Kansas Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide

This guide to teaching schools in Kansas is designed to provide key information to aspiring teachers looking for the best program for their needs. There are many teacher preparation programs in the state that prepare students to become teachers or advance in a current educator career. On this page, we have lists of top-rated teaching programs, a table of accredited, state-approved teacher preparation programs, and student reviews. Whether you are a first-time student or looking to change careers, this guide should help you find the best program that suits your individual career goals.

Table of Contents

• Teacher Preparation Program Comparison
• Top-Ranked Schools with Education Programs
• Select Schools with Teacher Preparation Degrees
• Schools with Associate Degrees in Education
• Student Reviews

Quick Facts

• There are 33 colleges and universities with teacher degree programs in Kansas.¹
• 9 schools offer an associate’s degree in education.¹
• 27 schools and universities offer a bachelor’s degree in education.¹
• 18 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in education.¹
• No schools ranked in Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Education Majors 2022.²
• 2 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2022.³
• 9 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Online Master’s in Education Programs 2022.⁴
• 17 not-for-profit teacher programs are accredited by the NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP.

For not-for-profit schools with teacher degree programs.

Comparison of Kansas Schools with Teacher Preparation Programs

We have designed the following table to help you compare teacher preparation programs in Kansas according to various factors. All of the schools included are not-for-profit institutions approved by the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) 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.

You will also find data on teacher preparation program enrollment, completion, and licensing exam pass rates by institution, for both traditional and alternative programs, for the 2018-2019 academic year in this table. These data points are collected from annual US Department of Education reports under Title II (Teacher Quality) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which holds institutions and state departments of education accountable for increasing academic achievement through improvements in teacher quality. Traditional teacher preparation programs are usually completed as part of a bachelor’s degree program. Alternative certification programs are typically designed for career changers looking to enter the field and lead to a postgraduate certificate or a master’s degree. Many schools in our table offer both traditional and alternative programs. Take a look at our Kansas traditional and alternative certification guides for more information.

Finally, we have provided the net price per year for undergraduate tuition, 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).

• — indicates none or not applicable.
• N.Av. indicates data was not available or pass rates were omitted for confidentiality.

Top-Ranked Schools with Education Programs in Kansas

US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2022

• University of Kansas (#17 tie)
• Kansas State University (#136 tie)

US News & World Report’s Best Online Master’s in Education Programs 2022

• Kansas State University (#24 tie)
• University of Kansas (#34 tie)
• Fort Hays State University (#108 tie)
• Wichita State University (#162 tie)
• Southwestern College (#233 tie)
• Baker University (#242-321)
• Emporia State University (#242-321)
• Friends University (#242-321)
• Newman University (#242-321)

Select Kansas Schools with Teacher Preparation Degrees

University of Kansas

Located in Lawrence, Kansas, the University of Kansas (KU) has been training educators through its School of Education and Human Sciences since 1909. The School is divided into the departments of Curriculum & Teaching; Educational Leadership & Policy Studies; Health, Sport & Exercise Sciences; Educational Psychology; and Special Education. All undergraduate programs are housed within the Curriculum & Teaching department and include Early, Elementary, and Secondary Education (English or History & Government), as well as Music, Foreign Language, Visual Art, and STEM Education. KU also confers degrees at the master’s and doctoral levels in a wide range of specialized areas, such as a Master of Science in Education (MSE) in Autism Spectrum Disorder, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Educational Psychology & Research, and an MSE or Doctor of Education (EdD) in Higher Education Administration. Several of the graduate and doctoral programs are offered online and can be completed in as little as two years.

Wichita State University

Wichita State University’s (WSU) School of Education serves both undergraduate and graduate students in attaining their educational goals. The School’s undergraduate programs are focused on teacher preparation, with programs offered for aspiring Early, Elementary, and Secondary educators in a variety of subject areas. There are also three master’s programs offered: a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Learning and Instructional Design, an M.Ed. in Special Education, and a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT). The M.Ed. in Special Education is offered as a fully-online program for students who require more flexibility in their schedules. WSU is located in the largest urban center in the state, which means students at the undergraduate and graduate levels have access to plenty of hands-on experiences that will assist them in learning about their major and future career possibilities.

Schools with Associate Degrees in Education

While a bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational level required to qualify for state certification, an associate’s degree can be the first step towards a career in education. It can qualify graduates for careers in non-licensed roles in early childhood education, after-school care, and related areas. The credits earned from an accredited associate degree program can also typically be transferred towards a bachelor’s degree. The following Kansas schools offer associate’s degrees in education.¹ Schools with an asterisk (*) also offer four-year teaching programs and/or alternative route to certification programs.

Barton County Community College
245 NE 30 Rd
Great Bend, KS 67530-9251
(800) 748-7594
www.bartonccc.edu

Butler Community College
901 S Haverhill Rd
El Dorado, KS 67042-3280
(316) 321-2222
www.butlercc.edu

Dodge City Community College
2501 N 14th Ave
Dodge City, KS 67801-2399
(620) 225-1321
www.dc3.edu

Fort Hays State University*
600 Park St
Hays, KS 67601-4009
(785) 628-4000
www.fhsu.edu

Fort Scott Community College
2108 S Horton St
Fort Scott, KS 66701-3141
(620) 223-2700
www.fortscott.edu

Haskell Indian Nations University*
155 Indian Ave
Lawrence, KS 66046-4800
(785) 749-8404
www.haskell.edu

Highland Community College
606 W Main St
Highland, KS 66035-4165
(785) 442-6000
www.highlandcc.edu

Independence Community College
1057 W College Ave
Independence, KS 67301-0708
(620) 331-4100
www.indycc.edu

Washburn University*
1700 SW College Ave
Topeka, KS 66621-0001
(785) 670-1010
www.washburn.edu

Student Reviews

Emporia State University
1 Kellogg Cir
Emporia, KS 66801-5087
(620) 341-5465
https://www.emporia.edu/

Student Review: “I feel that my teaching program prepared me for what I face now in my job. I liked that they focused on classroom management, which is one of the most difficult issues in teaching. I felt prepared with a few tools to build on when I received my first job. While in college, my advisor was very friendly and supportive. I never had a question that could not be answered by someone in the education department. I benefited from small class sizes. I was on a first name basis with many of my professors. The program was rigorous and overwhelming at times, but could always be accomplished, which prepared me for teaching. I did not like the final project, the teacher work sample, but now that I have been teaching for many years, I see the importance of it. I am a better teacher because of the time and effort that Emporia State University invested into me.” – Student at Emporia State University

Student Review: “Emporia State University was a great program for helping to prepare me for a career in teaching. I loved the overall structure of the program. We spent a number of classroom hours covering teaching strategies for diverse populations. The teachers had real-life public school teaching experience. Being a small school the one on one attention was extremely beneficial. If I had to pick an area to improve it would be offering more technology courses. With the world we live in I feel it is more important to learn strategies to reach the upcoming generation. There didn’t seem to be an emphasis on how to incorporate meeting the students where they are, (phones, social media, iPads, etc). I think it would have been helpful to practice how to effectively do a form of online learning.” – Student at Emporia State University

Fort Hays State University
600 Park St
Hays, KS 67601-4009
(785) 628-4000
https://www.fhsu.edu/

Student Review: “I attended Fort Hays State University for three years as an online student. The flexibility, cost, accreditation, and course selections were the main reason why I chose them over anyone else. Just like any school, I had some teachers who were great with helping me and others that seemed to be almost too busy to lend a hand. Overall my experience was a good one. Even though I went back to school to get my degree in a field that I have already spent 8+ years in, the education still proved of value. I feel that I still learned a lot! When I go back to receive my masters I will definitely be putting Fort Hays on my list of possible choices.” -Durrell D., student at Fort Hays State University

Pittsburg State University
1701 S Broadway St
Pittsburg, KS 66762-5856
(620) 231-7000
https://www.pittstate.edu/

Student Review: “I loved being a math education major at Pittsburg State University. I met some amazing people and had great teachers. The math classes were challenging but not impossible. My education classes were helpful and fun. I think both departments adequately prepared me for teaching. One thing I really liked was a one hour credit that math education majors take their last semester. In this ‘class’ we were required to spend 30 hours at the school we would be student teaching at the next semester. Words can’t express how much this helped my student teaching experience. A lot of the other departments at Pittsburg State University didn’t have this class for their secondary education majors but I think they should. The only downside about Pittsburg State University is that the education department isn’t very prestigious. It’s a great university but I wonder how I’d be different if I was in a better education department.” -Jean C., student at Pittsburg State University

University of Kansas
1450 Jayhawk Blvd
Lawrence, KS 66045-7594
(785) 864-2700
https://www.ku.edu/

Student Review: “I was a part of the University of Kansas’ teaching program for two years, and when I first began taking classes, I found them to be incredibly easy, but lacking a lot of substance in the sense that we talked about a lot of situations, experiences and issues a teacher would face, but never learned how exactly to handle them. I felt these classes coddled the students and didn’t challenge their beliefs or convictions as humans wanting to teach other humans. As I moved through the School of Education, my classes began to vary. I still had a lot of methodology classes that I thought babied the students and weren’t very challenging or interesting, but educational philosophy classes were also offered that were incredibly engaging and challenged how the students thought. I found the experience with the class in the School of Education to be very hit or miss, but when it came to the faculty and staff, I felt the opposite. Those working in and for the School of Education at the University of Kansas are knowledgeable about their building and job, as well as overly helpful and accommodating to students. Eventually, I switched degrees when I determined that I did not want to complete a degree with the School of Education in order to teach.” -Casey B., student at University of Kansas

Wichita State University
1845 Fairmount St
Wichita, KS 67260-0124
(316) 978-3456
https://www.wichita.edu/

Student Review: “The Wichita State University teacher training program was a great program that prepared me for life as a teacher. The courses were challenging but the professors were supportive. Each semester involved actual classroom time which is great for a student teacher – having real-world experience really helps prepare you for student teaching. The downside of this is that the time demands really reduce your ability to work – so it is a hard program for adults with bills to pay. Overall though the experience is really beneficial. The program also covers help with all the state requirements to become a teacher. The education classes are all taught by enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff with real-life experience in public schools. As you advance through the course you gradually build on past experiences and knowledge until finally, you complete a full semester internship in the classroom. It is a great program.” -Student at Wichita State University

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. The Princeton Review. The Best 385 Colleges, 2022 Edition. The Princeton Review, 2021.
3. US News & World Report Best Graduate Education Schools 2022: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/edu-rankings
4. US News & World Report Best Online Graduate Education Schools 2022: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/education/rankings
5. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): http://caepnet.org/provider-search
6. US Department of Education 2020 Title II Report: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx