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 Christopher Newport University, Old Dominion University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and George Mason.
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 Regent University, Norfolk State, Old Dominion University, and Marymount.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Sweet Briar College, Hollins, and Mary Baldwin.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Hampton, Norfolk State, George Mason, and Marymount.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Regent University, Shenandoah University, George Mason, and Old Dominion University.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of University of Richmond, Hampton, Regent University, and Sweet Briar College.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Sweet Briar College, Emory and Henry, Bridgewater, and Lynchburg College.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at University of Richmond, Christopher Newport University, University of Mary Washington, and George Mason.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at University of Richmond.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Sweet Briar College, University of Richmond, Emory and Henry, and Virginia Union University.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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James Madison University • Harrisonburg, VA
Studying Psychology (completion in 1997)
• 7/8/2011
"Not too much to add. I enjoyed JMU and my professors. I wouldn't rate it a 10, though."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I do believe the program is good at preparing teachers for most areas. However, as mentioned before, there were some subjects I did not feel ready to teach. It has been 14 years since I graduated so I would have to look into their program to see what has changed before I would be able to comfortably recommend it to anyone. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | Not sure - it has been a while since I attended JMU and haven't really kept up with their reputation. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I only have a bachelor's degree in Psychology which is just the foundation. The courses were good, I just hadn't had the time to dig deeper into the field. I wanted to major in Elementary Education but I was not allowed to in Virginia. I had to pick a major and then minor in Elementary Ed. |
| Instruction | 8 | I am rating this based on my education minor - not the major since you are interested in education. My school focused on hands on learning which I think is wonderful. However, there was not much in the way of preparation as far as everyday paperwork and subjects such as grammar. My first year of teaching I realized I had no preparation for teaching grammar to 2nd graders. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The education requirements were time consuming (a lot of cutting and pasting), but as far as intellectually challenging, I don't think it was that hard. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Psychology and general classes were book oriented. Education classes were very hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | There were a lot of options but it really depended on what types of courses you were taking. Some majors/minors were offered mostly during the day. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The children's section of the library was full of books, they were just old and dated. It would have been nice to have more recent children's books to work with. |
| Social Life | 5 | I had a core group of friends and didn't really participate in school functions. I am not interested in sports or school parties. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I moved after graduation and did not use any assistance in finding a job from the university. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I receive newsletters and donation letters but I am not really involved with the alumni. |
Norfolk State University • Norfolk, VA
Studying Urban Education (completion in 2007)
• 7/13/2011
"NSU is not a great school. But, I was part of a great cohort."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | NSU on it's own is not strong academically. But for my program they teamed up with Virginia Commonwealth and University of Virginia. These schools basically ran the program. |
| Program Reputation | 3 | As a teacher, I know not to expect much from teachers that attend NSU. As a former student, I saw the caliber of students there. It was not what I was accustomed to in other schools. |
| Program Quality | 2 | Norfolk State does not teach you how to teach. If you don't "have it" when you walk in, you won't have it when you walk out... But at least it counts for a pay raise. |
| Instruction | 4 | My classes were taught as a cohort where we got better education than the regular students at the university. I was part of a special program made up of teachers from across the state. We learned as much from each other as we did from the teachers. |
| How Difficult | 2 | The math courses were easy. The pedagogy classes were more tedious, but still not hard. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My program was designed to meet my needs. We did observation assignments and only focused on exactly what we needed to teach. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | We took our courses during summers and on weekends throughout the year. We also had some online courses. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | The facilities in some buildings were nice. They have built a new library. |
| Social Life | 7 | NSU alumni have spirit. I am just not part of that group... |
| Placement Services | 5 | I didn't use it. I already had a job. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I have had nothing to do with NSU after graduation. I didn't even attend graduation. |
George Mason • Fairfax, VA
Studying History (completion in 2009)
• 7/19/2011
"I am very satisfied with how the school prepared me in my major. It gave me optimal levels of resources as well and engaged me with highly professional professors who made sure I got to where I needed to be."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Anyone who is looking to complete a teaching degree at this school is going to be highly pleased at the level of professionalism and discipline that is nurtured here. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | The reputation for this particular major isn't necessarily world renowned, but regionally it produces some of the most talented and professional teachers. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Professors work with you to gain the necessary skills. You are told to think in a professional and understanding manner. |
| Instruction | 8 | The instructions are well implemented for both newcomers and advanced students. It's easy to grasp while pushing you to learn and understand. |
| How Difficult | 9 | professors put strenuous effort into making sure the right information is applied in the right circumstances. In addition, school resources provide ample secondary sources to reinforce a satisfactory learning experience. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The method of teaching is still traditionally based on using books to study and learn. However, the computer room is used often to help keep the students well read on newer information coming out. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | The school makes note of student obligations in other areas of life and suitably finds a proper schedule that allows time for necessary school lessons as well as time to take care of other things at home. There are weekend and evening classes as well as summer options. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Academic facilities that pertain to the degree or major pursued by students all follow state of the art regulations and are of advanced quality. Libraries and computer rooms all adhere to strict rules. This provides the utmost level of resources compiled in a professional manner. |
| Social Life | 9 | Everyone at the school is able to build life long relationships with those around them. There is diversity so that people can walk away with a deep long lasting appreciation for others, while also introducing people to your own personality. |
| Placement Services | 10 | There is a department solely involved in the work necessary to prepare students for teaching careers. Faculty here give tips and recommendations on resume preparation and how to look attractive to employers. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | The Alumni network is deeply embedded within the school itself. They visit to provide real world information, like how to land the right job. |
Norfolk State University • Norfolk, VA
Studying Elementary Education (completion in 1999)
• 8/8/2011
"I was very satisfied because I was trained for a new career. I completed my work and I was out of there in a couple of years."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend this school because the professors are nurturing. I see student teachers come to my present place of employment and I'm proud to say that I attended that university. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | The school has not kept up with the competition. Online class offerings are more convenient and less expensive. |
| Program Quality | 10 | There are about 600 elementary students. We overcome many challenges in a Title I school, but it is very rewarding. |
| Instruction | 10 | I received good instruction and was prepared for the regimen of elementary school. The required class that forced us to decide how we would overcome some of the challenges in an inner city school proved invaluable. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | You were certainly pushed to try hands-on learning. I had no problem developing centers in my classroom because I had been given a lot of the tools in college. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | As I said earlier, the school is not very flexible with online offerings. Other schools have more flexible schedules. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The libraries are updated and the resources are convenient. I met at the library for several study groups. |
| Social Life | 5 | I was a nontraditional student training for a second career. I was not there for the social aspect at all. |
| Placement Services | 10 | I was placed in my first job in the school where I did my final student teaching placement. The professors really prepared you for the classroom. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I wrote a lot of papers but it was doable. I actually attended classes. My degree was not online. I now take online classes and find it easier because I got the template of expectations from a traditional classroom. |
Virginia Commonwealth University • Richmond, VA
Studying Art Education (completion in 2009)
• 8/9/2011
"I was quite satisfied with my time at VCU and did not regret choosing it for my education. It provided me many opportunities that benefited my education and I am glad I chose to attend such a diverse school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Overall, VCU is a great school for those not looking for a very intimate setting. Because it is so large, there is a large number of resources available to you in a variety of subjects. I did enjoy it despite my few negative ratings. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Because VCU is one of the best art schools in the nation, the Art Education program is indirectly rated well. When you have a top rated art school most programs are highly rated. I would say it is average. |
| Program Quality | 8 | VCU has one of the best art programs in the country, but I wish I had more actual in-school training. I also wish there was more focus on preparing for your first year as a teacher, which is the hardest and most work-intensive. It was a good program with lots of exposure to teaching styles and art education "ideas" but is lacking in real work classroom experience and education. |
| Instruction | 8 | I rated this as a 7 because although I wish I had more classroom instruction I do feel as though I was properly prepared in the "Art" side of it through many studio classes and hands on art making. I do wish that I had more actual classroom management education, which is lacking in the art education department. I had to learn most of that as a teacher. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I chose 5 because my program was not particularly grueling or difficult, with an average amount of work. The art education classes themselves were more busy work. My studio classes were the most work intensive with hours of painting or ceramics work due in a short amount of time. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was a mixture. I said 5 because although there was a lot of "pre-classroom" book learning, I was also able to get experience in an elementary, middle, and high school setting as well as in a low income and high income school system. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | I rated this a little less than average because, especially in art school, there is a difficult balance between taking academic and studio classes. Most studio classes are 2-3 hours per week and and often times they are only offered 2 or 3 times a semester. It was difficult to create a schedule that worked with my work and social schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | VCU has wonderful resources for students, especially in the art school. There are so many tools and machines for woodworking, ceramics, metalworking etc. and they are free to use almost 24hrs a day. |
| Social Life | 8 | My social experience was quite good, but I didn't really participate in school wide events. I did participate in Art events through the art school, such as Art Education shows and fundraising events. |
| Placement Services | 8 | I have not used VCU's job placement services but I have searched for jobs on the jobs website. It seems like a good program because there are many jobs only available for students and some that are geared towards VCU graduates. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | VCU has a strong alumni network but I myself have not joined or participated in alumni events. I choose not to join the alumni group because it seems to me just another way for the university to make money, and not something that would benefit me in a way that would make it worth it. |
University Of Virginia • Charlottesville, VA
Studying Education (completion in 2010)
• 8/30/2011
"This was the best time of my life."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend this school and program to anyone. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | It gets harder and harder to get into the program every year. |
| Program Quality | 8 | It really provides a solid education. |
| Instruction | 8 | Very relevant curriculum with numerous possible focuses. |
| How Difficult | 5 | It all depends on the class and the professor. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It's not particularly hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | An online school would be more available/flexible, but for a full time student the class times are fine. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | There are numerous readily accessible libraries and online resources. |
| Social Life | 10 | There are a lot of groups that are constantly looking to expand their memberships. |
| Placement Services | 8 | Very easily accessible career services with numerous job fairs. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | The best thing about the alumni network is the work they put into convincing new alumni to join. |
William And Mary • Williamsburg, VA
Studying English (completion in 2003)
• 10/23/2011
"I loved going to William and Mary! The faculty were amazing and the campus is beautiful."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Education is a great field to go into. William and Mary can definitely help you achieve that goal. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | William and Mary's English department has a good reputation. Maybe not nationally, but definitely locally. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I had many wonderful classes with great professors. These classes did a good job preparing me for my future job. |
| Instruction | 8 | The teachers really wanted to make sure I succeeded. They went out of their way to help advise me on my future plans. |
| How Difficult | 6 | There was a fair amount of work in my major, but it wasn't unbearable. I had time to still work a part time job. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My program was fairly hands on and it required an internship. We did rely on books for part of the class too though. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | I would say that William and Mary is fairly flexible in terms of scheduling. There are night classes but no weekend classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The libraries were amazing at William and Mary. They were both beautiful, and great for research. |
| Social Life | 7 | I enjoyed the social scene at William and Mary. There was always something to do in campus. |
| Placement Services | 8 | Career services were great at William and Mary. They helped me research various jobs before applying. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | The William and Mary alumni are great! They helped me get my first job out of college. |
Virginia Commonwealth University • Richmond, VA
Studying Reading (completion in 2009)
• 10/25/2011
"I am satisfied with my school and I feel it is in line with other schools in the community."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | My school is an excellent school, but I am not sure if I would recommend my school to others pursuing this career. There are other specialized schools in other areas that may be more beneficial for growth opportunities. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | The University has an excellent reputation in the community for my program of study. |
| Program Quality | 10 | VCU is an excellent school and I enjoyed my time there. I feel the University gave me the tools I need to excel in my career. |
| Instruction | 10 | I learned a great deal and I feel I am adequately prepared for the work environment that I am in. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The program is fairly difficult but all Master's programs are difficult. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My program is very hands-on, because I believe young children learn better this way. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | The school is fairly flexible, but of course most instruction is only available during the week. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | Our facilities are helpful with libraries, computers, and group support programs, which I feel are fairly in line with most schools in the area. |
| Social Life | 5 | I am involved in as many events as possible and my participation is in line with other staff. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I feel the university does the best that it can in this economy to help graduates find jobs. It can be difficult to find jobs that are more specialized, but I do not believe that to be the university's fault as much as the economy. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I am not sure if the alumni network and support is good or not because I have not contacted the university since graduating. I have heard there are alumni associations if alumni are interested in joining. |
Old Dominion University • Norfolk, VA
Studying Special Education (completion in 2012)
• 11/23/2011
"I have been able to complete my Master's degree in a reasonable amount of time while attending part time. The professors have been accessible and helpful."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | The program is expensive and I felt I repeated a lot of the content from my undergraduate studies. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | It is known for being easy but doable. It is also on the expensive side. |
| Program Quality | 5 | The program spent too much time focusing on meeting state mandates instead of teaching students. I would have liked to receive more on instructional strategies for the classroom and current research supporting those strategies. |
| Instruction | 4 | State testing requires teachers to spend too much time teaching non-functional skills "for the test." Thus, students miss out on the more important life skills such as social interactions. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I had to study and attend classes to maintain my GPA of 3.9. The comprehensive exam required information be retained. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The amount of hands on vs. book learning varies among professors. I have had professors who have utilized both. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | I have been able to take evening classes. Some weekend classes and online classes are also available. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The main campus has an extensive general library. There is also a library for teacher to check out materials for their classroom |
| Social Life | I am attending as working grad student. I am unfamiliar with the social scene. | |
| Placement Services | I have not utilized this feature. I began classes after obtaining my provisional certification, thus I already had a job. | |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I have never been contacted by the alumni association nor have I solicited to provide contact information. |
Old Dominion University • Norfolk, VA
Studying Special Education (completion in 1999)
• 12/18/2011
"I could not have asked for a better education. It was a state school, so cost was not as high as local private schools."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I coach soccer and have had several players go to ODU and enroll in the ed program. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | ODU used to be the teaching college, the Norfolk branch of William and Mary. Not sure of the exact percentage, but a large portion of the student body are education majors. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Great professors, most of whom are still working for local school systems. Extensive practicum/student teaching experiences. |
| Instruction | 9 | Very supportive. The majority of instructors have not lost touch with "real world" teaching issues and concerns. Meaning, they didn't teach from "la la land," where every student is white, middle class, and has both parents in the house. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Incredible amount of pre-class prep needed per class. A lot of emphasis placed on quality of work over quantity. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Undergrad = more theory. Grad = more application. I had several grad professors who did not require textbooks. They relied on course packs and practicum experiences. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | New campus located at Grad Center in VA Beach; lots of online courses offered. I was a weekend student for several semesters, while subbing and working at a bar. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Professors and tutoring groups were always available for help. Computer labs and library computers were updated twice while I was a student. |
| Social Life | 9 | Several top ten athletic programs (women's basketball and hockey; men's soccer). Always something going on on campus, such as pep rallies, club activities, and social events. |
| Placement Services | I was substitute teaching prior to graduating with a bachelor's, so I had already begun my own networking. Both my parents, my wife and my in-laws were/are teachers...more connections made on my own. | |
| Alumni Network | 9 | Large and active network of alumni; everything from tailgates for sporting events to job fairs. Many forms of communication used to contact and update alumni of any and all events pertaining to the university, including social media (Twitter, Facebook, Google+), mailings, advertisements, alumni newsletter and emails. |
Liberty University • Lynchburg, VA
Studying English, Elementary Education (completion in 2005)
• 12/31/2011
"It was fine and I survived and got a job. I definitely don't look back at it as the best time in my life though."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I think if the person wanted a religious school, then yes, it would be a great choice. But keep in mind, that it is very religious. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | Liberty is known for producing many Education majors. However, Liberty is also known for accepting almost everyone. |
| Program Quality | 6 | I liked the education classes. I didn't like all the required religion classes. |
| Instruction | 5 | Liberty is a decent school. It definitely wasn't the best but not the worst either. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Liberty is just kind of a middle-of-the road school. I graduated with a 3.8 so I thought it was fairly easy. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I think it was a good mix. I don't have a lot of experience in other schools to compare it to, though. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Liberty has many on-campus and online classes available. I really appreciated this. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | Liberty has many new buildings and facilities. They are constantly trying to improve. |
| Social Life | 2 | I really hated the strictness of Liberty. Especially the "Liberty Way" dress and behavior code. |
| Placement Services | 3 | I found very little help with career services but I was pretty independent looking for jobs. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I think there are many people involved in the alumni programs. I personally get annoyed with how often they ask for money. |
University Of Phoenix • Arlington, VA
Studying Elementary Education (completion in 2009)
• 1/11/2012
"University of Phoenix provided me with the opportunity and skills to teach, which I am very grateful for. I am satisfied with the lessons I learned as well as the friends I made."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I would recommend University of Phoenix to someone interested in Elementary Education as an inexpensive option for a quality education. I would not recommend University of Phoenix to someone who is interested in the prestige that comes with attending a more established University. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | University of Phoenix has a steady reputation of giving a quality education, and that was my experience. Watching the advertisements for my program and school has been interesting as they seem to genuinely reflect both my experience as well as the experiences of my classmates. |
| Program Quality | 8 | University of Phoenix was an ideal choice during the time I was working towards my master's degree due to the flexibility it allowed me to fulfill the responsibilities I had towards my family as well as attend class and finish my student teaching. When I was interviewing at private schools to become a 6th grade teacher, I began to realize that any school that advertises during Super Bowl breaks may not necessarily be the best school to put on a resume. |
| Instruction | 10 | My instructor and mentor during my time at University of Phoenix could not have been more lovely or accommodating. Classes were blended to allow myself and my classmates to organize and develop lesson plans and activities for our student teaching that we could later tailor and reuse in our future classrooms, something that I have found invaluable in my own class now. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The work load was initially stressful and I was overwhelmed at first. When I communicated this to my mentor he helped me immensely by demonstrating organizational skills and prioritizing important things in a more digestible way which has helped me be both a better teacher and a better wife and mother. The work was difficult, but everything I learned has been something I have encountered in my own classroom. University of Phoenix has given me the tools and confidence in my own abilities to face any adversity I face as an educator. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was a refreshing mixture of studying and applying our lessons in the classroom. This can partially be attributed to the required student teaching where we would create our lesson plans and then use them in our real life classrooms. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | I do not know about University of Phoenix as a whole, but I found my instructor to be very helpful in planning classes as well as being flexible about due dates. My program does not seem to be an accurate reflection of the overall university's flexibility as we had to student teach in addition to attend the required classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | University of Phoenix is a chain of schools, so it did not have the general amenities that other school campuses often provide. I found that my instructor made himself available to all his students when needed and provided additional support whenever appropriate. |
| Social Life | 5 | When I was attending my master's program there was no time to attend any activities outside of what was required for my diploma. On our school calendar I did not see the usual array of activities that I had seen at more traditional campuses, so I would assume that they were few and limited. |
| Placement Services | I did not use the school's career services to gain employment, so I do not have personal experience with it. My classmate, Beverly, did use the school's services and found them to be helpful, especially when interviewing and filling out her professional resume. | |
| Alumni Network | To be honest I really have not stayed in touch or pursued any involvement with the alumni association, so I have no opinion to give that can be helpful or substantial in any way. |
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