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 Southeastern Louisiana University, LSU, Louisiana-Lafayette, and Nicholls 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 NSU, Southeastern Louisiana University, Loyola University, and LSU Shreveport.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Grambling State, Xavier University of Louisiana, Louisiana Tech Baton Rouge, and Louisiana Tech.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Loyola University, Louisiana Tech, and NSU.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Grambling State, Loyola University, Xavier University of Louisiana, and Centenary.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Dillard, Centenary, Louisiana College, and Grambling State.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Loyola University, LSU, and Centenary.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Grambling State, Dillard, Southeastern Louisiana University, and Louisiana College.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Dillard, Loyola University, Centenary, and Xavier University of Louisiana.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
Sort Reviews By:Sorting by: • Show All Details • Hide All Details
Southeastern Louisiana University • Hammond, LA
Studying English Education (completion in 2007)
• 12/13/2011
"I was very satisfied with my school. There are very few things I would change about my experience."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Southeastern Louisiana University is a great school to attend if you want a small university feel and great social opportunities. Professors know your name and are responsive to you, course flexibility, and challenging and rewarding curriculum. The education program is top notch and I believe I left college prepared for a career as a teacher. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Many teachers that I meet either obtained their Bachelor's or Master's degree from Southeastern Louisiana University. |
| Program Quality | 9 | I am very satisfied with the college for my program. The professors were very helpful and understanding and prepared me for some of the situations I may face as a teacher. The program was very well created and relevant to what my career would be like. I would change very little about my experience. |
| Instruction | 9 | I am very satisfied with the quality of instruction. The professors were well educated and most were seasoned teachers and were able to relate their own experiences to what we may face as teachers. I would have liked more help with making myself more marketable as a teacher and I would have liked more information and encouragement about added certifications. |
| How Difficult | 6 | The difficulty was slightly above average. Other than classroom responsibilities, we were required to observe other teachers and do a semester of student teaching, which we were not paid for. It was definitely not an easy task. Also, the time frame of 4 years to get a Bachelor's degree in Education is definitely too hard to accomplish. It took me 5 years. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | For most of the education courses, it was a definite mix between class learning and hands on learning. Some of the other courses such as math, science, etc. were more book learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | The class schedule was fairly flexible. However, it was somewhat difficult once I reached my 3rd year and had to attend classes and observe high school classrooms and try to work. But it was still manageable. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | While I was attending, there were new computer labs being built and the library was being updated. I did not use tutors very often but many students did and they were available regularly. The professors were also accessible if they had a small/medium class size. I even had coffee with some professors to discuss my essays. Professors who had very large classes were less accessible but email helped out a great deal. |
| Social Life | 9 | Southeastern Louisiana University did a great job in putting together many social activities and opportunities. I attended many organized social events during and after school hours. |
| Placement Services | 5 | Job placement was average. There are teacher job fairs that are held at the school but you do not have any better chance of obtaining a job by attending. Most school boards still hold their own job fairs. It would be nice to have a job offer before leaving college but for most that did not happen. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | Network and support was great while in college but not a great once I graduated. |
Louisiana State University • Baton Rouge, LA
Studying K-12 Administration (completion in 2009)
• 1/5/2012
"The education wasn't great, but I got the degree. I suspect this is often the case in education."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | The disorganization was maddening. If the administration has improved, then I might recommend the school to others. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | As bad as my experience was, LSU is still the most recognized university in the state. People see it on my resume and are impressed, sadly. |
| Program Quality | 2 | The program was very poorly run. We didn't get a degree plan until our final semester. |
| Instruction | 3 | Most of my instructors were elementary certified, so there was little help for a secondary person. Also, many of the instructors had spent less than 5 years in a real school. |
| How Difficult | 1 | I had undergraduate assignments that were more difficult than anything I had to do in grad school. I didn't even study for my comps. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We had regular lecture classes each week. Additionally, though, we were involved in an internship program in schools. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | We were told which courses and sections to schedule. There were no exceptions made or choices offered. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | We had access to anything we needed, from a resource standpoint. There are multiple libraries on campus, as well as numerous computer labs. |
| Social Life | 5 | I rate this as average, because I was an adult student in a graduate program. The social experience for a college-age undergrad is very good. |
| Placement Services | 1 | I did not receive any job placement or career assistance. I have had no contact with the school since graduation. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I am not aware of an alumni network. I think I still have the phone number of one classmate. |
LSU • Baton Rouge, LA
Studying History (completion in 2008)
• 1/15/2012
"I loved my college experience. I couldn't imagine having gone anywhere else."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | They give you everything you need to succeed while in school. They also continue to help you after you graduate. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | It is probably the best in the state. However, Louisiana isn't known for its stellar programs nationwide. |
| Program Quality | 7 | I had some very good professors. However, I wish they had more variety in the course offerings. |
| Instruction | 4 | My major was in History and not in History Education. I currently teach American History, but I took most of my classes in Ancient History or European History, which didn't quite prepare me. |
| How Difficult | 3 | I earned an A in every History class I took and never quite felt challenged. I often skipped classes and drank the nights before a test. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | They emphasized book learning, as I was a history major. However, when earning my teacher certification through another local school, I was able to contact LSU's education department; they put me in touch with various high school history teachers in the area, with whom I could observe. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Like most colleges, they offer some online courses. They also have Winter Intersession, Spring Intersession, and two Summer Intersessions, as well as various night courses. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | My professors always kept their hours and were amiable and willing to help me with my studies. They were also able to arrange meetings with local teachers and set me up with observation and student teaching opportunities. However, the library was often crowded. |
| Social Life | 10 | LSU is known for being a great party school. We won two National Championships in football, one in baseball, and a Final Four appearance while I was a student. The tailgating experience for athletic events is second to none. |
| Placement Services | 7 | There were several job fairs for teachers held at the university. Several people in the education department were able to help direct me to other programs to receive an alternative teaching certification and prepare me for the Praxis. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | The alumni network is amazing. I always feel connected to the university and alumni (though still living a few miles from campus, it would be difficult for them not to do a good job). |
Southeastern Louisiana State University • Hammond, LA
Studying Business Education (completion in 1984)
• 2/26/2012
"Overall, I consider college a success. I had a great time and I earned a worthwhile degree. I am very satisfied."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Absolutely. As a teacher, I recommend it all the time to my students. Currently, my brother-in-law is finishing an education degree there. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | SLU is known for producing quality teachers. I have always been proud of the education I received there. |
| Instruction | 10 | Of course, since I earned my degree so long ago, lots has changed in the technology field. I feel I was adequately prepared for the time and the foundation was laid for the future. It was up to me to keep up with my curriculum. |
| How Difficult | 7 | For me, it wasn't difficult at all. I was always told that I sailed through things. However, I did see others struggle. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | This was a little of both. Of course, I am sure it has changed a lot. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | Schedule flexibility was never a problem. Even post-graduate work was easy to schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | In 1984, the facilities and resources were all great. I am pretty sure that they have kept up with the times. |
| Social Life | 10 | I loved SLU. I joined a sorority and made many lifelong friends. Also, the athletic program struggled, but was lots of fun. |
| Placement Services | 7 | At the time I graduated, placement was not a big thing. You graduated, you applied for jobs, you got one. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I get occasional calls, which are always about money. |
McNeese State University • Lake Charles, LA
Studying General Studies (completion in 2005)
• 3/13/2012
"It gave me a degree that helped me get a job. It also let me graduate early by changing majors."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It's as good as any other program. Education classes teach you how to fill out paperwork, not how to teach. |
| Program Reputation | I don't know what their reputation is. I would assume it's okay. | |
| Program Quality | 5 | I was a psych major with a concentration in education, but I changed to general studies at the last minute, after a hurricane destroyed my apartment. General studies allowed me to graduate a year early. |
| Instruction | 1 | Teaching, like most things, is best learned by doing. Alt Cert teachers never do student teaching, so you are really left to your own devices to figure it out as you go. |
| How Difficult | 6 | It wasn't challenging or mentally stimulating, but it was a lot of work. Much of the work was repetitive. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The only class that wasn't from a book was rat lab. I spent a semester working with rats, doing psychology experiments. It was great. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Most classes were offered multiple times a year. Only a few classes were taught by a single instructor. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | I never had a problem finding what I needed on campus. My advisor was helpful until I changed to general studies; that advisor was terrible. She failed to mention that I should apply my psych classes towards a minor. |
| Social Life | 7 | There was always something going on. I was in the band, so that provided plenty to do. |
| Placement Services | I know that they had a career department, but I never used it. I received no help finding a job. | |
| Alumni Network | 1 | Never heard from the alumni association. I'm assuming that there actually is one. |
Southern University • Baton Rouge, LA
Studying Mass Communications, Public Administration (completion in 2003)
• 4/8/2012
"My school prepared me to be an educator. The hands-on aspect of the program was very helpful."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend this program to aspiring teachers because of the real-world experience they receive. The program affectively prepared me to be a teacher. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The program is well-known. Many different students enter the program from different backgrounds to become wonderful teachers. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Even though I did not major in education, classes that I took during my baccalaureate program prepared me for the classroom. The program is very structured. |
| Instruction | 10 | The professors in my program were veteran teachers. They have a plethora of education experience and are in-tune with the needs of the students. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The program requires a great deal of practical experience. The amount of practicum hours gives students the opportunity to work in the real-world. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Students are required to complete field experience hours for every class. During field experience they are given the opportunity to work with students. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | During the school year, classes are scheduled after school hours. During the summer classes are during the day. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The library is constantly being upgraded. The availability of resources are consistent. |
| Social Life | 9 | My school is known for it's student-friendly atmosphere. There are many activities that are scheduled for social interactions. |
| Placement Services | 5 | Teaching positions in the area are fairly easy to find. Therefore, the career services department does not play a significant role in finding employment for teachers. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | There is a great deal of support from alumni. At any school teachers work at in the 9-parish region, they are usually mentored by a graduate of the program. |
Online Course Finder
Find the path to your
education in 3 easy steps.