Are you interested in becoming a teacher or advancing your career in education? If so, you might want to consider earning an online Bachelor of Education degree.
An online Bachelor of Education degree can prepare you for teaching roles in public and private K-12 settings, as well as other educational settings such as museums, libraries, and nonprofits. You can also use an online Bachelor of Education degree as a steppingstone to pursue a master’s or doctoral degree in education or a related field.
But how do you choose the best online Bachelor of Education program for your needs? There are many factors to consider, such as the program’s accreditation, curriculum, faculty, cost, flexibility, and student support.
To help you make an informed decision, we have compiled a list of the best online Bachelor of Education programs in 2023, based on our research and analysis of various sources, such as U.S.
News & World Report, TheBestSchools.org, Forbes, and Intelligent.com. We have also included some information about the features, benefits, costs, and enrollment process of each program.
Here are the top five online Bachelor of Education programs in 2023:
1. University of Missouri
The University of Missouri offers an online Bachelor of Educational Studies degree that is designed for students who want to work in non-teaching roles in education, such as curriculum development, educational policy, or educational technology. The program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The program consists of 120 credits, including 36 credits of general education, 42 credits of professional education, and 42 credits of electives. Students can choose from four emphasis areas: early childhood education, educational psychology, multicultural education, and leadership and policy studies. The program also requires a capstone project and a portfolio.
Some of the benefits of the University of Missouri’s online Bachelor of Educational Studies program are:
- It is one of the most affordable online Bachelor of Education programs in the country, with a tuition rate of $231 per credit for in-state students and $360 per credit for out-of-state students.
- It offers a generous transfer policy that allows students to transfer up to 90 credits from other accredited institutions, as well as credit for prior learning, military service, and professional certifications.
- It provides a variety of student support services, such as academic advising, tutoring, career counseling, library access, and technical assistance.
To enroll in the University of Missouri’s online Bachelor of Educational Studies program, you need to:
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent with a minimum GPA of 2.5.
- Submit an online application with a $55 fee.
- Submit official transcripts from all previous institutions attended.
- Submit a personal statement and a resume.
You can apply for the program at any time and start in the fall, spring, or summer semester. The program has a rolling admission policy, which means you will receive a decision within a few weeks of submitting your application.
Click here to learn more about the University of Missouri’s online Bachelor of Educational Studies program.
2. Arizona State University
Arizona State University offers an online Bachelor of Arts in education in educational studies degree that is designed for students who want to work in education-related fields outside of the classroom, such as community education, corporate training, or educational administration. The program is accredited by the CAEP and the HLC. The program consists of 120 credits, including 40 credits of general education, 56 credits of major courses, and 24 credits of electives. Students can choose from three concentration areas: early childhood education, leadership and innovation, and learning design and technologies. The program also requires a capstone course and an applied project.
Some of the benefits of Arizona State University’s online Bachelor of Arts in education in educational studies program are:
- It is one of the most innovative and reputable online Bachelor of Education programs in the country, ranking #2 in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 Best Online Bachelor’s Programs list.
- It offers a flexible and convenient online learning environment, with multiple start dates throughout the year, asynchronous courses, and interactive tools and resources.
- It provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary curriculum that covers topics such as child development, educational psychology, instructional design, educational research, and diversity and inclusion.
To enroll in Arizona State University’s online Bachelor of Arts in education in educational studies program, you need to:
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent with a minimum GPA of 2.5 or a minimum ACT score of 22 or a minimum SAT score of 1120.
- Submit an online application with a $70 fee.
- Submit official transcripts from all previous institutions attended.
- Submit a personal statement and a resume.
You can apply for the program at any time and start in the fall, spring, or summer session. The program has a rolling admission policy, which means you will receive a decision within a few weeks of submitting your application.
Click here to learn more about Arizona State University’s online Bachelor of Arts in education in educational studies program.
3. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater offers an online Bachelor of Science in education in early childhood education degree that is designed for students who want to work as teachers or administrators in preschools, childcare centers, or other early childhood settings. The program is accredited by the CAEP and the HLC. The program consists of 120 credits, including 40 credits of general education, 60 credits of major courses, and 20 credits of electives. Students can choose from two tracks: the dual license track, which prepares students for Wisconsin licensure in both early childhood education and early childhood special education, or the non-licensure track, which does not lead to licensure but provides a broader foundation in early childhood education. The program also requires a practicum and a portfolio.
Some of the benefits of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s online Bachelor of Science in education in early childhood education program are:
- It is one of the most comprehensive and rigorous online Bachelor of Education programs in the country, covering topics such as child development, curriculum planning, assessment, intervention, family engagement, and leadership.
- It offers a unique dual license option that allows students to gain the skills and credentials to teach children with and without disabilities from birth to age eight.
- It provides a supportive and collaborative online learning community, with dedicated faculty, peer mentors, academic advisors, and career counselors.
To enroll in the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s online Bachelor of Science in education in early childhood education program, you need to:
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent with a minimum GPA of 2.5 or a minimum ACT score of 20 or a minimum SAT score of 1030.
- Submit an online application with a $50 fee.
- Submit official transcripts from all previous institutions attended.
- Submit a personal statement and two letters of recommendation.
You can apply for the program at any time and start in the fall, spring, or summer semester. The program has a rolling admission policy, which means you will receive a decision within a few weeks of submitting your application.
Click here to learn more about the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s online Bachelor of Science in education in early childhood education program.
4. University of Illinois-Springfield
The University of Illinois-Springfield offers an online Bachelor of Arts in elementary education degree that is designed for students who want to work as teachers in grades 1-6 in Illinois public schools. The program is accredited by the CAEP and the HLC. The program consists of 120 credits, including 48 credits of general education, 48 credits of professional education, and 24 credits of electives. Students can choose from four concentration areas: language arts, mathematics, science, or social science. The program also requires a student teaching experience and a comprehensive exam.
Some of the benefits of the University of Illinois-Springfield’s online Bachelor of Arts in elementary education program are:
- It is one of the most affordable online Bachelor of Education programs in the country, with a tuition rate of $368 per credit for in-state students and $490 per credit for out-of-state students.
- It offers a flexible and hybrid online learning format, with some courses delivered asynchronously online and some courses delivered synchronously via video conferencing.
- It provides a high-quality and standards-based curriculum that aligns with the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards and the Common Core State Standards.
To enroll in the University of Illinois-Springfield’s online Bachelor of Arts in elementary education program, you need to:
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent with a minimum GPA of 2.5 or a minimum ACT score of 22 or a minimum SAT score of 1110.
- Submit an online application with a $50 fee.
- Submit official transcripts from all previous institutions attended.
- Submit a personal statement and two letters of recommendation.
You can apply for the program by the priority deadlines of March 15 for the fall semester and October 15 for the spring semester. The program has a selective admission policy, which means you will compete with other applicants for a limited number of seats.
Click here to learn more about the University of Illinois-Springfield’s online Bachelor of Education program.
5. Liberty University
Liberty University offers an online Bachelor of Science in elementary education degree that is designed for students who want to work as teachers in grades K-6 in public or private schools. The program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The program consists of 120 credits, including 39 credits of general education, 48 credits of major courses, and 33 credits of electives. Students can choose from two tracks: the licensure track, which prepares students for Virginia licensure in elementary education, or the non-licensure track, which does not lead to licensure but provides a general education background. The program also requires a practicum and a student teaching experience.
Some of the benefits of Liberty University’s online bachelor of science in elementary education program are:
- It is one of the most faith-based and values-oriented online bachelor of education programs in the country, integrating a Christian worldview and biblical principles into the curriculum and instruction.
- It offers a generous and flexible transfer policy that allows students to transfer up to 75% of the required credits from other accredited institutions, as well as credit for prior learning, military service, and professional experience.
- It provides a variety of financial aid options, such as scholarships, grants, loans, and military benefits, to help students afford their education.
To enroll in Liberty University’s online bachelor of science in elementary education program, you need to:
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent with a minimum GPA of 2.0 or a minimum ACT score of 19 or a minimum SAT score of 980.
- Submit an online application with no fee.
- Submit official transcripts from all previous institutions attended.
- Submit a personal statement and a pastoral recommendation.
You can apply for the program at any time and start in any of the eight sub-terms throughout the year. The program has an open admission policy, which means you will be accepted as long as you meet the minimum requirements.
[Click here] to learn more about Liberty University’s online bachelor of science in elementary education program.
Comparison Table
To help you compare the features and costs of the five online bachelor of education programs we have reviewed, we have created a table that summarizes the key information of each program. You can use this table as a reference to narrow down your choices and find the best program for your goals and budget.
Program | Accreditation | Credits | Concentration | Licensure | Tuition | Transfer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University of Missouri | CAEP, HLC | 120 | Early Childhood Education, Educational Psychology, Multicultural Education, Leadership and Policy Studies | No | $231-$360 per credit | Up to 90 credits |
Arizona State University | CAEP, HLC | 120 | Early Childhood Education, Leadership and Innovation, Learning Design and Technologies | No | $561-$661 per credit | Up to 64 credits |
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | CAEP, HLC | 120 | Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Special Education | Yes (Wisconsin) | $389 per credit | Up to 72 credits |
University of Illinois-Springfield | CAEP, HLC | 120 | Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Science | Yes (Illinois) | $368-$490 per credit | Up to 60 credits |
Liberty University | NCATE, SACSCOC | 120 | Elementary Education | Yes (Virginia) | $390 per credit | Up to 90 credits |
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed the benefits of earning an online bachelor of education degree and reviewed the best online bachelor of education programs in 2023. We have also provided a comparison table to help you compare the features and costs of each program.
We hope this article has helped you find the best online bachelor of education program for your needs and interests.