Best Online Secondary Education Programs

High school teachers help students prepare for college and their professional lives after high school. In a bachelor’s in secondary education, you learn how to manage diverse classrooms, develop programs that encourage critical thinking, and deliver lessons with professionalism. The training can lead to generalist and specialized teacher roles and various continuing education options.

Rising student populations should drive demand in this field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 10% growth for education occupations between 2020 and 2030. That projection equates to more than 920,500 new jobs across the industry, with high school teachers accounting for more than 75,000 of those jobs.

Here, we explore an online bachelor’s in secondary education and rank the best programs from the top online schools. We also outline what you can expect from the training, the admissions process, and potential careers.

The typical online bachelor’s in secondary education features about 120 credits. The degree usually takes students four years to complete. The program’s first half often focuses on foundation building and general education. Coursework may also include adolescent learning and development and classroom management.

In the program’s second half, learners may choose a teaching specialization. Options include English, mathematics, or special education. They also complete field observations, supervised placements, and workshops to build practical experience. These experiences help students qualify for their state licensure exam.

Degree-seekers might encounter many secondary education degree types, including a B.Ed., BA, and BS. The most common degrees that most directly align with teaching education and certification standards are B.Ed. degrees. BS and BA degrees may offer more interdisciplinary study and professional opportunities. Aspiring teachers should ensure their selected program qualifies them for licensure.

The training involved with earning an online bachelor’s degree does not vary much from similar on-campus programs. Online students can usually take workshops virtually and complete placements locally. However, out-of-state students should verify if their chosen program will qualify them for licensure in their desired state.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

For this ranking of best online bachelor’s in secondary education programs, we evaluated schools with a graduation rate of 40% and up.

This course examines learning and development theories. Students focus on adolescent cognitive development, behaviorism, and conditioning. They may look at various forms of learning, including social learning and memorization.

In this course, students learn how to create inclusive classrooms for diverse learners. They look at teaching methods for meeting the needs of students in special education. In addition, they study various learning styles.

Students in this course learn how teachers integrate technology into their lesson plans for the most effective outcomes. They explore curriculum designs with technology in mind. Course topics include introducing new media and using blended learning environments.

In this course, students examine methods for designing curricula that get the most from high school learners. They look at various assessment strategies and teaching methods and how to align them with curriculum goals and produce the best results.

Learners can take teaching methods courses for various study topics, specializations, and endorsements. Students in these courses examine the leading theories and teaching strategies for their chosen discipline.

The promising career outlook has helped make teaching one of the most popular college majors. The projected increase in student enrollments may drive demand where school budgets do not decrease. The BLS projects the addition of more than 78,000 new high school teachers between 2020 and 2030, with over 77,000 annual job openings on average.

The outlooks for other accessible education fields look similar. The BLS projects 8% growth for special education teachers and 7% growth for middle school teachers between 2020 and 2030. Growth in these fields will also depend on student enrollments and local school budgets. Each of these occupations earned median annual wages over $60,000 in May 2020.

Discover where a bachelor’s in secondary education can lead you professionally. Learn more about teaching careers.

High school teachers provide generalist lessons or teachings in a specialized discipline. They develop their lesson plans to align with curriculum standards while managing classrooms. These teachers also challenge, motivate, and counsel students, helping them transition to life after high school.

Median Annual Salary: $62,870

Special education teachers work with students with disabilities. They make student assessments, create lesson plans adapted for specific learners, and track progress and goals. When needed, these teachers also offer support and counseling, helping students transition between grades.

Median Annual Salary: $61,500

These teachers offer career-based and technical training to students in vocational schools and classrooms. They provide hands-on training and help students develop practical skills for various technical occupations. Career and technical education teachers may work with students individually and with their families to discuss and improve progress.

Median Annual Salary: $59,140

Middle school teachers work with students in grades 6-8, preparing them for high school. They develop lesson plans, perform student assessments, and help learners overcome individual challenges. Middle school teachers must coordinate their lessons with the curriculum standards.

Median Annual Salary: $60,810

These teachers offer high school equivalency training. They also teach English as a second language to students of various ages. These teachers develop lessons that provide students with the language skills required for work and high school equivalency programs. They may also provide career support.

Median Annual Salary: $55,350

Bachelor’s in secondary education graduates who wish to continue their training can pursue many options. They can earn a master’s in secondary education, a master’s in education, or a master’s in teaching. These degrees can prepare learners for doctoral programs.

Graduates can also pursue related graduate programs, such as a master’s in educational technology, a master’s in educational administration, and a master’s in educational leadership. These degrees qualify graduates to pursue instructional coordinator and principal occupations.

Yes. An online bachelor’s in secondary education offers value for students. The degree grants access to teaching roles with a strong professional outlook, as per the BLS. The degree also allows graduates to positively impact high school students.

Distance learners may benefit from the additional value of an online degree. The increased accessibility can allow for more study options or lower tuition rates. Online students benefit from more flexible schedules, which can help maintain a reasonable work schedule.

With a bachelor’s in secondary education, graduates can access many teaching positions. Their most straightforward path takes them into high school and special education classrooms. However, they can also teach middle school, career and technical, and ESL and high school equivalency classes.

After completing a bachelor’s degree, graduates can pursue a master’s degree to open up new professional opportunities. They may continue with secondary education training or expand into general education. Graduates might also pursue special education, education administration, and education leadership master’s degrees.

Yes. As schools enroll more high school students, the number of teachers required may rise. The BLS projects 8% growth for high school teachers between 2020 and 2030, which is on par with the average projected rate for all occupations. The BLS also projects more than 37,000 new special education teachers during that same period.

While growth in other related teaching careers does not look as strong, annual openings from turnover may provide graduates with job opportunities. The BLS projects over 17,000 openings for career and technical school teachers and over 5,000 new roles for adult basic and secondary education and ESL teachers between 2020 and 2030.

Salaries for teachers with a bachelor’s in secondary education depends on where and what they teach. Adult basic and secondary education and ESL teachers made the lowest income in May 2020 at a median of $55,350. High school teachers made the most at $62,870.

High school career and technical education teachers made a median annual wage of $62,460 in May 2020. Special education teachers in high schools made median annual wages of $62,320. Adult basic and secondary education and ESL teachers in high schools earned $61,410.

High school teachers with a bachelor’s in secondary education may earn the highest salaries. According to the BLS, the median annual wage for these teachers was $62,870 in May 2020. The top 10% of earners in the field made more than $102,130.

Salaries depend on various factors, including location, teacher experience, and school type. For example, high school teachers in public schools made median annual wages of $63,400 in May 2020. In private schools, they made $58,550.