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 lists of top-rated teaching programs, a table of accredited, state-approved teacher preparation programs, and 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.

Quick Facts

• There are 74 colleges and universities with teacher degree programs in Florida.¹
• 25 colleges and universities offer an associate’s degree in education.*¹
• 58 colleges and universities offer a bachelor’s degree in education.*¹
• 34 colleges and universities offer a master’s or advanced degree in education.*¹
• 8 schools ranked in Kiplinger’s Best College Values 2019.²
• No schools ranked in Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Education Majors 2020.³
• 7 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2019.⁴
• 12 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Online Graduate Education Programs 2019.⁵
• 13 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 Florida

Kiplinger’s Best College Values 2019*

• University of Florida (#32)
• Florida State University (#63)
• University of South Florida (#115)
• University of Miami (#118)
• University of Central Florida (#165)
• Florida International University (#195)
• University of North Florida (#219)
• Rollins College (#293)

*Institution-wide ranking.

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

• University of Florida (#25)
• Florida State University (#39 tie)
• University of Central Florida (#78 tie)
• University of South Florida (#85 tie)
• Florida International University (#134 tie)
• Florida Atlantic University (#157 tie)
• Florida A & M University (#182 tie)

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

• University of Florida (#1 tie)
• Florida State University (#13 tie)
• Florida International University (#69 tie)
• University of South Florida (#69 tie)
• Florida Atlantic University (#77 tie)
• University of Miami (#84 tie)
• University of North Florida (#84 tie)
• Nova Southeastern University (#166 tie)
• Lynn University (#210 tie)
• Warner University (#219 tie)
• Florida Southern College (#228-299)
• Nova Southeastern University (#228-299)

School Programs for Becoming a Teacher in Florida

Comparison of 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. Read more about the CAEP, NCATE, and TEAC accrediting bodies. 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 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 Florida Department of Education Summative Rating Score is program-based and current as of 2019, the date the report was published for the 2017-2018 academic year. Only schools with multiple program scores were averaged. 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 Central Florida: The University of Central Florida is home to the UCF College of Education. The College is dedicated to preparing new and existing education practitioners to face the rigors and challenges of educating today’s society with the right methods and skills sets. The College seeks to adequately serve all stakeholders including students, staff, community members and learning partners in the state of Florida and the world. The undergraduate offerings include nearly 20 majors while the graduate program includes nearly 60 different majors. Students at the undergraduate level enjoy coursework taught by world-renowned and engaging faculty members. They also spend plenty of time getting practical experience through observation and involvement in classrooms all throughout Central Florida. UCF is responsible for training many of the state’s best and brightest educators.

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.

Schools with Teaching Degree Programs in Florida

Baptist College of Florida
5400 College Dr
Graceville, FL 32440
(850) 263-3261
https://www.baptistcollege.edu/

Barry University
11300 NE 2nd Ave
Miami, FL 33161-6695
(305) 899-3000
https://www.barry.edu/

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

Daytona State College
1200 W International Speedway Blvd
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
(386) 506-3000
https://www.daytonastate.edu/

Student Review: “The teaching program was very good in general. The classes had a solid balance of theory and application and I can’t say that I was ever overly frustrated with the assignments. I’ve taken some of the classes online and the discussions are generally pretty well done there, with interesting topics to talk about. The teachers are professional and friendly and are good about checking in with the students and offering appropriate and useful feedback. However, I’ve had a questionable experience here and there. Some of the assignment uploading tech is out of date and some of the assignments are much more time-consuming than one might expect. However, I believe the level of quality and affordability make it worthwhile to consider Daytona State College’s education degree program.” -Student at Daytona State College

Flagler College
74 King St
Saint Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 829-6481
https://www.flagler.edu/

Student Review: “I studied at Flagler College’s Tallahassee Campus. I enjoyed the small class sizes and the ability to really get to know my professors. At the same time I really disliked having no anonymity. The coursework was long and tedious but not difficult. One distinct drawback to studying at Flagler College’s Tallahassee campus is the low admission standards. Many of my classmates struggled to pass the General Knowledge certification exams which at the time were similar to taking a GED exam. Working in the classrooms provided many great experiences. I had opportunities to see some great teachers in Kindergarten, 2nd grade, 5th grade and Special Education. With the small class sizes I was easily able to befriend my classmates.” -Student at Flagler College

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
https://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 itself 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 away 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
https://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
https://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

Student Review: “The education program at Florida International University was very good! It is very hands on in the sense that for most of the classes, there is a requirement to intern at a local school based on the grade and the subject are you wanted to teach in. I was not only able to translate education theories and strategies from lecture to the classroom, it was also a great way to allow me to network myself with nearby schools in order to increase the chance of being employed! Also, the education program is very meticulous! I remember having to make lesson plans for one month’s worth. They really want you to succeed and become an effective and prepared educator. I would recommend FIU’s college of education to anyone wanting to pursue a career in teaching.” -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
https://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

Student Review: “One thing I really enjoy about this program is that you are thrown into a classroom during your very first class in the program. In what is called step 1, you teach twice in front of an elementary level classroom. In step 2, you teach twice in front of a middle school classroom. I really enjoy their methods of teaching. The staff is extremely qualified and caring. The only thing I disliked about my teaching experiences was that I taught with a partner. At times it was difficult to co-teach and coordinate with this partner. I like that there is no online coursework and that the curriculum is very experiential and challenging. I am excited to continue my pursuit of this program.” -Student at Florida State University

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

Hillsborough Community College
1206 N Park Rd
Plant City, FL 33563
(813) 253-7000
https://www.hccfl.edu/

Student Review: “The Educator Preparation Program at Hillsborough Community College known as EPI is a great program that makes it possible for career changers to enter the field of Education without the unnecessary time and expense of obtaining a second Bachelor’s Degree. It is a 21-credit program that can be completed in a year to a year and a half. All the Professors in the Program are current or former Administrators and Teachers with years of experience. HCC’s EPI program is a 2 to three night a week commitment. One class in the program is an early Saturday Morning class. Most participants in the program, work full time so night classes are convenient. The cohort will create subgroups in classes, depending on whether you intend to teach Elementary, Middle or High School. Professional Development is imperative to teachers and you are exposed to Professional Development in EPI through three mandatory Seminars during the program. Students travel through the program in cohorts. This is the best feature of the program because you build relationships that not only help you while you are in school but are vital support and networking contacts when you enter the teaching world. Cohort members help and encourage each other through the whole process, including independently forming study groups to better understand and complete coursework, practice presentations, prepare for classroom exams and even study for State Exams. EPI prepares students with both theory and hands on practice, both inside and outside of the classroom. Project Based learning is included in all classes, including giving presentations to fellow students and working together on projects using real world applications that K-12 students currently use in the classroom. This befits the teacher candidate because they go into the classroom with basic knowledge of equipment such as Smart Boards and Document Cameras. Students matriculate through classes in Classroom Management, Ethics, Reading, Lesson Planning, Technology and Diversity. Words of wisdom to caution you to pitfalls not to fall into, that the EPI will not tell you (things the program can do better on or communicate better to students: Understand that even though you get field experience in this program, nothing really prepares you fully for being in the classroom on your own. Classroom management in theory usually looks a lot different than in practice. It is imperative that you learn the tricks and techniques that will help you manage behavior in your classroom but those will only work for approximately 90% to 95% of students. Don’t apply for your Subject Area with the Department of Education, until you have almost completed the program. It takes the Department of Education a month or more to review your file after you apply but as soon as they issue the certificate, you only have three years pass the Three State Exams: General Knowledge, Subject Area and Professional (best to take last after you have completed your classes as a couple of answers you will learn in the classes) because most people do not pass all of their test the first time, there is a minimum 30 retake wait period and the test start at $150 and increase to $200 for retakes. Hold on to your original papers plus the FEAP/PEC (papers you write to explain how you applied what you learned to complete your original papers). Quite a few students misplace the original papers, thinking they only need the FEAP/PEC papers and they must turn those in before they can exit the program.” -Student at Hillsborough Community College

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
https://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
https://www.mdc.edu/

Student Review: “I believe that the program was good, unlike other schools they made sure that tests preparation was part of the curriculum. You had your classes planned out for you and it stated exactly when you should take each test you needed or you couldn’t progress in the program. This allowed you to take the state tests with the information as fresh as possible. The teachers were good, but some needed to go more in depth with information. Most classes had a lot of hours that needed to be completed in a classroom setting with kids, which I feel helped better prepare you for when you have your own classroom.” -Student at Miami Dade College

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
https://go.spcollege.edu/tsc/

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

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

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

Student Review: “The program itself was really quite informative and provided a myriad of different options to learn the skills students needed to be prepared to work in the education workforce. Everything from great intern opportunities to a great deal of extra curriculars to further add content to our resumes. As I traversed through the program I found that the various options of teachers was quite comprehensive. It included fresh PhD candidates that just started their careers as well as professors that had over 20 years of experience at all levels of positions within the education department. This enabled me to have a very well rounded education.” -Student at University of West Florida

University of Central Florida
4000 Central Florida Blvd
Orlando, FL 32816
(407) 823-2000
https://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

Student Review: “The University of Central Florida’s educator preparation program was an interesting program that was full of interesting classes, motivated professors, and career-forwarding opportunities that made me feel like I was getting the amount of experience I needed to succeed in a classroom. My favorite thing about the program was the diversity of the content area courses; there were several electives I could choose from within my content area that made me feel like I was getting diverse knowledge of the field, such as Adolescent Literature for Minorities or Children’s Literature Through The Ages. The professors for these courses in particular boasted years of experience and dedication. I really felt like they had unique things to share beyond what was in our textbooks. My second favorite thing about the program was the amount of field hours required by the program. Most classes I took, core and elective alike, required at least 15 hours “service learning” — this was before any student teaching internships, even! I felt these hours got me out in the field and helped me refine what I wanted to do. I ran an educational afterschool club, taught money management to a class of second graders, and helped ESL high-schoolers write essays, just to name a few experiences. If I could complain about one thing in the program, it’s that sometimes the class sizes were just too much to have a personal connection with the professor. The professors, while knowledgeable, always seemed so busy and had 15 other students lining up to connect with them. This was hard for someone shy like me.” -Student at University of Central Florida

Student Review: “The program was well-suited to get students certified into the education field. However, a lot of the information was hard to access or there were not many people to discuss it with. Many times, there were very specific timelines that had to be followed but the information wasn’t offered up freely; you had to go hunting for the information. I believe that giving the students a list of everything that had to be done and provide insight into WHEN it had to be done would be a huge benefit.” -Student at University of Central Florida

University of Florida
355 Tigert Hall
Gainesville, FL 32611-3115
(352) 392-3261
http://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
https://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

Student Review: “My experience in the UNF education program was overall a good experience. The professors were very experienced in their subject. I had some professors who knew everyone in class by name and had great relationships with the students. Their lessons were well planned and overall very practical, which is especially important in the education field. The professors in the program also informed us about a lot of work/experience opportunities in the area. The program also required several classes to include field experience, which was the most beneficial thing of the program. The final semester required students to do an internship at a local elementary school, which is a great way for students to get their foot in the door of their field. On the negative side, this program was not flexible enough for me because I had a baby. There were almost no online classes to take, so I could not continue at a full-time pace. I ended up transferring to a different college for this reason.” -Student at University of North Florida

Student Review: “The education department at the University of North Florida helped prepare me to be an educator in a way I would never have imagined. I was able to get great hands on experience and plenty of in the field experience. I had multiple courses spent on location at schools and even spent a semester in a classroom learning alongside an actual classroom teacher. While in classes on campus, the professors were always willing to help assist us with any issues we had. If additional help was needed after class, office hours were held at convenient times to ensure we weren’t left stranded. When learning how to teach math, we were actually taught how to do problems more ways then I even knew existed. It was a very well rounded teaching style that ensured we were being properly taught ourselves, so that we could properly teach the future of America.” -Student at University of North Florida

University of South Florida
4202 E Fowler Ave
Tampa, FL 33620-9951
(813) 974-2011
https://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

University of West Florida
110000, University Pkwy
Pensacola, FL 32514
(850) 474-2230
https://uwf.edu/

Student Review: “My experience in the Teacher/Educator Preparation program was overall a positive one. I felt that most of my instructors made themselves available for assistance to students as needed. The classes were adequately interesting and of a size which allowed for a good instructor to student ratio. The campus resources were sufficient to meet the course requirements. I found that the variety of course offering times allowed me to create a schedule that worked for me to complete my program in a timely manner. I did have one major negative experience in that I received erroneous advising at one point which forced a major change to my program to avoid extending the time until graduation. The extra trouble and expense this caused was irritating. However, overall, I felt that the program met my needs.” -Student at University of West Florida

Valencia College*
PO Box 3028
Orlando, FL 32802
(407) 299-5000
https://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

Student Review: “Quick, efficient, and inexpensive option for aspiring teachers, or private school teachers already in the classroom in Florida seeking certification after the fact. Is this an objectively good academic program in education? Not really. The assignments are overly easy and simplistic, divergent points of view are not presented, the curriculum skews so heavily towards elementary education that grades 6-12 teachers may derive little of value and feel left out of group projects, and some of the instructors are patronizing, though some are good. However, it’s cheap, it’s fast, and I know many excellent teachers who did this as the most cost- and time-efficient path to a certification who then had the legal credentials to learn to teach the real way (meaning, in a classroom, already possessing subject matter knowledge).” -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. 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. Florida Department of Education: http://www.fldoe.org/teaching/preparation/additional-resources.stml
8. National Council on Teacher Quality 2014-2016 Teacher Preparation Program Review: https://www.nctq.org/review/home
9. US Department of Education 2018 Title II Reports: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx