Best Social Studies Teacher Education Programs
A bachelor’s in social studies teacher education program prepares students to teach at a middle or high school. Degree-seekers perform student teaching and pass exams to earn an initial teaching license.
Most top programs require learners to take all coursework on campus and complete student teaching at schools in the surrounding area.
Some colleges and universities offer a hybrid social studies teacher education program. These programs let learners take some classes online during the summer. Online classes may feature an asynchronous curriculum, a benefit for degree-seekers working while in school.
An on-campus or hybrid bachelor’s in social studies teacher education program takes four years to complete for learners without prior college experience. Students in a hybrid program can calculate the total cost of attendance by researching tuition, fees, and other online learning expenses.
The average middle or high school teacher earns a median salary higher than the typical U.S. worker. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) also projects steady growth for both professions.
Our Top Pick
Clarks Summit University — Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania
Why It’s #1: Clarks Summit University (CSU) is the No. 1-ranked school on our Best Social Studies Teaching Education Programs list. CSU features an 88% graduation rate and a low 11-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. The university also admits 87% of applicants and requires only a short admissions form. Although learners pay more at this private institution than degree-seekers at some public schools on our list, 95% of full-time CSU students receive at least one institutional scholarship.
Popular Online Social Studies Teacher Education Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Best Accredited Bachelor’s in Social Studies Teacher Education Programs
Rankings compiled by the BestColleges Ranking Team
Clarks Summit University
South Abington Township, PA- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$26,082
- Out-of-state$26,082
- In-State$8,160
- Out-of-state$8,160
- Retention Rate78%
- Acceptance Rate41%
- Students Enrolled771
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment64%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$6,930
- Out-of-state$14,880
- In-State$11,090
- Out-of-state$20,520
- Retention Rate81%
- Acceptance Rate35%
- Students Enrolled23,193
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment7%
- AccreditationYes
Purdue University-Main Campus
- West Lafayette, IN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$9,208
- Out-of-state$28,010
- In-State$9,208
- Out-of-state$28,010
- Retention Rate91%
- Acceptance Rate60%
- Students Enrolled45,500
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment22%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$51,490
- Out-of-state$51,490
- In-State$9,660
- Out-of-state$9,660
- Retention Rate91%
- Acceptance Rate47%
- Students Enrolled4,618
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment2%
- AccreditationYes
CUNY Brooklyn College
- Brooklyn, NY
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$6,930
- Out-of-state$14,880
- In-State$11,090
- Out-of-state$20,520
- Retention Rate80%
- Acceptance Rate45%
- Students Enrolled17,811
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment7%
- AccreditationYes
Mississippi College
- Clinton, MS
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$17,550
- Out-of-state$17,550
- In-State$11,250
- Out-of-state$11,250
- Retention Rate76%
- Acceptance Rate42%
- Students Enrolled4,733
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment56%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$36,100
- Out-of-state$36,100
- In-State$28,228
- Out-of-state$28,228
- Retention Rate85%
- Acceptance Rate77%
- Students Enrolled3,570
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment2%
- AccreditationYes
Cedarville University
- Cedarville, OH
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$31,122
- Out-of-state$31,122
- In-State$9,065
- Out-of-state$9,065
- Retention Rate85%
- Acceptance Rate79%
- Students Enrolled4,302
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment36%
- AccreditationYes
Messiah University
- Mechanicsburg, PA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$35,280
- Out-of-state$35,280
- In-State$12,420
- Out-of-state$12,420
- Retention Rate89%
- Acceptance Rate76%
- Students Enrolled3,374
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment15%
- AccreditationYes
LeTourneau University
- Longview, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$30,520
- Out-of-state$30,520
- In-State$18,618
- Out-of-state$18,618
- Retention Rate76%
- Acceptance Rate45%
- Students Enrolled3,150
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment60%
- AccreditationYes
How We Rank Schools
Each year, the BestColleges Ranking Team evaluates hundreds of programs to produce our annual Best Bachelor’s in Social Studies Teacher Education ranking. In 2022, the team sourced the most recent data available from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and College Navigator, both of which are hosted by the National Center for Education Statistics. We identified 225 schools that qualify for our ranking list based on the following criteria.
- Each school must be an accredited public or private, nonprofit institution.
- Must offer a bachelor’s degree program in the given subject.
- Must submit an annual report to the National Center for Education Statistics.
To ensure the accuracy and quality of our final ranked list, the ranking team reviewed each qualifying school to ensure it met the criteria for our ranking, and then applied our proprietary ranking methodology to identify the best schools offering this program in the nation. Each school is ranked based on a formula measuring academic factors (60%) and affordability (40%).
The BestColleges Ranking Team is made up of contributors from our data science and product management teams. These contributors operate independently from the editorial team. All BestColleges school rankings are produced by the ranking team and are free of editorial influence. Read our Editorial Policy and Standards to learn more.
BestColleges’ Ranking Factors
Frequently Asked Questions About Social Studies Teacher Education Programs
Is a bachelor’s in social studies teacher education worth it?
A social studies teacher education program offers many advantages. The BLS projects the number of jobs for middle school teachers to grow by 7% between 2020-2030. The BLS projects an 8% growth in jobs for high school teachers during the same timeframe.
A career in education also presents opportunities for career advancement, such as becoming an administrator or instructional coordinator. Other professionals use what they learn as a teacher to pursue jobs in another field.
Prospective students starting their journey should consider an online education’s benefits. Online learners receive the same rigorous educational experience as their on-campus peers. Other advantages may include an asynchronous curriculum.
Feature Image: Maskot / Getty Images
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