Florida Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide

There are a variety of teacher preparation programs in Florida that prepare students to enter the education field within the state. The school guide found below is designed to efficiently help aspiring teachers who are interested in obtaining a teaching degree in Florida. For specific information on available programs, scroll down to find a table of top-rated teaching programs and a list of nationally accredited teacher preparation programs as well as student reviews. The information on teaching schools in Florida below is meant to serve as a helpful guide for anyone looking to change careers or recent college graduates looking to embark on their first career.

Schools with Teaching Programs

• There are 73 colleges and universities with teacher degree programs in Florida.¹
• 24 colleges and universities offer an associate’s degree in education.¹
• 59 colleges and universities offer a bachelor’s degree in education.¹
• 28 colleges and universities offer a master’s or advanced degree in education.¹

Institutional Facts for Schools with Teaching Programs

• Highest graduation rate*: University of Florida 87%.¹
• Highest transfer-out rate*: Barry University 49%.¹
• Highest net price per year*: University of Miami $37,424.¹
• Lowest net price per year*: Indian River State College $1,235.¹
• Annual undergraduate tuition range for teaching degree programs in Florida*: $1,807 – $35,147.²
• 6 schools in the Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges in 2017: Florida International University (#72 in-state, #64 out-of-state), University of Florida (#7 in-state, #3 out-of-state), Florida State University (#28 in-state, #12 out-of-state), University of South Florida (#66 in-state, #27 out-of-state), University of North Florida (#74 in-state, #67 out-of-state), University of Central Florida (#51 in-state, #40 out-of-state).
• 6 schools ranked in US News Best Graduate Education Programs in 2017: University of Florida (#29), Florida State University (#52), University of Miami (#80), University of South Florida (#93), University of Central Florida (#99), Florida International University (#161).
• 10 schools ranked in US News Best Online Graduate Education Programs in 2017: University of Florida (#1), Florida State University (#3), University of South Florida (#29), Florida International University (#66), Nova Southeastern University (#84), St. Leo University (#149), University of Miami (#167), Lynn University (#174), Florida Atlantic University (#193, tie), University of North Florida (#193, tie).
• 11 not-for-profit teacher programs are accredited by the NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP (see below).*

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

Top-Rated Teacher Preparation Programs

We have designed the following table to help you compare teacher preparation programs in Florida according to various factors. All of the schools included are not-for-profit institutions approved by the Florida 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. The Florida Department of Education also provides its own summative ratings of approved educator preparation programs based on a range of factors, with a top possible score of 4.0; we have provided the average institutional score based on all programs included in the report in the table below. We additionally 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 2014-2015 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 Florida Department of Education Summative Rating Score is program-based and current as of 2017, the date the report was published for the 2014-2015 academic year. You can read more about summative program ratings through the Florida Department of Education website.
**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

University of Florida: Located in Gainesville, FL, the University of Florida is home to arguably the best education department in the entire state. The University Of Florida College Of Education was founded in 1906 and has consistently been ranked among the top 25 of public education schools in the country according to most major ranking organizations. Nearly 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students make up the student body in the College of Education making it one of the biggest in the entire university. Students are able to choose from 21 bachelors and graduate degree programs that include eight specialty areas such as Counseling, Administration, Educational Technology, Special Education, K-12 Education, Literacy, Research and Assessment, and School Psychology. The College of Education is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and has been so since 1954.

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

• Bethune-Cookman University
• Florida A&M University
• Florida Gulf Coast University
• Florida International University
• Nova Southeastern University
• University of Central Florida
• University of North Florida
• University of South Florida
• University of South Florida-Sarasota Manatee
• University of South Florida-St. Petersburg
• University of West Florida

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

School Programs for Becoming a Teacher in Florida

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

Schools with Teaching Degree Programs in Florida

Barry University
11300 NE 2nd Ave
Miami, FL 33161-6695
(800) 756-6000

Bethune-Cookman University
640 Dr Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd
Daytona Beach, FL 32114-3099
(386) 481-2000
www.cookman.edu

Brevard Community College*
1519 Clearlake Rd
Cocoa, FL 32922
(321) 632-1111
www.brevardcc.edu

Central Florida Community College*
3001 SW College Rd
Ocala, FL 34474
(352) 873-5800
www.cf.edu

Chipola College
3094 Indian Cir
Marianna, FL 32446-2053
(850) 526-2761
www.chipola.edu

Clearwater Christian College
3400 Gulf to Bay Blvd
Clearwater, FL 33759-4595
(727) 726-1153
www.clearwater.edu

Flagler College
74 King St
Saint Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 829-6481

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Tallahassee, FL 32307
(850) 599-3000

Florida Atlantic University
777 Glades Rd
Boca Raton, FL 33431-0991
(561) 297-3000
www.fau.edu

Student Review: “I am a huge fan of Florida Atlantic University! I believe the campus at Boca Raton to be a beautiful campus, with outstanding professors. The college is self is huge and has tons of activities and clubs for students to get involved in. The layout of the college is easy to navigate. The college of education is beautiful, and has a user friendly computer lab that all college of Ed students are able to use. The student service is great and will usually take walk in appointments. FAU creates a fun atmosphere with the new stadium that was just built, and is just minutes a way from the beach. It is a great school if you love to catch up on homework while soaking up the sunshine, rather than just a boring library. It is close to home for me, so the convenience is unbeatable. The only complaint I would have is that parking can be a hassle at times.” -Jenn W., student at Florida Atlantic University

Student Review: “I enjoyed my time at Florida Atlantic University. I transferred there from a local community college and I never felt out of place. It is mostly a commuter school but those who choose to live on campus tend to be more social. I wish that the school organizations and clubs accommodated commuter’s schedules more. It was extremely hard for me to get involved because the clubs and organizations met so late (usually 7pm and later). The professors are extremely understanding and willing to help if they feel like you are trying. In my opinion, our school is a lot easier than other Florida state universities.” -Kerinna B., student at Florida Atlantic University

Florida College
119 North Glen Arven Ave
Temple Terrace, FL 33617
(813) 988-5131
www.floridacollege.edu

Student Review: “I have come to truly and completely enjoy the experience spent in the education system here at Florida College. The class sizes are small, and as one may guess, this warrants a great deal of attention from the professor per individual. Florida College also operates it’s own academy for K-8 students. It is here that the education majors can hone their skills in their final 2 years of college, and work on the finer things such as personal teaching technique or special approaches to teaching. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here as an education major at Florida College.” -Peyton C., student at Florida College

Florida Institute of Technology
150 West University Blvd
Melbourne, FL 32901-6975
(321) 674-8000

Florida International University
11200 SW 8 Street
Miami, FL 33199
(305) 348-2000
www.fiu.edu

Student Review: The program at FIU was valuable overall. Many of the curriculum classes overlapped content-wise. There were a couple of classes about teaching pedagogy specifically, although there could have been more. We were required to complete several visits to schools to observe other teachers in action before we started our internship. I felt, however, that our internship, at only 12 weeks was short. I think it would have been better if it overlapped two semesters. Furthermore, during the internship, I received feedback only from the teacher whose class I was working in and never really got any feedback or contact from my internship instructor from the university. Other issues I had were that we were required to take Statistics for Research methods when in reality this course was not practical for a majority of graduate students merely seeking to secure credits for certification to teach in the state of Florida. The actual coursework specific to my field of study, social studies, was appropriately varied to prepare me to teach a variety of classes in a secondary school setting. -Tamara F., student at Florida International University

Florida Memorial University
15800 NW 42 Ave
Miami Gardens, FL 33054-6199
(305) 626-3600

Florida Southern College
111 Lake Hollingsworth Dr
Lakeland, FL 33801-5698
(863) 680-4111
www.flsouthern.edu

Florida State University
211 Westcott Bldg
Tallahassee, FL 32306-1037
(850) 644-2525
www.fsu.edu

Student Review: “My time at Florida State University’s College of Education served me well in preparing me to take on the responsibilities of becoming an elementary school teacher in Florida. The program is rigorous, and the professors benefit from both their higher education and many years working in the field. FSU helped me gain real world experience during this time through its partnership with local schools. I had multiple friends who went through the Special Education Program, and they say that their time in both FSU’s classrooms and hands on with students helped them to land good jobs right out of the program. My only wish is that there had been more online offerings when I was attending so that I could focus on real world application of the materials I was learning instead of time in class. Overall, though, I wouldn’t change the experience.” -Nicholas C., student at Florida State University

