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 Fayetteville State, Winston-Salem State University, East Carolina University, and UNC Charlotte.
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 Methodist University, Chowan, Salem College, and Pfeiffer University.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider Bennett, Meredith College, and Salem College.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Livingstone, North Carolina A & T, North Carolina Central University, and Elizabeth City State.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Fayetteville State, UNC Pembroke, Winston-Salem State University, and Western Carolina University.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Bennett, Elon University, Johnson C Smith University, and Wake Forest University.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of St Andrews Presbyterian College, Chowan, Livingstone, and Brevard.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at UNC, Elon University, NC State, and Appalachian State.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Johnson C Smith University, UNC, Campbell, and Wake Forest University.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Piedmont Baptist College and Graduate School, Bennett, Brevard, and Wake Forest University.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
Sort Reviews By:Sorting by: • Show All Details • Hide All Details
North Carolina State University • Raleigh, NC
Studying Math Education (completion in 1993)
• 4/29/2011
"I really like going there. It was a really good experience. I feel like I experienced a different culture/(s) than I was used to and it opened my eyes to all kinds of different experiences."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | As a teacher I always recommend NC state to my students or others. Because I live in VT I don't have a lot of takers. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | I think NC state has a good reputation for all of their majors. Maybe not education as much as say engineering but math education yes. |
| Program Quality | 8 | North Carolina State was a great place to go for education. I think that they could have done a bit more with classroom management but overall it was a good place to go. |
| Instruction | More than 5 years ago | |
| How Difficult | 5 | I would say that the education and psychology classes were fairly easy. The math classes and computer classes I had to take were difficult. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I would say more book learning than hands on. It does depend on your major though. I am sure that there was more hands on learning for different majors. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | There was a wide variety of summer classes offered. Online was not an option when I got my degree but it probably is now. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | NC state had more than I could ask for in that department. I don't even feel like I could have touched on all the facilities and resources that were available to me. |
| Social Life | 10 | I had not experienced the whole ingrained spirit for a school before the NC state experience. The social part of college was definitely the best part of school. I met many people from all over the country/world who are friends for life. |
| Placement Services | 4 | I felt like they did not do a great job with career placement. That was definitely up to me. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | NC State has an extensive alumni network. I get letters from them all the time. |
Elon University • Elon, NC
Studying History (completion in 1996)
• 10/28/2011
"Elon is the complete package. If you do not want a large university to get lost in, it's the place. From the standpoint of a teaching degree, Elon has worked with the community to offer opportunities to work with local school children from day one rather than the last two years like some schools."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would absolutely recommend it. It's a great campus to learn the craft and share ideas with students from all over the country and world. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Elon is one of two private universities in NC that offer the NC Teaching Fellows program. Several of NC's TOY participants and winners have come from Elon University. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Elon University was a wonderful campus. Small enough to know your professors but large enough to get the full 4 year experience. Elon also provides an extensive study abroad program. I spent a semester studying at British schools as part of my studies. |
| Instruction | 8 | Some professors were better than others. All were totally approachable for questions and suggestions to improve. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I was totally prepared to teach high school students. I was not prepared for the course load in graduate school. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I was there during the whole "group learning" push. Not my thing, but I do know that the focus on group learning did hurt the prep I needed for the book learning style of graduate school. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Elon has a 4-1-4 schedule. This allowed me to take a class in January when it wouldn't fit in my regular schedule. They also offer two summer school sessions. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Professors were extremely accessible with regular posted hours. Several offered study groups outside of the schedule class hours. |
| Social Life | 5 | There was as much social interaction as you wanted. There was a large Greek population but I was not part of it. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I had to look for my own job due to my geographic region. I do know that they offer a Career Services office. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Elon publishes a quarterly alumni magazine. They also schedule regional meet ups with area alumni. It's a great way to network. |
North Carolina State University • Raleigh, NC
Studying Math Education (completion in 2007)
• 11/6/2011
"I am very satisfied with the university and quality of education that I received. I went for undergraduate studies and graduate studies, and I will be enrolling there in my education-related doctoral program next fall."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Definitely. In my position as a high school teacher, I have successfully "recruited" several students who were interested in teaching, to attend NCSU. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | NC State University has the best education program in the state. This statement was mentioned by faculty members and community members whenever the topic was brought up. |
| Program Quality | 10 | NCSU has the best education department in the state. Their coursework is rigorous and current, which cannot be said about many other education programs. |
| Instruction | 10 | The College of Education at NCSU provides lots of field experience opportunities, which is valued in education. They also support students' growth, by fostering opportunities to reflect. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I wouldn't use the term "difficult," only because education is something that interest me, so all of the learning tasks were what I would expect. There were no "busywork" assignments; all tasks were relevant and meaningful. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Research was conducted to serve as the explanation of the hands-on experience that we received. The school certainly recognizes the value of both approaches. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | The undergraduate program offered standard M-F and summer courses. The graduate program (which I also attended at NCSU for education) was completed 100% online. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The College of Education has its own facility with a library containing education-related books only and a plethora of technology for check-out. Anything that relates to education can be found and/or done at one location (Poe Hall). |
| Social Life | 9 | The school has lots of social groups that students are encouraged to participate in. Although it is a large university, the school still achieves a family-oriented vibe because of the social opportunities. |
| Placement Services | 8 | Through the many opportunities of field experience that is provided, job placement almost comes as second nature. We were also required to attend related job fairs and conferences. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | After commencement, I never heard from any faculty members or students again. However, if needed, I would be comfortable in contacting any of them for professional-related communication. |
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte • Charlotte, NC
Studying Education (completion in 1992)
• 11/27/2011
"I benefited greatly from attending UNCC. The program was well constructed and provided me with all I needed. The only real drawback was that the majority of instructors pushed their own personal beliefs regarding educational theories. I did not enjoy that bias, but everything else was very good."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I hear the program is even better now than when I left it, so I would advise others to obtain their education at UNCC. I would advise them to ask questions and take a class or two before fully committing, because while the program worked for me, everyone is different and they might have a different experience or be looking for different things. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | The school I went to has a solid reputation for producing good teachers. It was recommended to me as a "teacher's college" by my high school counselors. I believe my colleagues, and they were numerous, agree with the assessment. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The university I chose had a very good program, which taught me much in my field. My undergraduate curriculum was exceptional and varied, while my graduate courses were a little liberally heavy handed. The materials were top-notch, but I did not enjoy being pressured to accept the most popular leftwing theories regarding education. |
| Instruction | 8 | I was taught the basics of teaching high schoolers. The curriculum was good, though a little heavy on political perspective. I was given the opportunity to do some real-world teaching while still studying, which was, perhaps, the best instruction I received. My professors were caring and interested in the field as well. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The workload was very steady and the material somewhat challenging. I did not have the toughest of majors, but it wasn't the easiest either. Many times, it was up to me as to how much I wanted to put into it. The grading was at times subjective, and that did annoy me. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | My program offered much in the way of both hands-on and book learning. The balance was perfect, in my opinion, as I believe both are very important and have helped me tremendously in my career. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | UNCC is large enough to provide flexibility in choosing your schedule. There are a good many instructors with a nice variety of class times offered. I rarely had trouble setting up a schedule that worked for me. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | I enjoyed the libraries and computer labs. The writing resource center at UNCC is also an excellent facility. The tutors are well versed and plentiful. I never had to wait to use a resource either, which was refreshing. |
| Social Life | 5 | I commuted from my home and really did not participate much in the social opportunities provided by the school. If I had it to do over again, I would have stayed in a dorm and really got into college life, as I hear it is a fun campus to enjoy concerts, films, parties and dances. |
| Placement Services | 8 | My university had wonderful resources for helping me with job placement. They have an entire talented department, which helps provide this type of service of which I am thankful. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | The school supported me throughout my tenure and as an alumnus as well. I was helped in gaining a position and with counseling to help me juggle all that I needed. The support I received was above and beyond what I would have expected. |
North Carolina State University • Raleigh, NC
Studying Business (completion in 2008)
• 1/5/2012
"I am very satisfied with my school. They made sure I was able to go out into the real world knowing what it was like. I was not just taught from a textbook."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The school has a great support group. The professors and instructors know what they are doing and they are willing to help. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | It is one of the top schools in the state and on the East Coast. The school has been around for over 100 years. Many people know of the school for its academics, as well as its sports teams. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The school I went to was great. I had professors who knew what they were doing, and they were extremely personable. The information they taught, they had used in their real lives. Thus, they could relate our class work to the real world. It made it easier to understand. |
| Instruction | 6 | Our professors were able to relate our course materials to the real world. It was easy to understand when we would use various theories or formulas. |
| How Difficult | 6 | Classes were a challenge. We had to take courses in virtually every aspect of a business. Many of the courses also required long group projects. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of my coursework required some type of real-world knowledge. We had to make connections with people in the community and at various businesses to gather information. It went beyond the information that a person is able to gather from a website. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | Some classes were only available at certain times. For the most part, it was easy to take a course earlier or later in the day as a person desired. The school was large enough to have multiple sections of a course. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The school had top facilities. The main library has 9 floors. It has various wings for group study. Each of the classroom buildings had large rooms that were updated. The buildings also had group meeting spaces and computer labs. Inside residence halls, there were computer labs and study areas as well. |
| Social Life | 9 | There were events for everyone. Different groups had meetings, community services, and parties on campus. It was a serious yet relaxed place. |
| Placement Services | 7 | The career center does the best it can. It hosts on-campus interviews for jobs and various job fairs. Individual colleges (also known as departments at other schools) host their own job fairs for their students. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | There is a strong support system; however, many former students do not use it. I believe many students leave school and get caught up in their careers and lives, and they do not give back. There are not many close networks outside of the Raleigh area. |
East Carolina University • Greenville, NC
Studying Secondary English Education (completion in 2007)
• 1/11/2012
"I am glad I chose this school. It has really prepared me for life."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | ECU is a caring place. It will cradle you until you're ready to fly. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | Being the original Teachers College of North Carolina, education has always been held in high regard. ECU continues the tradition to this day. |
| Program Quality | 8 | ECU provided me with plenty of opportunities to learn and grow as a teacher in training. However, as I stepped into the real world, I wished that I had been required to take more classes that would have me deal with students with special needs (both higher and lower) than I was actually required to take. |
| Instruction | 7 | The professors and faculty at ECU were marvelous. I felt really prepared going into the workforce. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The workload was not difficult to deal with. However, I wish that professors across disciplines would work better together when assigning work. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | From the time I walked in the door, I was always given opportunities to go to schools and participate in LEA classrooms. Books were merely guides. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Nearly all classes were offered online or in the summer. I was not hurting to find a section of a course I needed open when I did. I graduated on time. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The Teacher Learning Center at Joyner Library caters solely to teachers-to-be. Education professors are always willing to help students, regardless of time schedules. |
| Social Life | 9 | School spirit is always high at ECU. Organized social events are held at least once a month for all students to attend. |
| Placement Services | 7 | I got help with my resume. I was also in attendance at the largest education-only career fair in the state. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | Once a Pirate, always a Pirate. That was explained in the beginning. |
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke • Pembroke, NC
Studying Secondary Science Education (completion in 2008)
• 2/26/2012
"I loved UNCP. It was the perfect place for me."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | UNCP has a small campus and it really feels like home. Students who may get lost in a crowd should really consider UNCP. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | Education majors learn a lot at UNCP. Everyone speaks highly of the professors. They remember your face and your name when they see you around town. The professors at UNCP remind you of your high school teachers; they are personable, friendly, and helpful. |
| Instruction | 5 | I was taught a great deal of information for my content. However, I was not effectively prepared to teach in a classroom. |
| How Difficult | 8 | A lot was expected of us. The workload was heavy, but not to the point in which we had zero free time. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Science is very hands on. Every science class had a lab class to go along with it. Other classes sometimes did hands-on things. For example, my psychology class got into groups, and we had to go outside and draw the human eye (with labels) on the sidewalk with chalk. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | There are a lot of class options. UNCP even offered a "Night Owl" English course, which met once per week, from 10pm to 1am. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | There were always tutors available. Labs were usually open all day, so you could study for a lab exam. |
| Social Life | 8 | When I was at UNCP, sports were not a huge part of the social aspect of college. But there were always new people to meet and gatherings to go to. |
| Placement Services | 7 | They always offered training sessions for resumes and interview skills. They also offered a job fair or teacher fair each semester. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I get an alumni magazine once every two months. I never get contacted about donations or things happening on campus for alumni. |
Appalachian State University • Boone, NC
Studying History Secondary Education (completion in 2010)
• 3/5/2012
"I really enjoyed my time at ASU. If I could go back in time, I would not attend a different school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | ASU is a great place to major in education. They provide students with the support and resources necessary to be successful. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | Most people in North Carolina speak well of the program. It has been featured in several schools. |
| Program Quality | 10 | ASU is one of the top schools for education. I have never felt like I was not ready for my job. |
| Instruction | 10 | ASU provided me with great opportunities. I felt like they really prepared me for the job. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Even though I always had work, it was not very difficult. Some of the classes were so easy that I felt like they were boring. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We had to create several artifacts, like paintings and things of that sort. We also had to come up with different project ideas on our own. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | There were a lot of courses offered. However, some courses were only offered once in a semester. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Tutors were always available. I never felt like I did not have resources available. |
| Social Life | 10 | There were many social opportunities at ASU, like sororities and organizations. I really enjoyed attending the football games and being part of the History Honors Society. |
| Placement Services | 1 | I did not get any guidance from my school for my job search. I had to do it all on my own. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | They have contacted me a couple of times. I have never really been invited to anything. |
East Carolina University • Greenville, NC
Studying English Education (completion in 1990)
• 3/1/2012
"I wanted a master's degree in English that was affordable and attainable while I was still working. My school enabled me to do just that."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Without a doubt, I would recommend this school to others who want an English graduate or undergraduate degree. It is reasonable in cost and has an excellent academic record. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | This university offers an excellent education. It also is known as a place where students who like to party can go. I find both of these statements true. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Some of the courses had very little value and existed simply to bring in revenue to the university. Other courses more than made up for those poor choices. |
| Instruction | 8 | I had a few lousy professors, but I had some exceptional ones who made up the difference. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The courses I took that were the most difficult were the ones I enjoyed the most and learned the most from. The easy ones were mostly things I already knew and largely were a waste of my time. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I wrote a huge number of papers and took lots of tests and exams. The education courses involved a lot of group work, which is something I don't get much out of. My English classes were primarily lectures, exams and papers. I totally love learning this way. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | The school offered summer school classes, which I needed. It also offered evening classes that enabled me to keep my job and go to school at night. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | My English professors were topnotch. The library had everything I needed and more. |
| Social Life | I was a night student and summer student. I did not have the time or inclination to socialize. I went purely for the academics. | |
| Placement Services | I never had occasion to use these services. I already was teaching in my career field while I was obtaining my degrees. | |
| Alumni Network | I didn't get involved very much in the alumni program. Because I taught in the daytime and went to graduate school at night, I wasn't on campus much to socialize. |
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill • Chapel Hill, NC
Studying Teaching (completion in 2006)
• 3/12/2012
"Likes the pedagogy, didn't like the education research."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If someone has experience with teaching and needs only the credentials, then I do recommend this program. If someone needs exposure to teaching as well, then it is best to look elsewhere. |
| Program Reputation | I am unaware of any reputation that my school may have had. I have heard good things about other schools, but nothing either way about UNC-CH. | |
| Program Quality | 7 | It was a one year program with half of the year being student teaching. However, the other half of the year seemed evenly split between pedagogy (good) and education research (bad; unrelated). If they removed the education research portion, they could have given twice as much pedagogy instruction. |
| Instruction | 7 | Again, it was god except for the education research aspect. |
| How Difficult | 3 | It was an intense program, but the actual course content was incredibly easy compared to the process of earning a bachelor's degree in chemistry. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There is a lot of reading, but it is equalized by the half-year student teaching. When not student teaching, it is almost entirely book reading. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | As it is only a one year program, the classes are set in stone with absolutely no room for choice. You have to follow a set and regimented course schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The school of Education at UNC-CH has its own building with a very useful library filled with curriculum material. It also has its own computer lab built in. Wonderful facilities. |
| Social Life | 5 | From having been at the university, the program is intense and regimented and leaves little time else for any sort of social activities. I expect this is the same for all others who go through this program. |
| Placement Services | 1 | Again, I have only one thing to say on this topic: What job placement? If you go to UNC-CH, you will be solely responsible for your own job search. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | What alumni support? |
Gardner Webb University • Boiling Springs, NC
Studying Executive Leadership (completion in 2013)
• 3/24/2012
"The program is accelerated and allows me to finish more quickly than a traditional program. I like the way it uses our schools for real-world experiences."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | The fact that you leave the program with a license (for a principal) is a plus. It is expensive, but it is giving me valuable experience that I will use in my future career. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | This is only the second or third year of the program and it is still a work in progress. They are working with the state to make improvements, so I am in a better place than students before me. |
| Program Quality | 9 | There is a little confusion between the evaluators for my license and the teachers who are teaching the program. Some of my assignments have had to be done twice in order to reflect what the evaluators want, and that is frustrating. |
| Instruction | 7 | My first instructor was very well versed in the expectations for the program and was excellent at explaining what the artifacts were supposed to look like. My current instructor is very knowledgeable, but boring. He also has some different concepts of what the assignments are. |
| How Difficult | 10 | There are 6 sections that require artifacts. There are about 6 artifacts for each section, ranging in length from 10 to 16 pages. I am taking 6 to 8 hours per semester, which is difficult when you are a full-time teacher and mother. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Although we study the book, we also evaluate real-world situations. We look at things that are happening in our schools and base our projects off that. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | Since I am in a cohort, there is an order to the classes. They are only available one day a week. The entire class moves from class to class. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | We have had several presentations on resources available to us. They are willing to help in any way they can. They have a center you can call to set up help or ask questions. |
| Social Life | I am in a cohort, so the social aspect doesn't really apply. However, since the class members all stay together for the duration of the program, I have made several new friends. I get to work with other teachers who I wouldn't have met otherwise. | |
| Placement Services | I am not in need of this service. I already have a job. When I finish the degree program, I will move to another position in my county. | |
| Alumni Network | I am in a cohort program. I don't really have any affiliation with the alumni network. |
Gardner Webb • Boiling Springs, NC
Studying (completion in 2006)
• 4/8/2012
"I enjoy working with the school. I look forward to going to work everyday."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend the school because of the staff and student atmosphere. The school has so much to offer. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | The school has been nationally recognized a number of things. The sports programs have further the schools reputation as well. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The school has a very pleasant work atmosphere. I am able to teach without a lot of behavior problems. |
| Instruction | 10 | The English program I work with is very challenging. The children learn a lot about authors and stories. |
| How Difficult | 2 | The work load is challenging but easy to work around. The lessons provided cover a lot of information. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The students have required books to work from but they also have many hands on activities which are required. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | The schedule is set though the state Monday - Friday. You cannot make any changes. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The school has a lot of resources for students. They have more than the average public library. |
| Social Life | 10 | The school has many activities weekly. The students have something available almost every week. |
| Placement Services | 5 | Applicants have to go through the main school system office. There are hundreds of applicants to go through. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | The alumni network offers a lot of fundraisers. They also provide a lot of activities for the school. |
Online Course Finder
Find the path to your
education in 3 easy steps.