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 Ohio State Newark, Ohio State Marion, Ohio State Mansfield, and Lorain County Community College.
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 Urbana University, Union Institute & University, Gods Bible School and College, and Kent State.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Ursuline College.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Central State, Union Institute & University, The University of Findlay, and Muskingum University.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Ursuline College, Ohio Christian University, Ashland University, and College of Mount St. Joseph.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Franciscan University of Steubenville, Gods Bible School and College, Union Institute & University, and Cedarville University.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Gods Bible School and College, Ohio Wesleyan University, Bluffton, and Wittenberg University.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Case Western Reserve, Ohio State, Ohio Wesleyan University, and Cedarville University.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Ohio Christian University, Central State, and Notre Dame College.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Art Academy, Case Western Reserve, Gods Bible School and College, and Capital University.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Cedarville University • Cedarville, OH
Studying Dual Major: Early Childhood Education And K-8 Special Education (completion in 2008)
• 6/28/2011
"As I stated before, I was unprepared for my first year in the classroom. While that may be true for most first-year teachers, I think the program could have been more effective in developing classroom management skills."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | The school provides a great social environment, and although I have some issues with my program, I am sure I would find issues with the programs anywhere. Cedarville's alumni network and strong reputation, however, provides graduates with a high-percentage chance at obtaining a job after graduation, which is probably the most important thing anyway. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | Cedarville has produced some good teachers and has a pretty good reputation in the area, despite my concerns about the program. We have five other teachers in my building that graduated from Cedarville, and numerous others in the district. |
| Program Quality | 6 | The ECE major was a joke, to be frank. Many of the professors were adjuncts that were not qualified, and obtaining the degree took little-to-no-effort outside of the teaching practicums. |
| Instruction | 5 | My first year of teaching was rough because I struggled to catch up with IEP development and intervention skills. I was not prepared to handle the work load that was given to me, nor did I have enough schooling to know how to do it all. My program focused too much on lesson planning and not enough on skills like classroom management. |
| How Difficult | 2 | It was a very unchallenging course of study, with the only real difficulties coming from the student-teaching experiences. While I enjoyed the ease of study during my time at Cedarville, in retrospect I think I would have chosen a program that better prepared me for the school environment. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Although there were numerous field experiences, the majority of the program was focused on book learning. Obviously it varies by professor, but the program would benefit from a little more hands-on activity time. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | The program at Cedarville is offered primarily during the day to full-time college students. There are some online classes available and some summer offerings, but completing the degree requires a full-time commitment. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Cedarville is a private Christian school with some of the top academic facilities in the region. I had everything I could want or need at my fingertips during my time there. |
| Social Life | 10 | As a three-sport athlete and an organizational leader, I had a great social experience at Cedarville. The strong Christian environment mixed with energetic and enthusiastic college students and professors made my time there enjoyable. |
| Placement Services | 10 | With five different career fairs specifically for education students, as well as a network of alumni available to all graduating students, our career services assistance was top-notch. Further, the career services department offered free resume assistance, job-search resources, etc. to be used by graduating seniors. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | Cedarville has a great reputation, especially in my part of Ohio. I had job interviews and offers as soon as I graduated from college, and I had no trouble finding a job. |
Mount Vernon Nazarene University • Mount Vernon, OH
Studying Art: VCD (completion in 2003)
• 7/7/2011
"I wish a broader education was explored in the area of art. Some of the rules of the school limit the creative process."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Overall it was a great program that prepared me for my field. There is always room for improvement and the school seems to support looking for that improvement. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | The reputation from those who have completed the program is high, but the school does not advertise this program the way they do some others. The program's reputation would increase greatly if the administration focused a bit of time and attention to it. |
| Program Quality | 7 | MVNU's art program has developed much more since I graduated. It would have benefited my students greatly if I had been exposed to more modern art forms. |
| Instruction | 8 | While well rounded and highly involved, the art faculty was limited in number. More diverse faculty would have allowed greater exposure to different ideals and would have lead to a higher quality program. |
| How Difficult | 9 | The work load and studio time required was quite heavy, but enjoyable. Class critiques and lecture times were almost as involved as studio time. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Studio time is imperative to any art program. As much if not more time is spent physically learning the craft as it is talking about it. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Online and summer options are growing. With the limited number of art faculty, it is hard to have a lot of flexibility. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The new studio and class building is outstanding. Studio space, labs, and faculty studios are top-notch. |
| Social Life | 10 | The student social life options abound. There are many school sanctioned events to choose from as well as the non-sanctioned ones, of course. |
| Placement Services | 2 | Alum are often times left to their own devices to find jobs. The career services office needs to expand their services to current students and alumni. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | The art alumni are networked almost the second they graduate. There are groups and meetings for support and exchange of ideas. |
Ohio State University • Columbus, OH
Studying Education (completion in 1995)
• 7/5/2011
"I really enjoyed my time there. I would recommend the school to others. I do not regret attending Ohio State."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I enjoyed my time at school. I also found a great job in the field of the major that I studied. I would do it again if I could! Everyone, follow your dreams! |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I don't know much of their reputation among other education majors. I don't hear any good OR bad feedback. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I feel I got all the necessary training. I was well educated. |
| Instruction | 8 | I felt this was adequate. I never felt like the curriculum was sub par at any time. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I did very well. I think the course programs were average in difficulty. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I did the majority of my work out of books and through lectures. My major was education, so the lion's share of the work was out of books, and required essays and reading. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Very flexible. I never had a problem! |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | State of the art. For the most part, everything was very modern and in good working order. I had no problems! |
| Social Life | 2 | I did not have many friends in school. I did not attend many parties or athletic events while enrolled. |
| Placement Services | 3 | I found my own job after graduating. I did not get assistance, so I cannot comment. However, I did not get "offered" job placement. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I cannot say. I never took advantage of any of the school's alumni support. I was not very involved in campus activities. |
Bowling Green State University • Bowling Green, OH
Studying Music Education (completion in 2006)
• 7/29/2011
"My school was great all around. If given the chance to do it all over again I would go to BGSU again."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Bowling Green is highly rated and provides an excellent degree program. I felt like I had the support of all of the faculty. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | BGSU is very highly rated in the area of music education. The entrance audition is difficult and many people get turned away. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I learned a great deal about my role as an educator. I felt that I was well prepared to teach. |
| Instruction | 10 | The professors involved in my educational program were top notch. I felt that the curriculum was well tailored to meet my needs. |
| How Difficult | 10 | Music majors often have to take many more classes than other majors. Many of those classes require you to learn instruments that you may not be familiar with. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of my classes were hands on. We had to learn instruments hands on and also had classroom field experiences. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | There were many different types of offerings. I took several evening classes to work around my employment schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | We always had multiple resources and types of media at our disposal. The professors had weekly office hours for meetings. |
| Social Life | 10 | BGSU had many scheduled events and parties for students. The school spirit was awesome. |
| Placement Services | 9 | The job placement services were helpful for making a resume and cover letter. There were also many opportunities for jobs in Ohio. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | The alumni network is great. I frequently attend alumni events. |
Ashland University • Columbus, OH
Studying 4th-9th Language Arts And Social Studies (completion in 2009)
• 8/3/2011
"I felt that once I walked through the door I was ready to teach."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Ashland has a very good program for educators. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Almost everyone in the state gets their degree from Ashland. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I felt that my University had an amazing graduate program for my major. The professors were very knowledgeable. |
| Instruction | 8 | My professors were very knowledgeable, but I just wished I was challenged a little bit more. |
| How Difficult | 6 | I felt that I wasn't being challenged to think outside the box. However, I also have to keep in mind most of the things they are teaching me I learned in school and am just learning how to teach the material. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We did both hands on learning and book learning, which is very good. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | My school offers classes in the evening, on weekends, in the summer, and online. Many options for busy lives. |
| Academic Facilities | 4 | I went to a branch college, so there wasn't a library at all or any laboratories. But the classroom space was fine. |
| Social Life | 1 | Most of the people studying there are doing graduate work. At the branch there are no sports. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I am not really sure. I already had a job lined up. However, I am sure if I didn't they would have provided me with a list of schools that were hiring. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I have not heard really anything from my school. Once in a while I get a newsletter letting me know what is going on around campus. |
Ohio State University • Columbus, OH
Studying Elementary Education (completion in 2007)
• 8/11/2011
"Like I said before, I like the school. The location is more difficult for me to manage."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I don't enjoy teaching in a rural setting. Maybe others are more inclined to teach here. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | I've heard many other people speak highly of my school. I know that people admire me. |
| Program Quality | 9 | My school more than prepared me for teaching. I was given all the knowledge I need for what I do in my every day job. |
| Instruction | 10 | This pretty much goes with the last question. I was given many opportunities to learn about teaching and observe excellent teachers. |
| How Difficult | 9 | The program was not too difficult; just time-consuming. College is what you make of it. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I would my program is about a 50% mix in this area. We do a lot of both of these activities. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 2 | I can do nothing about scheduling. The scheduling system makes life very difficult. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | |
| Social Life | 6 | |
| Placement Services | 8 | The school does the best they can to help students find jobs. There are only so much available jobs out there. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | It's good, but I don't use it. They are always asking for money. |
University Of Toledo • Toledo, OH
Studying Elementary Education (completion in 2011)
• 9/13/2011
"I was very pleased to get my Bachelor's of Education from the University of Toledo. It was a nice campus, with a great program, friendly staff/faculty, and people that truly care about the future."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The program is affordable, and attainable. The coursework isn't overly demanding and the resources available and experience under your belt is amazing! |
| Program Reputation | 9 | UT is not known specifically for the teaching program, but on a local level it's a great program. UT is very involved in the community and is recognized as a great school for future teachers. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Everyone is a team and works to make our school strong, and to help the children learn. |
| Instruction | 9 | I had a wealth of experiences before graduating that introduced me to a broad spectrum of students and schools. I feel that I was well prepared. |
| How Difficult | 5 | While there was a lot to do and many lessons to develop, the goals were attainable. UT wanted us to become successful teachers. They strive for excellence and provided challenges as needed. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was a mix of teaching techniques provided to help learners of all types. As teachers, we need to provide for our students' learning styles and the education professors acknowledge this by incorporating different teaching methods in the classroom. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | While many classes have to be taken on campus during the day, there are online and evening classes available as well. Many courses are also offered in the summer and in shorter sessions to help meet the needs of students. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | There are a lot of resources to help students and the Carver center is a great tool for computers, books, media resources, and a helpful, friendly staff. Many tools are provided, and professors are helpful. |
| Social Life | 9 | There are many extracurricular programs offered and plenty of volunteering opportunities. Unity of students is encouraged, and the student body is typically warm and inviting. |
| Placement Services | 10 | The staff is proactive, helpful, and follows through on tasks. Everyone is genuinely willing to take the time to help one another. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | UT is heavily involved in the alumni and job search process. The advisers and directors are very proactive and helpful even after an alum has attained a degree and teaching position. |
University Of Cincinnati • Cincinnati, OH
Studying Education Leadership (completion in 2011)
• 10/3/2011
"I got the degree I wanted in a relatively short time frame and was able to do so while working full-time. Despite my concerns about some of the classes, ultimately I was able to get my degree without having to go back to school full-time."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I recommend UC because it allows you to take the classes on your schedule. Flexibility is important to the working professional and UC provides just that. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I think the program provides a solid background and foundation. That said, I do not think the program is distinguished above its competitors. |
| Program Quality | 6 | UC was a good program but the material is very short-sighted and basic. I would have liked some more hands-on, tangible exercises as opposed to the curriculum provided. |
| Instruction | 5 | I learned a lot about leadership theory and educational pedagogy. Nonetheless, there were aspects of educational leadership that were largely ignored, such as budget management and fiscal ethics. |
| How Difficult | 4 | UC has programs offered on campus and through distance learning. My program was the latter. I considered the program fairly easy and was able to complete it quickly. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | With the exception of one short internship, the two-year program was primarily book learning . I would have liked to see more tangible, hands-on experiences built in to the curriculum. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Because the program is offered in traditional and online groupings, you get to choose the best fit for you. The distance education program online was perfect for my schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | Advisors and computer resources were very good. Libraries and tutors were available at all times. However, these tools have not necessarily been made available to online students, which is something that the school should work on. |
| Social Life | 5 | Frankly, being an online student, I didn't attend as many of these as the traditional students. However, the school does a good job of communicating events and promoting student involvement. |
| Placement Services | 6 | Much better than average as UC places great emphasis on job placement and career services. Although I did not use these tools, I was contacted on numerous occasions. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I have never been contacted by the alumni network. It was not a tool that was made available to me. To my knowledge, the school does not even have an alumni network. |
University Of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory Of Music • Cincinnati, OH
Studying Oboe (completion in 2006)
• 10/8/2011
"I am quite satisfied with my education at UC-CCM. It was exactly what I needed to become a more confident and better performer. I grew as a musician and a performer, mostly thanks to my studio professor."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | As I have stated, the school has an excellent reputation. My primary teacher, my oboe studio instructor, is very dedicated, knowledgeable, observant and supportive. I have actually already recommended UC-CCM to some of my students. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | CCM is known for music. That's why I went there. It is a good institution for performance (my area) as well as education. |
| Program Quality | 9 | I think UC-CCM is an excellent school for music. I had an amazing oboe instructor. He has the knowledge and tools to build self-confidence in his students as they gain a better understanding of music and the oboe. |
| Instruction | 8 | My oboe instructor was amazing. The only reason it is not a 10 is because some of the classes are taught by Graduate Assistants that are still learning to teach. |
| How Difficult | 8 | It is a lot of work. I do think, however, that it is proportionate to what should be expected. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | History and theory are very book-oriented. Playing the oboe, or any instrument, on the other hand, is a hands-on learning experience. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | During the regular school year, pursuing a Master's Degree, the schedule is rather inflexible, as there is often only one section of each class offered. However, during the summer, students are afforded many performance opportunities of varying lengths and times. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Performance and rehearsal spaces for large ensembles were adequate. Practice rooms for individuals were always full. The reed room for 18 oboists had about enough standing room for 4 people, but was not utilized by everyone at once. Most professors were accessible and would work with you if you made an effort. |
| Social Life | 7 | I lived off campus and was married. There were some events I would attend with other music majors, but that was pretty much it. |
| Placement Services | 8 | I believe that CCM does provide career services assistance. I never used it, so I am not aware of their exact offerings. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | Unlike my undergraduate university, I am not hounded by emails and mailings asking for money or inviting me to events. I believe if I look on the website, though, there is information to be found. |
Wright State University • Dayton, OH
Studying Music Education (completion in 2010)
• 10/12/2011
"I enjoyed my experience at WSU. The faculty was fantastic and I did feel as if it helped me prepare for my future. I learned a lot in my 4 years at college."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Wright State is affordable and offers a quality education. I enjoyed all the resources, people, and even the classes at WSU. I recommend this school all the time to people I know. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | Wright State isn't the most well-known college. Because of this, the reputation is not that great. However, they do have a respectable program and the reputation is increasing with each year. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Wright State has many very qualified teachers and offers a lot of hands on training. I've been fairly well prepared for my classroom and for creating a good learning environment for my students. |
| Instruction | 9 | All my classes for music education have been helpful in my future and I learned quite a bit while there. However, some of the additional general education classes have not been helpful, nor useful. |
| How Difficult | 9 | We had many classes and each class required a lot of time and dedication. There were many days that I wished that I had a few more hours in a day. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | In the music classes and some of the education classes I took, almost all learning was hands-on. However, in many of my general education classes, the focus was on book-learning, rather than on hands-on learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 3 | For my classes, many were only offered one time each quarter. This could get really frustrating. I did get to take a few general education classes online, which was extremely helpful. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Although the music building is currently being renovated, the resources were very helpful. There was a multitude of computer labs, a very large library with friendly staff, and a lot of tutors/staff there to assist students. |
| Social Life | 6 | Although this school has a huge commuter base, they did provide many chances for socialization. There were a few school wide festivals, many student groups, and the opportunity to create your own student group, if you wanted to explore that option. |
| Placement Services | 7 | I wish they had explained a bit more about the application process and given us more resources to find jobs, including websites. They did assist me in reviewing resumes and how to interview. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | WSU does provide an Alumni Association with many outings and such. However, this same program costs around $100 a year to be part of. Personally, I'd rather use facebook to keep in touch with those I knew, and keep my money. |
Notre Dame College • Euclid, OH
Studying Early Childhood PreK-3rd Grade (completion in 2011)
• 1/3/2012
"I enjoyed my educational experience."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It is an excellent program for the mature adult learner. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | I understand it is the only program of its kind in Ohio. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The instructors all were still in the classroom. They were able to teach theory as well as provide practical ways to handle things within the classroom. |
| Instruction | 8 | Notre Dame College prepared me for the classroom. They covered everything that teachers in this area need to know for the statewide test. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The workload was manageable. This was an accelerated program. Most of us worked full-time. The coursework was designed to make us use our critical thinking skills. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | In some classes, we were required to do an internship. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | Classes are held in the evening, one time per week, for 3 hours. This may seem like a long time, but the instructors made the time fly, because of the structure of the class. I only took nonlinear classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Even though I took all my classes online, the portal provided library resources. My advisor was just a phone call away. |
| Social Life | I really did not have a social experience, since the program was online. | |
| Placement Services | 6 | They sponsor a job fair during the spring. |
| Alumni Network | I'm not really sure. I have not checked out what the alumni network is all about. |
Otterbein University • Westerville, OH
Studying Education (completion in 2000)
• 1/12/2012
"I was satisfied. The program accomplished what I needed it to, and I experienced very few hassles in the process."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The Otterbein University environment is small, which gives students a good learning experience. In addition, the many schools that are nearby allow students to receive hands-on learning without having to travel long distances as I did in my undergraduate program. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | The Education department at Otterbein University is exceptional. It is one of the top-rated programs in the state and is the program of choice in the community. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The program was exactly what I required to move up in my career. However, some of the classes seemed irrelevant to my job, and I would have preferred more choices in tailoring my education. |
| Instruction | 8 | The instructors were excellent and made even irrelevant classes more interesting. Additionally, these instructors and professors were helpful as I prepared and presented my master's thesis. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The program of study was above average in terms of difficulty. The work load, however, was intense, especially considering many of us were already working and trying to complete the program at the same time. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I had already had a lot of hands-on learning, so I find it difficult to give this an accurate rating. I do think that the program incorporated technology into the teaching quite well, though. And it is important as a teacher to stay abreast of developing technology. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | The class schedule was built around the working person's schedule. I found it fairly easy to fit the classes into my already busy life. However, there were a couple of terms during which I felt overloaded with classes because I had to take them when they were offered. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | Although the media sources are not outstanding, they are acceptable. It is the availability and approachability of the faculty that make this category's rating higher. |
| Social Life | 5 | Again, I was a nontraditional student, so I did not take part in any social experiences. The peers in my classes were very friendly, and we did group projects together quite successfully. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I did not use the job placement and career services. I already had a job lined up, and so I cannot speak to the career services department. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | As usual, I receive a magazine and phone calls requesting money. Because the school is small and I was not one of their "traditional" students, I think the networking has eluded me. |
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