Student Review: “I really enjoyed my experience in the Elementary Education B.A. degree program at the University of Florida. The class schedules were flexible, and most had an online option. The best part was the internships. The coordinators were great about matching you with the perfect school and teacher in the community to model. The feedback from the instructors was really helpful, and all of the instructors had a solid history of teaching a variety of grade levels. I wish there was even more time required for student teaching, but I feel I did get enough experience to perform as a solo teacher in my area. I would recommend any of the teaching degree tracks at UF to anyone wanting to obtain a teaching certificate.” -Mary B., student at Florida State University

Student Review: “FSU is an awesome school. Florida State has so many opportunities for students to be successful. They have classes taught by some of the leading professors in their fields, and despite the size, the faculty seems to make the university feel small, particularly as you advance in your major. While I was a student at Florida State, I had the opportunity to be selected for an international internship. I was able to live and work in London and I was paid by the university to do it. It was an once in a lifetime opportunity. My story is not unique, nor is the opportunity I had to study abroad. Florida State has many other exceptional programs and campuses all over the world within their International Programs. Whatever your academic interests I would recommend Florida State to anyone seeking a quality education.” -Jennifer K., student at Florida State University

Gulf Coast Community College*
5230 West Highway 98
Panama City, FL 32401
(850) 769-1551
www.gulfcoast.edu

Hobe Sound Bible College
11298 SE Gomez
Hobe Sound, FL 33455-1065
(772) 546-5534
www.hsbc.edu

Indian River State College
3209 Virginia Ave
Fort Pierce, FL 34981-5596
(772) 462-4772

Jacksonville University
2800 University Blvd N
Jacksonville, FL 32211-3394
(904) 256-8000

Lake Sumter Community College*
1405 County Rd 526A
Sumterville, FL 33585
(352) 568-0001
www.lssc.edu

Student Review: “I received a degree in Early Childhood Education at Lake-Sumter Community College. My first impression of the program was that it was very organized. I consulted with my advisor the first day of college and planned my course of action. I was required to take multiple courses including Early Childhood Development and Microcomputer Applications. My degree required a total of 60 credit hours in order to fulfill all requirements per my degree. Lake-Sumter was very welcoming and encouraging. The teachers that I had were very nice, informative, and helpful. I enjoyed all my classes and it took me only 2 years to receive the degree I planned to achieve. I am contemplating returning to college to receive a bachelor’s degree.” -Hunter S., student at Lake Sumter Community College

Student Review: “I was enrolled in the Education Preparation Institute (E.P.I.) at Lake State Sumter College. The program was a pathway to a teaching certificate for those holding a degree in something other than education. It was a very challenging program that could be completed in less than a year and prepare you for required certification in the state to become a licensed K-12 teacher. The program offered maximum flexibility. My classes were all online and the classes were offered year-around. Early on, you begin to observe and start practice teaching in a local elementary school. This allowed us to gain real life class experience right away which was priceless. The teachers were very helpful but I appreciated working with my classmates who had a variety of work experiences. Overall, the program is very challenging. But with the school resources and the relationships developed with other students the dream of becoming a teacher can be a reality.” -Student at Lake Sumter Community College

Manatee Community College*
5840 26th St W
Bradenton, FL 34207
(941) 752-5000

Miami Dade College
300 NE 2nd Ave
Miami, FL 33132-2297
(305) 237-8888
www.mdc.edu

Nova Southeastern University
3301 College Ave
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314-7796
(954) 262-7300
www.nova.edu

Palm Beach Atlantic University-West Palm Beach
901 S Flagler Drive
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
(561) 803-2000
www.pba.edu

Palm Beach Community College*
4200 Congress Ave
Lake Worth, FL 33461-4796
(561) 967-7222
www.pbcc.edu

Pensacola Junior College*
1000 College Blvd
Pensacola, FL 32504-8998
(850) 484-1000
www.pjc.edu

Saint Thomas University
16401 NW 37th Ave
Miami Gardens, FL 33054-6459
(305) 625-6000
www.stu.edu

South Florida Community College*
600 W College Dr
Avon Park, FL 33825-9356
(863) 453-6661

Southeastern University-Lakeland
1000 Longfellow Blvd
Lakeland, FL 33801-6034
(863) 667-5000
www.seuniversity.edu

St. Petersburg College
14025 58th Street N
Clearwater, FL 33760
(727) 341-4772
go.spcollege.edu

Student Review: “The Tarpon Springs campus of St. Petersburg College is home to the College of Education where I took most of my classes. The program was very well respected in the community and the graduates are known by the local school for being prepared to enter the teaching world. The class sizes are small so there is a lot of opportunity for individual education and mentoring by experienced staff members. They place a high importance on hands on experience and we spent more time volunteering in classes via practicums and internships than most programs. The only improvements I would have made were more convenient places to eat on campus and more parking. I feel like the program prepared me to enter the classroom as a teacher as well as they could. I recommend SPC to any student.” -St Petersburg College

Stetson University
421 N Woodland Blvd
DeLand, FL 32723
(386) 822-7000
www.stetson.edu

The Baptist College of Florida
5400 College Dr
Graceville, FL 32440
(850) 263-3261

The University of Tampa
401 W Kennedy Blvd
Tampa, FL 33606-1490
(813) 253-3333
www.ut.edu

The University of West Florida
11000 University Pkwy
Pensacola, FL 32514-5750
(850) 474-2000
www.uwf.edu

University of Central Florida
4000 Central Florida Blvd
Orlando, FL 32816
(407) 823-2000
www.ucf.edu

Student Review: “At the University of Central Florida, I was one of thousands of students who decided to study the field of early childhood education. I had heard a lot of good things about the program before I joined, and once I did, I realized it was just the place for me. Not only do the teachers foster an environment of learning, they really are there to help you every step of the way. During my internship at a middle school, I wasn’t just left alone to figure out how to complete my teaching hours. My professors were always there to help me with any troubles or questions I had. The only thing that was a drawback, to me, is how rigid the structures of learning are. There isn’t much wiggle room in developing yourself as a unique teacher, but that’s something that university standards demand, not the professors themselves. Overall, it was an excellent program, and I definitely recommend it to anyone who asks.” -Student at University of Central Florida

Student Review: “My experience in the University of Central Florida has been an overall positive one. I have been able to make many friends through the very large number of clubs offered at the school. With a student body of 60,000 I am able to make new friends everyday. The classes seem to be highly applicable to real life, and the professors are both talented and kind. The food served in the cafeteria is actually surprisingly good, and well worth the price. The only negative thing I could say about the school is the lack of wireless Internet in the dorms, and the cost of parking in the school lots is a little high. Other than these minor gripes I would say my college experience has been wonderful.” -Forrest T., student at University of Central Florida

Student Review: “Overall, I really enjoyed my experience at the University of Central Florida, though I would say it had nothing to do with my major. I lived on campus for the first two years and I would absolutely recommend it. I met so many amazing people I still call friends today and had the ideal “college experience.” There were always plenty of activities going on and the sports games, especially football and tailgating, were a blast. The campus is easy to navigate and I like the area in general. I still work in the Orlando area. Overall, the English education program was helpful and comprehensive. I ended up choosing not to pursue teaching because I felt it wasn’t for me, but that is at no fault to the teachers. I met great people, professors and classmates. I felt if I would have pursued teaching, I would have been prepared to teach and succeed. UCF did a good job placing students in their internship programs and I enjoyed the people and students I worked with. Every classmate I attended with is gainfully employed in teaching, largely due to the internship experience.” -Student at University of Central Florida

University of Florida
355 Tigert Hall
Gainesville, FL 32611-3115
(352) 392-3261
www.ufl.edu

Student Review: “The University Of Florida teaching program was such a good experience for me because I have always wanted to become a history teacher. The academics are really good and the classes are not a walk in the park. You have to work hard, but you know you are getting a good education. We have been ranked in the top 10 for biggest return on your dollar (high salary even with higher tuition). I would say the class size is often small and very manageable and the professors are always there waiting to help you out. The professors are very kind when it comes to extensions, for an example I had to leave town because my grandfather was very ill and all of my professors were understanding and would even email me asking how my grandfather was doing. The campus itself is beautiful; the dorms are pretty wide and roomy. They are all different when it comes to design; I’ve had nothing but positive experiences with them and have made some of my best friends in my residence halls. The food on campus is just simply amazing. There are so many dining halls all over the campus and different varieties from a stir fry place, fancier dining like an Italian style restaurant, our very own Starbucks, and so much more. There is nothing I don’t like about the University of Florida; the school is just amazing and having such comfortable professors just makes my life easier. Since I want to teach history, professors are telling me what to expect. The best thing about my teaching program is that we had guest speakers who would come in and tell us about their own personal experiences and the struggles they faced. In my program there were some guest speakers who would let us go to their classroom and let us shadow them. It was a great experience because I got to see firsthand how things went. That’s something I doubt many colleges would let their students do.” -Denis A., student at University of Florida

Student Review: “The University of Florida is undoubtedly the finest overall school that the state has to offer. With a student population of over 50,000, it is one of the largest schools in the country. UF boasts an extremely high rate in post-graduate job offerings. On campus, the facilities are constantly renovated and state-of-the-art, most notably the Southwest Recreation Center and Reitz Student Union. Transportation is readily available through buses for student without cars. As far as social life goes, midtown and downtown are a constant source of nightlife and activity. As a student of 3 years entering my senior year, I can say that it has been an incredible experience attending the University of Florida and I am not looking forward to leaving. I will always look back on my college years with nostalgia, as it has provided me with memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life.” -Matt G., student at University of Florida

University of Miami
University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL 33124
(305) 284-2211
www.miami.edu

University of North Florida
1 UNF Dr
Jacksonville, FL 32224-2645
(904) 620-1000
www.unf.edu

Student Review: “The University of North Florida’s teacher preparation program was a horrible experience for me. I took many online classes during which the professors were impossible to contact. I feel like I was not really prepared to be a teacher or even a sub. The coursework had some good moments, but it did not outweigh the fact that I feel I should have gone to UCF instead.” -Student at University of North Florida

University of South Florida
4202 E Fowler Ave
Tampa, FL 33620-9951
(813) 974-2011
www.usf.edu

Student Review: “USF Tampa has its faults, but has offered a positive experience overall. It is a relatively new university with definite room for improvement, which can easily be achieved with time. The restaurant selections on campus have grown significantly within the last few years, which is a definite plus. As it is on most college campuses, USF’s student housing varies wildly from extremely pleasant to downright miserable, however, it is up to the student to make the right call before signing (stay away from the Andros area, if possible). The students have a massive amount of school pride which is probably due, in part, to the football team’s recent successes this past season. One thing that is severely lacking, however, is USF’s willingness to work with the Greek system and allow it to grow and flourish. This is unfortunate, because a strong Greek alumni base greatly contributes to the future of a growing University.” -Kaila K., student at University of South Florida

Student Review: “The University of South Florida education program was fantastic. The staff at the College of Education was extremely helpful in preparing me to become a teacher. They were always available outside of class for questions and any other help that I may have needed as I progressed through the program. The classes offered me a variety of strategies that I am able to utilize in my own classroom. One aspect of the program that could be improved is the number of classes that they offer online. It would make the program easier to complete if there were more classes offered online for students who do not live on campus and students who are working while completing college courses.” -Student at University of South Florida

Valencia College*
PO Box 3028
Orlando, FL 32802
(407) 299-5000
http://valenciacollege.edu/

Student Review: “The teaching program at Valencia College was a really great experience for me. The program combines a good mix of academics and actual classroom experience. I personally have an easier time learning about the dos and don’ts of teaching when I am able to see a real teacher working in a classroom, and the observation/student teaching hours allowed me to do just that. I now feel like I have a good understanding of the practical knowledge required for teaching as well as the necessary pedagogical information. The program gives students the option to take fully online courses or on campus courses. The courses are intensive and last only 8 weeks, but I never felt too rushed to finish my assignments or projects. I like that I was able to complete the program in a relatively short amount of time.” -Ellen T., student at Valencia College

Student Review: “Valencia College is great for its willingness to go above and beyond the normal range of duties for a school. There was one class that I really needed to keep going with my degree and I had missed the enrollment date but they still gave me a permit to take the class. Everyone I interacted with from the administration and counseling center was very helpful and pleasant. The professors I had were very informed and experienced in their fields and always provided a great amount of information to any question you had.” -Neal S., student at Valencia College

Warner University
13895 Hwy 27
Lake Wales, FL 33859-8797
(863) 638-1426

An asterisk (*) denotes a two-year or certificate program in education. While a two-year degree will not qualify graduates for teacher certification, it can be a good starting point for a teaching career. To learn more about what you can do with this degree, see our guide to associate’s degrees in education.

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Niche College Search: https://www.niche.com/colleges/search/best-colleges-for-education/s/florida/?type=private&type=public
3. Kiplinger’s Best College Values: http://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-public-colleges/
4. 2017 US News Best Graduate Education Schools: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/edu-rankings
5. 2017 US News Best Online Graduate Education Schools: 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 2014-2016 Teacher Preparation Program Review: http://www.nctq.org/teacherPrep/2016/findings/home.do
8. US Department of Education 2016 Title II Reports: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx