Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Secondary School Teachers
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Iowa State.
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 Iowa State, William Penn University, University of Iowa, and Northern Iowa.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Morningside College, Drake, and Upper Iowa University.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Mount Mercy College and Saint Ambrose University.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Cornell, Emmaus Bible, Drake, and Dordt.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Emmaus Bible, Waldorf College, Loras, and Faith Baptist.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Cornell, University of Iowa, Iowa State, and Drake.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Cornell, Maharishi, William Penn University, and Waldorf College.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Loras, Emmaus Bible, Cornell, and Clarke.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Dordt College • Sioux Center, IA
Studying Elementary Education; K-6 Spanish; K-12 ESL; 5-12 Spanish (completion in 2006)
• 10/30/2011
"I think that Dordt was a good school and mostly prepared me for my profession. Although not addressed in this survey, however, I feel that the cost was too high."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If the students were definitely interested in pursuing education, yes. However, students have to realize that there is a lot involved in teaching and that should not be entered into just to "get summers off, etc..." |
| Program Reputation | 7 | From my understanding, Dordt is rated pretty well for training educators as this was its original purpose. I also believe that the somewhat small environment really helped the professors get to know their students. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I think Dordt College did a good job of preparing me for teaching for the most part. However (and this would probably be an issue for most schools), they do not teach you how to deal with classroom discipline. |
| Instruction | 8 | As I mentioned before, I believe Dordt College did a pretty good job of preparing me. However, teaching future teachers to deal with classroom behavior and the bureaucracy would have been helpful. |
| How Difficult | 7 | While the content of what I was taught was not too demanding, I still had to work hard. I spent plenty of time reading and applying what I was learning to my lesson plans. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I believe there was a decent mix. They gave us the fundamentals mostly through book learning and then had us apply it to our lessons, etc... | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | I know there were a few options for evening and summer classes, but I do not believe there were many. I also don't know that it has any online classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The library and media centers were well-equipped to help us learn the material. It also gave us many options to help write our lesson plans. Overall, I think the accessibility of professors was also quite good. I do wish that there had been more opportunities for study groups. |
| Social Life | 5 | I think the school had a decent amount of school spirit - especially in relation to our rival (Northwestern). I do not feel that there were many organized social events. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I found that many students were not immediately placed after school. Some also had to travel long distances to get a job. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I do not really have anything to compare this to. While I know my school seems to do a decent amount with alumni, it does not really seem to bring them in. |
The University Of Iowa • Iowa City, IA
Studying Science Education (completion in 2009)
• 11/22/2011
"It was an overall good experience. I learned a lot of life skills along the way. I wish that they had a better advising program, though."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | It depends on their personality and philosophy of teaching. I think that if you have a liberal view of teaching, it is a good school to go to. If you are traditional, this is not the school for you. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The University of Iowa is very well known for their science programs. Most people know that a teaching degree from Iowa is top-notch as well. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I wish that they had taught us more about governmental policy and regulations. I would have also liked to have learned more about standards. |
| Instruction | 6 | I thought that a lot of the material they were presenting was good and innovative, compared to what I had experienced in high school. However, many professors need to practice what they preach. |
| How Difficult | 9 | It seems as if secondary science teachers have to complete many classes that are extremely difficult (Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry). I would have liked to have had more specialized science classes for teachers. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | In the field of science, much of the learning is hands on in the laboratory. I had a great experience with the bounty of materials I had access to. I wish that the education classes were more hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | They allowed me to substitute classes if I could not fit them in my schedule. That was a nice option to have. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | The education building/floor was absolutely old and worn down. The libraries and other buildings were great. |
| Social Life | 8 | With such a large campus, I was able to make a lot of friends. I always had someone to study with and go out with. |
| Placement Services | 5 | There really aren't any jobs out there, unless I want to move out of the area. If I was willing to move away from my family, I would have already been placed. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I haven't had a lot of contact with them, aside from them calling and asking for money that I don't have. They have also sent letters in the mail, giving information on upcoming events. |
University Of Northern Iowa • Cedar Falls, IA
Studying Spanish Language (completion in 2009)
• 1/1/2012
"I was satisfied by the opportunity to travel abroad and improve my Spanish. The courses could have been more rigorous with their requirements for a Master's degree."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I would recommend this to others if they already have full time jobs and need a flexible school for a MA. However, a traditional program at other universities would be best if a person does not already have a job. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | There are more rigorous programs. The study abroad program is the main highlight. |
| Program Quality | 6 | I was able to study abroad through this university. While I enjoyed this, the organization of the program was not the best. |
| Instruction | 7 | Native Spanish speakers from Spain taught the courses. Also PHD professors from UNI taught as well. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The reading load was difficult. However, there were not enough challenging writing assignments. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We mainly had lectures and readings but there was a movie course to analyze cultural context. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | We were able to study during the summer. This flexibility allowed working professionals to complete a Master's degree. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | We had limited technological access to the university we visited in the summer at Santiago de Compostela. It was difficult to check out any books, but we had good classroom space. |
| Social Life | 5 | We had a couple of planned outings as a group. However it was easy to plan cultural activities on your own with individuals. |
| Placement Services | 1 | No help or extra information on with jobs was provided. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | I often receive updates from organization. They provide helpful info for alumni. |
Drake University • Des Moines, IA
Studying Master Of Arts In Teaching: Endorsements In ESL K-12 And Music K-12 (completion in 2009)
• 3/7/2012
"I only rate it average because of the two or three exceptional teachers that I had. Overall, the education department is medial at best and the teachers are not great."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I loved the music department, but I would avoid the education department. If others were looking for a school in music education, I would recommend a different school that is known for its music and education programs. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | To my knowledge, Drake wasn't known for its music program or its teacher education program. I went there because it was conveniently located. |
| Program Quality | 5 | I had a few exceptional teachers. However, the exceptional teachers were too few. I didn't always feel support or flexibility from my professors as a single adult parent. |
| Instruction | 5 | The best class that I had and enjoyed was the teaching practicum. I had an amazing field supervisor who really knew his stuff and was able to guide me through the semester. |
| How Difficult | 3 | Overall, it was very easy. The only class in which I actually read the textbook was by a specific teacher who was very tough and went strictly by the book. She was also a new college-level professor and it was hard to decipher what questions would be on the test. When she finally gave us study guides, it was ridiculous, because she basically covered every single thing in the book. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I had a few teachers who only did hands-on learning. I had another teacher who was strictly a "by the book" type. I really didn't have any teachers who were an even mix of the two. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | I was able to schedule most classes around my schedule. In a bind, the music department allowed me to take a class as an independent study too. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The resources available were excellent. The tech support was very helpful and quick to respond/be available. The library was extensive in its education and music resources. |
| Social Life | 1 | I was an adult student by this time and nothing to my knowledge was really catered to us. I would have been interested in joining a sorority (not a professional one), but no one ever asked. |
| Placement Services | 1 | I emailed my resume to have someone look it over, and it took two months for me to get a response. In the meantime, I also had emailed my resume to my undergrad career center, and they replied and advised me within one day. |
| Alumni Network | I haven't used it as of yet. I did use the career office once. |
University Of Northern Iowa • Cedar Falls, IA
Studying Biology Major; Teacher Education Minor (completion in 2003)
• 3/24/2012
"I knew at a young age that I wanted to be a teacher. I knew that UNI was the best place for me to get a quality education."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I recommend that school because of its quality teacher education program. But I also recommend that they take an elective class on urban schools or multicultural education. Unless they plan to teach in a small rural area, they need to have experience with different cultures before they graduate. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | It is no secret about UNI's reputation as the best teacher education school in Iowa. It was one of the first and biggest teacher education schools in Iowa when it first opened. Parents push their children to attend for education. |
| Program Quality | 10 | UNI has one of the best teacher education programs in the state of Iowa. They turn out the best teachers. The professors are great and the courses were very practical. |
| Instruction | 8 | I learned so much. However, I was not prepared for an urban school system of the size I currently teach in. I do wish they had more training in how to handle difficult kids. |
| How Difficult | 9 | The education classes were great; they were challenging, but rewarding. The science classes were really hard. My biology classes were full of future med students who knew a lot more than I did. I didn't have to take as many biology courses, being an education major. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | UNI promotes inquiry learning and teaching. I had many lab classes for my major. But there were many general education classes that were primarily lecture. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | Prior to my graduation, there weren't any weekend classes offered, which really would have been helpful for my master's degree. They had just started online classes, but there weren't very many offerings. I would imagine that has changed greatly. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | UNI takes care of its facilities and provides everything its students need to be successful. From the fantastic computer labs down to the student union, everything a college student needs when away from home is available. |
| Social Life | 10 | The social life was the best aspect of school. I made lifelong friends and connections. |
| Placement Services | I didn't have to use their services. I was recruited by my hometown near the university. | |
| Alumni Network | 10 | They recruit very heavily. I am a member, but just not as active, since I am in a different state. They send out mailings regularly to keep alumni posted. |
Kaplan University • Davenport, IA
Studying Education (completion in 2014)
• 3/21/2012
"I was not satisfied with the instruction or the overall experience. The school is disorganized to the point of being negligent."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I was not satisfied with Kaplan. I would not recommend it to anyone else who has any other educational options. |
| Program Reputation | 3 | Kaplan has a poor reputation and is not well respected. It is an accredited institution. |
| Program Quality | 3 | My degree from Kaplan got me a teaching cert. and allowed me to get a job. However, the program was awful. |
| Instruction | 5 | Some professors were adequate. The majority did not put much effort into their instruction. |
| How Difficult | 4 | The program was not very challenging. It was made a little more difficult because my background was in art, not education. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The program that I went through was all book learning. It provided no hands-on experience. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | They offer many online courses, so flexibility is one of the program's strong points. However, the format of classes is rather rigid. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | Most everything is offered online. The brick-and-mortar facilities that they do have are very humble. |
| Social Life | 2 | The school offers virtually no social experience. It is a means to earn a degree; that is all. |
| Placement Services | 2 | They provide zero job placement assistance. They had great difficulty even finding a place for me to student teach. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | The network and support are nonexistent. I would not rely on Kaplan for any assistance. |
University Of Northern Iowa • Cedar Falls, IA
Studying Teaching English To Speakers Of Other Languages (TESOL) (completion in 2004)
• 4/5/2012
"I received a quality education that prepared me for my career. I would definitely recommend my institution to others."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The quality of the teachers is unmatched. And you will have experiences that will prepare you for your future. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | It's the teaching University in Iowa. If you plan to go to a state school for teaching, it's the best choice. |
| Program Quality | 10 | There were very good pedagogical classes. The field experiences prepared me well for my career. |
| Instruction | 10 | The curriculum was current and taught in an interesting way. Teachers were experts in their fields. |
| How Difficult | 9 | The program definitely pushed me to explore how I define teaching, and what it means to be a good teacher. It also put me out of my comfort zone of thinking about teaching and made me practice my craft. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Definitely had 3 or 4 off campus, in the classroom field experiences while doing the book learning. Plus the student speaking aspect of any teaching program is really hands on. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | It was fairly flexible. There could have been more online options, but I always got the classes I needed when I needed them. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | I would say Extremely Good, because there is a terrific library and the campus is wonderful and professionals are accessible. Unfortunately I'm going to have to go with Good because they've just closed the Laboratory school that gave a lot of teachers field experience in close proximity to the University. |
| Social Life | 10 | All my social experiences were good ones. It wasn't hard to find clubs to join or athletic events to attend. |
| Placement Services | 10 | I'm probably biased because I got a job right away. They did provide support with my resume and teaching portfolio. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | A lot of the student population tends to live elsewhere and commute to school. However, when the students are in groups, clubs, or dorms together, there is a terrific sense of community. |
Morningside College • Sioux City, IA
Studying Math Education (completion in 2009)
• 4/9/2012
"The school is amazing. Facilities and staff are excellent."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It is an amazing town and easy to learn. Great campus and "at home" style atmosphere. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | They provide quality teachers. They assist there teachers getting started. |
| Program Quality | 10 | In my major they are awesome. The teachers are very helpful. |
| Instruction | 10 | Teachers get you ready for real job. They spend an adequate amount of time in the classrooms during school work. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The math classes were hard. Education was easy. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Education is very hands on. Math was book oriented. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | Some classes are tough to get at a time you want. But most are available in the time slot you want. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The facilities are amazing. They are constantly updating the facilities. |
| Social Life | 10 | Everyone is friendly. Lots of opportunities to join things and meet people. |
| Placement Services | 10 | They give lots of help with resumes and explain in detail what to expect. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | They call a lot and are always willing to help former students. |
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