Connecticut Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide

This guide to teaching schools in Connecticut was designed to assist aspiring teachers looking to teach in the state. Like most states, in order to be eligible for employment in a state school, Connecticut teachers must complete a teaching preparation program that prepares them for a career in the education sector. There are several colleges and universities that offer teaching degrees in the state. For useful information on teaching schools in Connecticut, take a look at our lists of top-rated teaching programs, table of accredited, state-approved teacher preparation programs, and student reviews. Whether you are new to the world of education or looking to further your existing teaching career, this guide should help you find the right program for your individual needs.

Quick Facts

• There are 30 colleges and universities with teacher degree programs in Connecticut.¹
• 14 colleges and universities offer an associate’s degree in education.*¹
• 12 colleges and universities offer a bachelor’s degree in education.*¹
• 13 colleges and universities offer a master’s or advanced degree in education.*¹
• 4 schools ranked in Kiplinger’s Best College Values 2019.²
• No schools ranked in Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Education Majors 2020.³
• 3 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2019.⁴
• 2 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Online Graduate Education Programs 2019.⁵
• 11 not-for-profit teacher programs are accredited by the NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP.

*For not-for-profit colleges and universities with teacher degree programs.

Top-Ranked Schools with Education Programs in Connecticut

Kiplinger’s Best College Values 2019*

• Yale University (#13)
• Connecticut College (#105)
• University of Connecticut (#159)
• Fairfield University (#258)

*Institution-wide ranking.

US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2019

• University of Connecticut (#30 tie)
• Central Connecticut State University (#188 tie)
• Western Connecticut State University (#195-258)

US News & World Report’s Best Online Graduate Education Programs 2019

• Post University (#126 tie)
• Fairfield University (#228-299)

School Programs for Becoming a Teacher in Connecticut

Comparison of Teacher Preparation Programs

We have designed the following table to help you compare teacher preparation programs in Connecticut according to various factors. All of the schools included are not-for-profit institutions approved by the Connecticut State Department of Education for the preparation of teachers. Completing a state-approved teacher preparation program is an important step towards earning licensure.

While accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) is not a requirement for licensure, it is included in the following table as CAEP provides a highly-regarded accreditation that is accepted in many states. Read more about the CAEP, NCATE, and TEAC accrediting bodies. We have also included rankings from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), a research and policy group that scores teacher preparation programs at the national level using key standards chosen to measure students’ preparation for success in teaching. For further information on the NCTQ’s program rankings, please see the notes below the table.

You will also find data on teacher preparation program enrollment, completion, and licensing exam pass rates by institution for the 2017-2018 academic year in this table. These data points are collected from annual US Department of Education records under Title II (Teacher Quality) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which provides for reporting that holds institutions and state departments of education accountable for increasing academic achievement through improvements in teacher quality.

Programs that are not ranked, or for which data is not available, in a given category are denoted as “-“.

*The NCTQ rated undergraduate elementary teaching programs in 2016 and undergraduate secondary teaching programs in 2017 by national percentile based on their overall scores on the NCTQ’s standards for teacher education. Schools that do not provide data on all key standards or that fall below the top 50% of schools nationally are not included by the NCTQ in their ratings. Visit the NCTQ website for more information on its standards and methodologies.
**Net price is per year for undergraduate tuition as calculated by the National Center for Education Statistics based on the cost of attendance (tuition, books, room and board, and related expenses) for students who qualify for in-state tuition and fees, less the average financial aid award (including grants and scholarships).

Profiles of Well-Known Schools

Abertus Magnus College: Located in New Haven, Albertus Magnus is a four-year, private liberal arts college founded in 1925 by the Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs. The college currently offers teacher education programs in three main certification areas: Pre-K-12, Middle School, and Secondary. The undergraduate program is known for introducing its students to field experiences right away to make sure they feel the degree program is a good fit. Freshman observe and assist local teachers for a total of 40 hours during their first semester in the teacher preparation program. Albertus Magnus students consistently score well above their peers on the Praxis certification exams. Students planning on teaching at the secondary level major in a subject area along with taking education courses designed to teach them about instruction and pedagogy.

Schools with Teaching Degree Programs in Connecticut

Albertus Magnus College
700 Prospect St
New Haven, CT 06511-1189
(203) 773-8550

Central Connecticut State University
1615 Stanley St
New Britain, CT 6050
(860) 832-3200
www.ccsu.edu

Connecticut College
270 Mohegan Ave
New London, CT 6320
(860) 447-1911
www.conncoll.edu

Eastern Connecticut State University
83 Windham St
Willimantic, CT 6226
(860) 465-5000
www.easternct.edu

Fairfield University
1073 N Benson Rd
Fairfield, CT 06824-5195
(203) 254-4000
www.fairfield.edu

Goodwin College
745 Burnside Ave
East Hartford, CT 6108
(860) 528-4111

Quinnipiac University
275 Mt Carmel Ave
Hamden, CT 06518
(203) 582-8200
https://www.qu.edu/

Student Review: “The more influential aspect of Quinnipiac’s program was the extensive classroom experience that was provided. Aside from the regular fieldwork and student teaching that most programs have, Quinnipiac also has a yearlong internship where you work as a long-term substitute in a school of your choice. During this time you get to observe different classrooms, work with and teach students, observe meetings, and watch the growth of students over a full school year instead. The coursework is also directly related to what you are doing in the school system and many assignments are given to complete with or based off of students at your internship. In addition to your advisor you also have a course based off your internship to discuss what you observe and work through any difficulties you might be having. Even now that I have graduated, staff still reaches out to make sure that I am doing well. They have also created an online forum where recent graduates can write to each other and to professors of the program with any first year teacher questions. I honestly have no complaints about the program and recommend it to anyone looking to go into the teaching profession.” -Student at Quinnipiac University

Sacred Heart University
5151 Park Ave
Fairfield, CT 06825-1000
(203) 371-7999
www.sacredheart.edu

Southern Connecticut State University
501 Crescent Street
New Haven, CT 06515-1355
(203) 392-5200
https://www.southernct.edu/

Student Review: “I went to SCSU for a long time, seven years, and have close to two bachelor’s degrees. I studied Secondary Education to become a high school teacher. I started out focusing on English and ended with a focus on art. I never did follow all the way through with the teaching program. Part of the reason was that there was difficulty in my own personal life that was distracting, and also, I had a hard time finishing the required courses/steps. On more than one occasion, a course I needed was either dropped or for some reason not available. That became a frustrating occurrence. At another time, my information in the financial aid department was lost entirely and I was forced to skip a semester because I could not afford to pay out-of-pocket at that time. Finally, I had to take the praxis test, and at the point in time when I finally took it, I needed to pass it in order to continue on with the secondary education courses. I did not meet the requirement in the math portion of the test, and after a long debate with myself, I chose a different major. I have a B.S. in Art and am only 8 courses away from a B.A. in English. I would say that overall my time at SCSU was enjoyable. I took many fun and interesting courses, had many great teachers, and met a lot of exciting people. I ultimately learned that I wasn’t 100% satisfied with the public school system, the somewhat controlled and regulated fashion that was administered wasn’t appealing to me. I still think about perhaps becoming a teacher at a private institute where the specific degree isn’t necessary, or even becoming a professor.” – Student at Southern Connecticut State University

Student Review: “I did not have the best experience in the education program while I was in college, and it actually caused me to switch my major three times. I went in for secondary English education, and although my teachers and classes were mostly enjoyable, the program itself I could not stand behind. It was probably around the time when we were learning about how the curriculum was mostly controlled by the school board, and teachers had little freedom to express themselves by creating their own ways of teaching. I ended up switching to secondary art education, but I wasn’t pleased with that either. To be an art teacher, I would need much more freedom, and it just didn’t seem available. I stayed in the program up until we had to take the test which would determine if you could continue in the program and start student teaching. Well, I missed the math portion by 1 or 2 points. To take the test again would not only cost more money, but I’d pretty much have to waste an entire semester waiting to be able to take the test again, so I opted to change my major once again. This time I just focused on fine/studio arts since I already had so many credits in that area, and if I wanted to teach in a private school, I wouldn’t need all the education courses, but the final degree was what was important. I got to a point where I had accumulated so many credits I went to the dean and asked to create my own major so that I can finally graduate, and I did. After a year or so of not finding a job with my degree I went back to the school to see if they could point me in a direction, and it turned out I had so many credits in English that if I stayed for two more semesters, I could have a second bachelor’s degree. I was very disappointed no one stopped me before I graduated to guide me to do that because after graduating, and the fact that I was enrolled for so long, I no longer had motivation to continue furthering my education.” – Student at Southern Connecticut State University

University of Bridgeport
126 Park Ave
Bridgeport, CT 06604-5620
(203) 576-4000

University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT 6269
(860) 486-2000
https://uconn.edu/

University of Hartford
200 Bloomfield Ave
West Hartford, CT 06117-1599
(860) 768-4100

University of New Haven
300 Boston Post Rd
West Haven, CT 06516
(800) 342-5864
www.newhaven.edu

University of Saint Joseph
1678 Asylum Ave
West Hartford, Connecticut 06117-2791
(860) 232-4571
https://www.usj.edu/

Student Review: “The education program at the University of New Haven (UNH) was an enriching experience filled with many different learning opportunities. The internship program was a logical way to put pedagogy into practice on a daily basis. Interning for a full school year, every day of the week while taking classes a few nights a week was an enriching way to get a complete experience. My coursework at the university combined with my internship experience has helped me become the educator I am today. The cohort I was in class with throughout my schooling was a great support system both in and out of the classroom. The timing of the program (one year) worked well. The work was tough, and the pace of it all tiring, but in the end, it was all worthwhile. The professors were all very approachable and knowledgeable about their individual subject areas. They were enthusiastic, helpful, and were able to easily relate to the profession and to our experience, as most of them had been teachers in public school prior to working at the university.” -Joe A., student at University of New Haven

Western Connecticut State University
181 White St
Danbury, CT 06810-6826
(203) 837-8200

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Kiplinger’s Best College Values: https://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-best-college-values-college-finder/index.php#Tile
3. The Princeton Review. The Best 385 Colleges, 2020 Edition. The Princeton Review, 2019.
4. US News & World Report Best Graduate Education Schools 2019: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/edu-rankings
5. US News & World Report Best Online Graduate Education Schools 2019: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/education/rankings
6. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): http://caepnet.org/provider-search
7. National Council on Teacher Quality Teacher Preparation Program Review: https://www.nctq.org/review/home
8. US Department of Education 2018 Title II Reports: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx