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 St Charles Community College, Moberly Area Community College, Park University, and University of Missouri.
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 Calvary Bible, Drury, Maryville, and Southeast Missouri State.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Harris - Stowe, Webster University, Lindenwood, and Lincoln.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Metropolitan Community College-Business & Technology, Webster University, Fontbonne, and Calvary Bible.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Washington University in St Louis, Baptist Bible, Saint Louis University, and Calvary Bible.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Baptist Bible, Culver - Stockton, Calvary Bible, and William Jewell College.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Washington University in St Louis, Saint Louis University, Truman, and University of Missouri.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at College of the Ozarks, Washington University in St Louis, Avila, and Missouri State.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Washington University in St Louis, William Jewell College, Saint Louis University, and Evangel University.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Saint Louis University • Saint Louis, MO
Studying Spanish (completion in 2002)
• 10/27/2011
"It was a great experience, but there were some things they could have improved upon. I particularly liked my professors and disliked the administrative disorganization."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It was a good program overall and the scheduling is great for teachers. It's especially good because most of the students in the program are also teachers, so we shared a lot of ideas for the classroom. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | For teachers who want to get a Master's, they have a pretty good reputation. There are definitely other programs who have a better reputation for languages, like Middlebury. |
| Program Quality | 8 | It was a very convenient Master's program for teachers because it was in the summer. It was also a great program because it was in Madrid. |
| Instruction | 7 | As with any University, the quality of instruction varied with the professor. I had a few amazing teachers and a couple who were complete duds. |
| How Difficult | 7 | It was difficult to complete 4 full classes each summer in such a short time. The material was of average difficulty, but the pace was difficult. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was definitely a mix. Each class was in Spanish, so that made each one a little hands on. We often made presentations, and had thorough discussions, while in other classes we were lectured to. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | It was fairly easy to find the necessary courses each summer. They also allowed transfer credits. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | The Madrid campus was pretty basic. There wasn't much technology besides a projector in the classroom. My advisor wasn't very helpful and didn't even know my graduation date. |
| Social Life | 9 | There was a great camaraderie among the Master's students. We didn't get to go out much, since we were always studying, but we worked together a lot and got along great. |
| Placement Services | I did not use their services. | |
| Alumni Network | I don't participate in the alumni programming. Since I only attended the Madrid campus, I do not feel a part of the St. Louis community. |
Northwest Missouri State University • Maryville, MO
Studying Microbiology (completion in 1974)
• 11/1/2011
"The smaller size allowed for more student/teacher interactions. The more generalized science curriculum has been to my advantage as a high school teacher."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If the person wanted a generalized science education, the university would be more than adequate. If the person wanted to specialize in a particular field in science, then it might not be adequate. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I do not know of any significant changes in the program. I have not seen any indications that there have been improvements. |
| Program Quality | 5 | The facilities and faculty for the program was not large. However, being small meant that there were more student/faculty interactions. |
| Instruction | 6 | The curriculum was more generalized than might have been desirable for a career in microbiology. For a career in teaching high school science, it has worked out very well. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The program could have been more challenging. The program seemed to be designed for the average student. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Many of the courses were lab courses. Hands-on learning opportunities were readily available. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | There are night classes and summer classes available. Most of the classes are for the more common undergraduate classes. There are enough options to provide some flexibility for undergraduates. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The facilities and resources were more than adequate. The greatest deficiency was in the number of academic advisors. |
| Social Life | 5 | Maryville is a small community. School spirit was good. |
| Placement Services | 5 | There are job placement and career services assistance. I have not used them in many years. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | The alumni network is modest. Most of my contact with it has been requests for money, and for reunions. |
University Of Missouri • Columbia, MO
Studying Curriculum And Instruction (completion in 2009)
• 12/1/2011
"I am pleased to say I am a former Mizzou Tiger. They provide real life lessons that lead you to better your own career and life."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | If you enjoy working with other teachers and learning from each other's experiences, then this program is perfect for you! It is a lot of work, but well worth it in the end. You will feel as though you have met a great accomplishment! |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Columbia has always been regarded as a reputable school. The history of the campus, alone, is amazing. The education department itself stands out, due to the excellent history the school has had. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I really enjoyed completing my master's degree at the University of Missouri. My professors had real-life experience that they used to help teach us, and I was able to connect with other teachers around the country and world. |
| Instruction | 10 | Everything connected well to what I was currently doing in the classroom, and it helped push my teaching into a new direction. It was very project based, which I enjoyed, as it helped me get more out of my students. |
| How Difficult | 9 | I spent many all-nighters trying to get everything accomplished by the deadlines they had. Though I was going to school part time, it felt like I was right back in full-time mode. I was happy to do the work, and the challenge paid off in the end. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was a great combination at this school. Since my degree was a distance program, there really is no way around the combo. However, I never felt like it was strictly book learning, which is awesome! | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | This program has some flexibility as a distance program, but you really have to stay on track with their plan to get things done in a decent amount of years. They give you a giant class schedule to choose from, so you can see when things are offered, and this helps with planning. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | I felt that there was a great amount of media and computer resources available for this distance program. I also was able to get a hold of my professors very easily (i.e., home phone numbers, emails, office numbers, etc.). |
| Social Life | 10 | Mizzou is known for great school spirit! They also have very reputable school athletics and activities. Go Mizzou Tigers!! |
| Placement Services | 8 | I am not as familiar with this, since I didn't need to rely on career services. However, the assistance at the school is excellent in all areas. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | They send out regular emails to all alumni. They also have a Facebook page and a website one can frequent to get all the current information. They just sent out a notice of an alumni Christmas discount on all Mizzou bookstore items. I also receive an alumni calendar and magazine. |
UMKC • Kansas City, MO
Studying History (completion in 2008)
• 12/29/2011
"I am completely satisfied with my school and would recommend it to everybody! I received an amazing education and lots of memories to take everywhere I go! I have a fun, reliable job thanks to my school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | You get your money's worth. You become well-educated while having fun at the same time. The classes are convenient, the teachers are amazing and everybody is there to help you. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | My school is one of the best colleges in the city. They are very picky about who they accept in their programs, and few get accepted each year. There are enough teachers for students, and every student learns exactly what they need to learn. Their reputation is excellent because of this. |
| Program Quality | 9 | I thought my school offered a great program for what I wanted to do. I had every class I needed right at my fingertips. I didn't have to drive all over the city from one school to another. UMKC made everything very convenient for me. |
| Instruction | 8 | The teachers were very knowledgeable and always answered my questions thoroughly. I felt prepared to start my job once I graduated because everything I needed to learn had been covered. |
| How Difficult | 7 | There was a lot of work, but nothing I couldn't handle. I enjoyed doing things hands-on and the classes were challenging, which meant I was actually learning something! |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was a lot of schoolwork (books) but there was also a lot of hands-on. We got to discuss how to schedule daily activities and try different teaching methods on the students in our class. But there were also many things we needed to learn regarding paperwork. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | My school's flexibility was decent. I had to go to class on my days off from work, so I was constantly busy and had no free time, but they offered online and evening classes which helped out a lot. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The school was awesome. They had tutors, labs and support groups. They even had a gym! I think the coolest thing about my school was their payment plans. I got an Apple laptop from my school and instead of having to pay the total cost upfront, like at an Apple store, my school allowed me to make payments. I was able to get more of my schoolwork done and efficiently because of this. |
| Social Life | 8 | My social experience was pretty good. I didn't go out much (more of a homebody) but there was a lot of school spirit and social events you could attend. |
| Placement Services | 10 | I had a lot of help from my school when it came to job placement. I received frequent e-mails, giving me links where to apply and numbers I should call. It was my school that helped me get the job I have now! |
| Alumni Network | 5 | The network system for my school is average. There was support to those that wanted it, but I never really got involved. |
Missouri State University • Springfield, MO
Studying Secondary Business Education (completion in 2010)
• 1/5/2012
"It provided me with the correct amount of knowledge. Also, teaching is a lot easier than grad school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It was the best option to work and receive your education. Also, the program allows flexibility. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | Many staff members come from the program. All teachers have been properly prepared. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The program prepared me for my job. The classes were interesting and satisfying. |
| Instruction | 9 | The professors prepared us with useful knowledge. The hands-on experience was much needed. |
| How Difficult | 9 | The thesis and research papers were extremely difficult. The portfolio was also difficult. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Observing in the classroom and student teaching were hands on. Research and papers were also part of our learning experience. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | The program ran all year long. You had to take the classes in order. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | All facilities were up to date. Resources were provided. |
| Social Life | 10 | Students were active. There were many activities. |
| Placement Services | 9 | Providing contacts and experience in the community opened many doors. All students in my program were placed. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I have no experience with the alumni association. They may have sent one letter. |
National Louis University • St. Louis, MO
Studying Education (completion in 1997)
• 2/11/2012
"The school was exactly what I wanted. It offered a fairly priced, convenient, and meaningful education."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The classes will help you to develop techniques you can use to immediately impact your students' learning. It is a great way to increase your salary while expanding your knowledge. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I believe there are plenty of other great programs out there that are held in higher regard. I do not believe my education is looked down upon, however. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The overall experience was exactly what I hoped it would be. The education was adequate and the tuition was fairly priced. |
| Instruction | 8 | I took away many techniques in how to encourage students to be active in their own education. I feel as though I am a great motivator and this is in direct correlation with the quality of the curriculum of my own education. |
| How Difficult | 2 | Although we talked a lot about how to encourage our own students, it was not put into action by my own professors. The workload was very manageable even while working full time. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We often shared our experiences to expand on the book's teaching. We did role playing to enhance hands-on approaches. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | For the time, this school was among the most flexible I had heard of. I took evening classes and even completed some projects/presentations on the weekends. This was before the online trend came about. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | This school was meant for people "on the go." Nearly everyone had full time jobs and attended the school in the evenings. Facilities other than classrooms were not essential. The advisors and professors were always willing to help out. |
| Social Life | This is a graduate program for people "on the go." There were no sports teams or organizations. I enjoyed my classmates and we built a camaraderie. | |
| Placement Services | 5 | I already had a job when I was attending school so I did not experience this area first hand. I did have a few classmates who received jobs through job placement at the college and they seemed satisfied. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I am not even sure there is such a thing at the college I attended. I have never received any mailings or other information on an alumni network. |
Missouri University Of Science And Technology • Rolla, MO
Studying History / Theatre (completion in 2010)
• 3/27/2012
"I liked it. It made me happy."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | Not the best school for specialization in the field. However, it's a smaller school so there were more opportunities. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | I think their reputation is good though I'm not really sure. |
| Program Quality | 7 | There are better schools for specific training in my field. However, I was very happy with my decision to attend this school. |
| Instruction | 8 | I really enjoyed the instructors. I had a lot of opportunities. |
| How Difficult | 4 | I think there are more difficult fields. However, I had a lot of work to do. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | This is not an appropriate question for my field. This is impossible to answer. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | There were many choices of classes and times. I took a very traditional route. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | The Arts/Humanities were not a large emphasis at my school. They focus on Engineering. |
| Social Life | 3 | I didn't make any friends while there. It's not the fault of the school though. |
| Placement Services | I did not use these services. They did not have them for my degree. | |
| Alumni Network | 7 | They send a lot of magazines from the University but they aren't specialized to one major. |
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