forward to maybe going back to further my education."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It is a local school that provided great instruction. The faculty and student body are friendly for the most part. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | It is recognized in its area and works with a number of local schools to get in-field experience for students. I feel the instructors have the students' best interests at heart. |
| Program Quality | 7 | This school provided great instructors. Also, the in-school field experience was a great concept. |
| Instruction | 8 | The instructors provided clear instruction and teaching. The field experiences helped prepare me for the classroom. |
| How Difficult | 5 | There were some classes that were challenging. This is a major I am passionate about, so I wanted to do my best. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Both are needed for a good balance. I feel that the instructors used both to help reach each student's learning styles. Again, this depended on the instructor. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Most of my classes were predetermined. I was a distance learning student so I had to go with those classes, so I can not speak about on campus class openings. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | They have a great library with a rent-a-textbook system. They also have great computer labs and programs that allowed me to access their software via my computer. |
| Social Life | 5 | Made some great friends. Never really went to athletic events, but the campus spirit was high. |
| Placement Services | 4 | They said they would help. The current economy kind of makes this an unfair question as jobs are hard for anyone to come by now. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I get things in the mail. I haven't been approached by fellow alumni about joining anything, though. |
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro • Greensboro, NC
Studying Elementary Education (completion in 2011)
• 10/27/2011
"All in all my school was pretty satisfying. They gave me tools to use in my career and gave me job opportunities."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If someone was very patient and goal-oriented I would recommend UNCG to them. If they were not, they should try a different school with a more hands on program. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | UNCG has a prestigious school of education. The school boasts 100% of all graduates are hired within six months. |
| Program Quality | 5 | I was unsatisfied with my alma mater's education program. The instructors mostly discussed problems with the system. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The program was moderately difficult due to a few factors. The extra credit activities came during times where my schedule did not work to attend. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The instructor assigned very demanding weekly readings. This caused long stretches of class to be extremely boring. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | UNCG offered many different courses at many different time. This was extremely helpful for a student who had to work. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The resources at UNCG were great. There were always library attendants ready to assist students. |
| Social Life | 7 | I went to many parties at school. The unfortunate thing is, the school didn't have any successful sports teams. |
| Placement Services | 8 | The school did a very good job with job placement. I was hired within three weeks of graduation. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | The alumni support of the school is OK. Many use the school to recruit employees. |
University Of North Carolina Greensboro • Greensboro, NC
Studying Dance Education (completion in 2009)
• 1/12/2012
"The school always felt very safe. I always had support around me, and staff was on a first name basis. I graduated in the amount of time I wanted and I feel I got a good education."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I feel that I got a better education than my dollar amount in tuition. I have found as a teacher I am very comfortable in the classroom, which I attribute to my education. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | Staff was extremely knowledgeable of their craft. One of the few schools in North Carolina to offer specific degrees in dance education. |
| Program Quality | 7 | The education I received was good. But the post college helpfulness toward obtaining a job was lacking. No help in students getting a foot in the door. |
| Instruction | 7 | Staff for dance education was limited to around 5 people who had their time spread very thinly. Instruction was personalized to individual students' teaching styles, but there was no help with job placement post graduation. |
| How Difficult | 9 | On top of taking 4 to 5 education courses per semester, students were also required to take 2 to 3 technique classes. The load was rather difficult. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of everything was experiential learning based. The only text learning was history modules. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Mandatory courses were sometimes only offered on an every other semester rotation. Class sizes were small so it was difficult to obtain a place to ensure on time graduation. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Everything that was required was on campus. This ranged from tutorial services, to extensive libraries and food. All was included in tuition. |
| Social Life | 7 | There was enough on campus housing to help with socializing freshman and sophomore year. Many groups and organizations try to get you involved. By senior year there is not much mingling outside of your social group. |
| Placement Services | 5 | There really was not any help for post graduation job placement. Only help with student placement was provided. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | I receive a newsletter and phone calls requesting money I have yet to earn. This is due to the lack of help students receive at obtaining a job post graduation. |
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