Best Social Studies Teacher Education Programs

Many teachers earn more than the U.S. median salary. Learn how a bachelor’s in social studies teacher education program trains people for this career.
Thomas Broderick
By
Edited by
Updated December 18, 2024
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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.

badge-check 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.

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Best Accredited Bachelor’s in Social Studies Teacher Education Programs

#1

Clarks Summit University

South Abington Township, PA4 yearCampus + Online

$26,082

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$26,082

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

41%

Acceptance Rate

64%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,160

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$8,160

Retention Rate

78%

Students Enrolled

771

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$26,082

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$26,082

South Abington Township, PA4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$26,082

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$26,082

Acceptance Rate

41%

Online Enrollment

64%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,160

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$8,160

Retention Rate

78%

Students Enrolled

771

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#2

CUNY Hunter College

New York, NY4 yearCampus

$6,930

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$14,880

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

35%

Acceptance Rate

7%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$11,090

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,520

Retention Rate

81%

Students Enrolled

23,193

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,930

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$14,880

New York, NY4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,930

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$14,880

Acceptance Rate

35%

Online Enrollment

7%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$11,090

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,520

Retention Rate

81%

Students Enrolled

23,193

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#3

Purdue University-Main Campus

West Lafayette, IN4 yearCampus + Online

$9,208

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$28,010

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

60%

Acceptance Rate

22%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,208

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$28,010

Retention Rate

91%

Students Enrolled

45,500

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,208

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$28,010

West Lafayette, IN4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,208

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$28,010

Acceptance Rate

60%

Online Enrollment

22%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,208

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$28,010

Retention Rate

91%

Students Enrolled

45,500

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#4

Providence College

Providence, RI4 yearCampus

$51,490

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$51,490

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

47%

Acceptance Rate

2%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,660

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$9,660

Retention Rate

91%

Students Enrolled

4,618

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$51,490

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$51,490

Providence, RI4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$51,490

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$51,490

Acceptance Rate

47%

Online Enrollment

2%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,660

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$9,660

Retention Rate

91%

Students Enrolled

4,618

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#5

CUNY Brooklyn College

Brooklyn, NY4 yearCampus + Online

$6,930

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$14,880

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

45%

Acceptance Rate

7%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$11,090

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,520

Retention Rate

80%

Students Enrolled

17,811

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,930

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$14,880

CUNY Brooklyn College

Brooklyn, NY4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,930

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$14,880

Acceptance Rate

45%

Online Enrollment

7%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$11,090

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,520

Retention Rate

80%

Students Enrolled

17,811

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#6

Mississippi College

Clinton, MS4 yearCampus + Online

$17,550

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$17,550

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

42%

Acceptance Rate

56%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$11,250

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,250

Retention Rate

76%

Students Enrolled

4,733

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$17,550

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$17,550

Clinton, MS4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$17,550

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$17,550

Acceptance Rate

42%

Online Enrollment

56%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$11,250

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,250

Retention Rate

76%

Students Enrolled

4,733

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#7

Calvin University

Grand Rapids, MI4 yearCampus

$36,100

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$36,100

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

77%

Acceptance Rate

2%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$28,228

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$28,228

Retention Rate

85%

Students Enrolled

3,570

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$36,100

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$36,100

Grand Rapids, MI4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$36,100

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$36,100

Acceptance Rate

77%

Online Enrollment

2%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$28,228

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$28,228

Retention Rate

85%

Students Enrolled

3,570

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#8

Cedarville University

Cedarville, OH4 yearCampus + Online

$31,122

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$31,122

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

79%

Acceptance Rate

36%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,065

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$9,065

Retention Rate

85%

Students Enrolled

4,302

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$31,122

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$31,122

Cedarville, OH4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$31,122

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$31,122

Acceptance Rate

79%

Online Enrollment

36%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,065

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$9,065

Retention Rate

85%

Students Enrolled

4,302

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#9

Messiah University

Mechanicsburg, PA4 yearCampus + Online

$35,280

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$35,280

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

76%

Acceptance Rate

15%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$12,420

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,420

Retention Rate

89%

Students Enrolled

3,374

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$35,280

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$35,280

Mechanicsburg, PA4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$35,280

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$35,280

Acceptance Rate

76%

Online Enrollment

15%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$12,420

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,420

Retention Rate

89%

Students Enrolled

3,374

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#10

LeTourneau University

Longview, TX4 yearCampus + Online

$30,520

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$30,520

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

45%

Acceptance Rate

60%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$18,618

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,618

Retention Rate

76%

Students Enrolled

3,150

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$30,520

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$30,520

Longview, TX4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$30,520

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$30,520

Acceptance Rate

45%

Online Enrollment

60%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$18,618

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,618

Retention Rate

76%

Students Enrolled

3,150

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

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.

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