Best Teaching Schools and Degrees in Connecticut

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 a list of accredited teacher preparation programs as well as 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.

School Facts

There are 33 colleges and universities with teacher degree programs in Connecticut.¹
16 colleges and universities offer a master’s or advanced degree in education.¹
Highest graduation rate*: Wesleyan University, 91%.¹
Highest transfer-out rate*: Western Connecticut State University, 27%.¹
Highest net price per year*: Sacred Heart University, $37,202.¹
Lowest net price per year*: Southern Connecticut State University, $11,372.¹
Annual undergraduate tuition range for teaching degree programs in Connecticut*: $19,353-$45,928.²
One school in the Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges in 2013: University of Connecticut (25).
Two schools ranked in US News National Universities Rankings in 2013 (top 100): Yale University (3), University of Connecticut (63).
11 teacher programs are accredited by the NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP (see below).*

*For 4-year colleges and universities with teacher degree programs.

Profiles of Well-Known Schools

University of Connecticut: The University of Connecticut is home to the top-ranked Neag School of Education as ranked by the US News & World Report 2010 edition of top American graduate schools. Currently, three of the school’s main programs rank among the top 25 within the nation. Those programs include Elementary Education, Curriculum and Instruction and Special Education. The academic units within the school include the Integrated Bachelors and Masters Teacher Preparation Program, Teacher Certification Program for College Graduates, Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Leadership, Educational Psychology and Kinesiology. The most lauded program of the school continues to be the Integrated Bachelors and Masters program designed to award students with a bachelors and masters in Education at the end of five years of study. The five-year intensive program includes two years of general university education, two years of major specific undergraduate coursework and one year of graduate level coursework.

Abertus Magnus College: Located in New Haven, CT, 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 concentration areas including 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 score well above their peers on the PRAXIS II test with 100 percent passing the exam on their initial attempt. 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.

Top-Rated Teacher Preparation Programs

Over 1,000 college programs that offer teacher preparation programs were evaluated and rated by the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) (Teacher Prep Review 2013 Report). According to the results, only one teacher preparation program in Connecticut made the “honor roll” of 3 stars or higher. For more information, read more about the NCTQ Teacher Prep Review 2013 Report.

The following teacher preparation programs in Connecticut received the highest ratings by the National Council on Teacher Quality:

Teacher Preparation Programs Accredited by the NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP

Central Connecticut State University
Eastern Connecticut State University
Fairfield University
Quinnipiac University
Sacred Heart University
Southern Connecticut State University
The University of Hartford
University of Connecticut
University of New Haven
University of Saint Joseph
Western Connecticut State University

Read more about the CAEP, NCATE, and TEAC accrediting bodies.

School Programs for Becoming a Teacher in Connecticut

Request free information from the following schools to learn more about your options for choosing a teacher degree program. We recommend you: Request information from one or more of these schools

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Schools with Teaching Degree Programs in Connecticut

Note: Student Reviews are based on the experiences of a few individuals and it is unlikely that you will have similar results. Please review the “Data, Student Reviews and Other Information” section in our Terms of Use and Disclaimers.

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

Hartford School of Music
834 Asylum Ave
Hartford, CT 06105-2891
(860) 246-2588

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
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 in English, and ended with a focus in art. I never did follow all the way through with the teaching program. Part of the reason was because 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

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

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

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

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

University of Saint Joseph
1678 Asylum Avenue
West Hartford, Connecticut 06117-2791
(860) 232-4571
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 knowledgable 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 Street
Danbury, CT 06810-6826
(203) 837-8200