Michigan Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide

This guide to teaching degrees in Michigan is designed to assist anyone looking into becoming a teacher in the state. There are quite a lot of universities and colleges that offer teacher preparation programs so proper research is essential for aspiring teachers. On this page, you’ll find a table of top-rated teaching programs in Michigan as well as a list of nationally accredited teacher preparation programs and student reviews. Whether you’re fresh out of college or looking to pursue a career change as a teacher, use this guide to help you find the best program that meets your future career goals.

Schools with Teaching Programs

• There are 22 colleges and universities with teacher degree programs in Michigan.¹
• 29 colleges and universities offer an associate’s degree in education.¹
• 35 colleges and universities offer a bachelor’s degree in education.¹
• 26 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 Michigan-Ann Arbor 90%.¹
• Highest transfer-out rate*: Marygrove College 48%.¹
• Highest net price per year*: College for Creative Studies $34,620.¹
• Lowest net price per year*: Lake Superior State University $9,942.¹
• Annual undergraduate tuition range for teaching degree programs in Michigan*: $10,356 – $34,419.²
• 2 schools ranked in Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges in 2017: University of Michigan (#5 in-state, #13 out-of-state), Michigan State University (#38 in-state, #73 out-of-state).³
• 6 schools ranked in US News Best Graduate Education Programs in 2017: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (#15), Michigan State University (#21), Wayne State University (#112), Western Michigan University (#120), Eastern Michigan University (#141), Oakland University (#156).⁴
• 9 schools ranked in US News Best Online Graduate Education Programs in 2017: Michigan State University (#8), Central Michigan University (#29), Grand Valley State University (#92), Western Michigan University (#92), Eastern Michigan University (#113), Wayne State University (#133), University of Michigan (#144), Andrews University (#167), Oakland University (#174).⁵
• 27 not-for-profit teacher programs are accredited by the NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP (see below).

*For 4-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 Michigan according to various factors. All of the schools included are not-for-profit institutions approved by the Michigan 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 Michigan Department of Education also provides its own ratings of approved educator preparation institutions based on graduate performance on the Michigan Tests for Teacher Certification, teacher candidates’ effectiveness ratings during student teaching, and three-year teacher effectiveness ratings for program graduates employed in Michigan public schools. 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.

Finally, 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 Michigan Department of Education Educator Preparation Institution Score is institutionally-based and is current as of 2016.
**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 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

Michigan State University: Academic programs within the College of Education at Michigan State University provide students with a rigorous training program that prepares them for a career in teaching and education. Recognized as one of the nation’s top schools for teacher advancement, research, policy and educational administration, Michigan State University is consistently ranked within the top tier for graduate study teaching programs by US News and World Report. In fact, Michigan State has been regularly ranked number one in both elementary and secondary education for the last sixteen years in a row. The program confers all levels of degrees, including bachelor, master, and doctoral. Specialist and online programs are also available for the working professional who already possesses a career in education. There are 11 doctoral programs offered through the College of Education and nationally-recognized faculty members teach courses at all levels.

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

• Adrian College
• Albion College
• Alma College
• Andrews University
• Aquinas College
• Baker College
• Calvin College
• Concordia University
• Cornerstone University
• Eastern Michigan University
• Ferris State University
• Grand Valley State University
• Hope College
• Lake Superior State University
• Madonna University
• Marygrove College
• Michigan State University
• Michigan Tech University
• Oakland University
• Olivet College
• Siena Heights University
• Saginaw Valley State University
• University of Detroit Mercy
• University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
• University of Michigan–Dearborn
• University of Michigan-Flint
• Western Michigan University

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

School Programs for Becoming a Teacher in Michigan

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 Michigan

Adrian College
110 S Madison St
Adrian, MI 49221-2575
(517) 265-5161
www.adrian.edu

Albion College
611 E Porter St
Albion, MI 49224
(517) 629-1000
www.albion.edu

Andrews University
Berrien Springs, MI 49104
(800) 253-2874
www.andrews.edu

Aquinas College-Grand Rapids
1607 Robinson Rd SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49506-1799
(616) 632-8900
www.aquinas.edu

Baker College of Flint
1050 West Bristol Road
Flint, MI 48507-9987
(810) 766-4000

Baker College of Muskegon
1903 Marquette Ave
Muskegon, MI 49442
(231) 777-8800

Baker College of Owosso
1020 S Washington St
Owosso, MI 48867
(989) 729-3300

Bay de Noc Community College*
2001 N Lincoln Road
Escanaba, MI 49829-2511
(906) 786-5802

Calvin College
3201 Burton SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
(616) 526-6000
www.calvin.edu

Student Review: “I loved my experience in the teacher education program at Calvin College because I was given the opportunity to integrate my own pursuit of knowledge with my Christian faith, which prepared me in helping those in the Christian education world find, define, and defend their Christian worldview. I was really challenged not just by the theological diversity among my professors, but intellectually as a whole. I was pushed to tap into my creativity and I found a passion for the youth I would be teaching. My professors really cared about the coming generation and the desperate need for profound, innovative thinkers to be developed, for our nation’s and the world’s sake.” -Student at Calvin College

Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI 48859
(989) 774-4000
www.cmich.edu

Student Review: “The teaching program at Central Michigan University provided me with an unique experience. Many of the teachers in the programs did a great job of preparing us for some of the problems you can run into when you’re a teacher. We had to job shadow other teachers in the area so we could get some real life experience and I thought that it was an enlightening experience. I thought that was the best experience that I gained from the program. The teachers in the program were well experienced and they had many great stories that related to teaching. Another thing was it was difficult to contact teachers through email outside of class which made it difficult at times. Overall, the experience was great and I look forward to using my skills and experiences to help me in my teaching career.” -Daryl J., student at Central Michigan University

Student Review: “I had a wonderful experience as a CMU student that prepared me quite well for the real world of teaching. I am grateful that my music education courses were so thorough, requiring me to learn the fundamentals of every instrument – including voice. CMU also gave me the opportunity to make my education my own. The certification program provided a great deal of flexibility during my student teaching experience, and I worked one-on-one with numerous faculty members to complete research projects and prepare conference presentations. I can also say that some of my professors were the most inspirational people I have ever met, and their love of teaching continues to drive my own passion for joining the field of education.” -Student at Central Michigan University

College for Creative Studies
201 E Kirby
Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 664-7400
www.collegeforcreativestudies.edu

Concordia University-Ann Arbor
4090 Geddes Rd
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
(734) 995-7300
www.cuaa.edu

Cornerstone University
1001 E Beltline Ave NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525-5897
(616) 949-5300
www.cornerstone.edu

Delta College
1961 Delta Road
University Center, MI 48710
(989) 686-9000
www.delta.edu

Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
(734) 487-1849
www.emich.edu

Student Review: “Eastern Michigan University has a teaching program that is very well known in the state of Michigan for putting out some of the best teachers in the state. I believe that this could be true of the teachers that exit the teaching program but I feel that is more because of the students and not the program. For me, being involved with this program was a large disappointment. The teachers were mostly unavailable with the exception of being in class and occasionally during their listed office hours. It was very difficult to get in touch with a teacher via email or office phone and therefore difficult to get help or additional instructions when necessary. I feel like the majority of the professors are recruited because they are some of the best in their field which is beneficial to Eastern on paper but that does not make them quality teachers and the students that go through the department suffer because of it.” -Rachel S., student at Eastern Michigan University

Student Review: “I very much enjoyed the teaching section of my major. I did not major in teaching but worked to earn my secondary teaching certificate so I can teach if I want to as a career option. I really enjoyed the way everything was set up, but I felt like there was not enough learning the classroom. That is, I never really got a chance to actually teach anyone anything, I just learned how to do it. I know if I started a teaching job tomorrow I’d be nervous about it. I did my student teaching section of the program, which was fun, but I was never given the opportunity to develop my own agenda or lesson plan, I had to use the one my teacher developed for me, which was slightly irritating as well. I wanted to be able to test those skills in addition to teaching. I believe that the program should offer more training in that regard. In addition, I felt like my university failed at helping me find a job in any sense. They may have given me the skills necessary to teach but did not give me any help in resume building or additional teaching certifications that would separate me from any other candidate. There is no system that is useful to students to help them find jobs. I loved my professors though, they were fantastic and very passionate about teaching and getting others to be passionate about teaching. I feel like a lot of professors and teachers have their own way of approaching teaching, and I felt like I could relate to their style very easily.” -Arthur C., student at Eastern Michigan University

Ferris State University
1201 S State St
Big Rapids, MI 49307-2251
(231) 591-2000

Gogebic Community College*
E 4946 Jackson Rd
Ironwood, MI 49938
(906) 932-4231
www.gogebic.edu

Grand Rapids Community College*
143 Bostwick Ave NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-3295
(616) 234-4000
www.grcc.edu

Student Review: “Going to community college was not my initial plan. After careful consideration and hours of thinking I came to the conclusion that attending Grand Rapids Community College for two years would save me money over the long run and allow me the luxury of living closer to home.I saved so much money by making this choice. Grand Rapids Community College known as GRCC to the student population is located in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, MI. It is an open campus spread throughout downtown Grand Rapids with a variety of programs that are offered. Most four-year Universities in Michigan have something known as the MACRO agreement which GRCC participates in. The MACRO agreement is basically the standard perquisites that will transfer smoothly from GRCC to the student’s university of choice. GRCC offers an excellent campus life that can be found at four-year universities including sports teams, clubs, academic scholarships and much more. There are even opportunities to travel abroad.” -Chad B, student at Grand Rapids Community College

Grand Valley State University
1 Campus Dr
Allendale, MI 49401-9403
(616) 331-2020
www.gvsu.edu

Student Review: “Grand Valley State University provides a wonderful college experience. It currently boasts over 24,000 students and is the fastest growing college in the state of Michigan. Academic rankings are currently on the rise, and many view it as the third best public university in Michigan. The courses are rigorous with a heavy emphasis on collegiate style writing and research. Within the program, it is very balanced and well-rounded. I would recommend this program to anyone that may be interested. Life at Grand Valley State is curious. Although it has a large student population, it is located in a Charter Township with virtually zero outside activities. Most college students travel to the nearby city of Grand Rapids for activity (approximately 20 minutes away). Grand Valley does boast a secondary campus in downtown Grand Rapids, but it is still in the process of growing and expanding.” -John S., student at Grand Valley State University

Hope College
141 E 12th St
Holland, MI 49423
(616) 395-7000
www.hope.edu

Student Review: “Hope College has been the perfect school for me. The school is a small liberal arts college of about 3,200 students located in beautiful and scenic Holland, MI, only a few miles from Lake Michigan. Hope is a school rooted in the Christian tradition where all your professors know your name and care about your progress as a student and as a person. I loved the chemistry department at Hope and really felt at home all four years. Hope is a fairly strong academic institution while still having a very strong athletic program. If I had to say I disliked anything, it would be the long and harsh winters.” -Kyle G., student at Hope College

Kirtland Community College*
10775 N Saint Helen Road
Roscommon, MI 48653
(989) 275-5000
www.kirtland.edu

Lake Superior State University
650 W Easterday Ave
Sault Ste Marie, MI 49783
(906) 632-6841

Lansing Community College*
419 N Capitol Ave
Lansing, MI 48901-7210
(517) 483-1957
www.lcc.edu

Lawrence Technological University
21000 West Ten Mile Road
Southfield, MI 48075-1058
(248) 204-4000
www.ltu.edu

Madonna University
36600 Schoolcraft Rd
Livonia, MI 48150-1176
(734) 432-5300
www.madonna.edu

Marygrove College
8425 W McNichols Rd
Detroit, MI 48221-2599
(313) 927-1200
www.marygrove.edu

Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1046
(517) 355-1855
www.msu.edu

Student Review: “Michigan State University is a great school. It is one of the top rated in the country. I had a wonderful experience there. One of the things that I liked about the school is that they had a lot of different programs and activities as well as clubs that everyone could get involved in. One of the things that I did not like about Michigan State was that the school was so big that it was easy to get lost. There weren’t enough maps around and I also felt that there weren’t enough resources to find out about some of the programs that were being offered as well as some of the scholarships that were available. Another thing that I did not like about Michigan State is that in the department for my major, they had gotten down to only one advisor for everyone in that major, so it was hard to get an advising appointment. Sometimes they had to be booked weeks, maybe even a month in advance.” -Jessica D., student at Michigan State University

Student Review: “The MSU school experience is a great one. I spent my first year at MSU in the dorms, like all freshman, and there I made some great friends that have stayed with me since. The classes that I’ve taken have all been interesting, with some of the best teachers I’ve ever met in charge of the courses. My favorite thing about MSU, though is the stuff that happens outside of the classroom. With the right attitude, anybody can have a great time every weekend, finding school-sponsored activities or sales, or going off to find a party. Every week there’s something new going on and it’s almost always worth checking out.” -Wilson D., student at Michigan State University

Student Review: “My experience at Michigan State University has been a thoroughly rewarding experience because of the great campus life and opportunities available to me there. This past year I began my first year of studies at the university, and I have learned that I will be able to be successful and build a career from my experiences. Even as a new student I was able to get a work position in a research lab, which turned out to be very educational and challenging. The best aspect of Michigan State is the beautiful and spacious campus, which is what drew me towards wanting to go there. And since becoming a student, I have come to love the various parks and landscaping features throughout campus. Another nice feature of MSU is the unlimited meal plan served at all the great dining halls. I have often gone out for a midnight snack during study sessions. Overall I am satisfied with my choice of school and would make the same choice over if I could.” – Barrett W., student at Michigan State University

Michigan Technological University
1400 Townsend Drive
Houghton, MI 49931-1295
(906) 487-1885
www.mtu.edu

Monroe County Community College*
1555 South Raisinville Road
Monroe, MI 48161-9746
(734) 242-7300
www.monroeccc.edu

Mott Community College*
1401 E Court St
Flint, MI 48503
(810) 762-0200
www.mcc.edu

Muskegon Community College*
221 S Quarterline Rd
Muskegon, MI 49442-1432
(231) 773-9131
www.muskegoncc.edu

Northern Michigan University
1401 Presque Isle Avenue
Marquette, MI 49855
(906) 227-1000
www.nmu.edu

Student Review: “Northern Michigan University is a decent mid-sized college, which has numerous options available for study. The town has many aspects which are enjoyable, such as a brewery, a bagel shop, a sushi restaurant. The Dome is a great place to run or walk in the winter, and they play football games in there which is a great event. There is a hockey rink next door at the Berry Events Center which is fun to go to and watch the team play. It isn’t challenging to join NMU in comparison to other universities. The classes, for the most part, aren’t too challenging.” -Ross U., student at Northern Michigan University

Oakland University
Rochester Hills, MI 48309-4401
(248) 370-2100

Olivet College
320 South Main Street
Olivet, MI 49076
(269) 749-7000
www.olivetcollege.edu

Rochester College
800 W Avon Rd
Rochester Hills, MI 48307
(248) 218-2000
www.rc.edu

Saginaw Valley State University
7400 Bay Rd
University Center, MI 48710
(989) 964-4000
www.svsu.edu

Student Review: “I chose to go to SVSU for many reasons. Some of these reasons were the small class sizes, which helped me to get individualized attention in areas that I was struggling or just had a question in. Previously before SVSU, I had gone to a bigger university that had class sizes of over 100 in a big auditorium. This made it hard to even ask questions, let alone get one on one attention. Another positive was the cost of attendance. Saginaw Valley State University has one of the lowest credit hour costs in the state of Michigan. This helps students to get the most bang for their buck. Also, there are many clubs, organizations, and sports to participate in. It is not hard to get involved with people and make friends due to the wide variety of people on campus. Overall, this is a great college with low prices and the feel of a small private university. SVSU has great teachers who really care if you succeed. Give this school a try, you will not be disappointed in the return you get.” -Megan L., student at Saginaw Valley State University

Siena Heights University
1247 Siena Heights Dr
Adrian, MI 49221
(517) 263-0731
www.sienaheights.edu

Southwestern Michigan College
58900 Cherry Grove Rd
Dowagiac, MI 49047-9793
(269) 782-1000
www.swmich.edu

Spring Arbor University
106 E. Main St
Spring Arbor, MI 49283-9799
(517) 750-1200
www.arbor.edu

St Clair County Community College*
323 Erie Street
Port Huron, MI 48061-5015
(810) 984-3881
www.sc4.edu

University of Detroit Mercy
4001 W McNichols Rd
Detroit, MI 48221-3038
(313) 993-1000
www.udmercy.edu

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
(734) 764-1817
www.umich.edu

Student Review: “My experience teaching others has been one of pleasure and difficulty. One of the things that my professors taught me was to not only be able to handle the responsibilities that come with teaching children but being able to handle the children themselves. I was extremely fortunate to mentor children in the nearby Pioneer High School this past semester and the experience only boosted my wanting to become a teacher. Not only did I want to be engaged with the students there, the students seemed to want to be engaged with what I had to share with them. I mentored one child in particular who struggled with math, and by the end of the year he had been on par – if not more – with every student in the classroom in terms of applicability and raw intelligence. The University of Michigan staff who often monitor the high school mentor programs were helpful in providing me every resource I needed to help the kids grow.” -Ryan G., student at University of Michigan

University of Michigan-Dearborn
4901 Evergreen Rd
Dearborn, MI 48128-1491
(313) 593-5000

University of Michigan-Flint
303 E Kearsley
Flint, MI 48502-1950
(810) 762-3000
www.umflint.edu

Student Review: “I was not very thrilled with my experience at U of M-Flint. I studied Secondary Education, majoring in English and minoring in Psychology. First off, many of the courses in the education program were a joke. I learned very little in any of them. The vast majority of classes I took did not prepare me at all for teaching. I feel like the content wasn’t practical enough, I guess. It seemed like it was very shallow, very general, and not anything specifically helpful. I did not feel prepared for teaching after taking these classes. Another big problem I had was the fact that a semester of student teaching was the last part of the program. So essentially, I did not really get a taste for teaching until the very end of the program. I wish there was some sort of crash course much earlier on in the program so I would know earlier if teaching was for me or not. Instead, I had to get to the end of the program to really decide if teaching was what I wanted to do. It seemed very backward to me. In the end, I still do not feel qualified to teach. I don’t think the problem lies with my work ethic, but with the program itself.” -Student at University of Michigan-Flint

Wayne State University
656 West Kirby Street
Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 577-2424
www.wayne.edu

Student Review: “I really enjoyed my time at Wayne State University. It’s a smaller school, but it has the prestige and resources (research-wise) of a larger university. I commuted to school, so I was able to save money by not living on campus. However, I decided to live on campus for my final year. Although it is in Detroit, I felt very safe while in class and while living there. Detroit gets a bad reputation, but Midtown is actually quite nice. Wayne State also has their own police force. Most of my professors were excellent, and my graduate teaching assistants were great as well. I received mentorship from a professor who gave me a research opportunity and helped guide me towards my graduate program that I’m starting in the Fall. Wayne State is a lot like many colleges; it may be small, but the resources are there to have a full college experience. My only complaint would really be that parking is expensive and sometimes a bit far from where classes are unless you get there early; however, that’s urban living for you.” -Brett A., student at Wayne State University

West Shore Community College*
3000 N Stiles Rd
Scottville, MI 49454-0277
(231) 845-6211
www.westshore.edu

Western Michigan University
1903 West Michigan Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5167
(269) 387-3530
www.wmich.edu

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/
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. Michigan Department of Education 2016 Educator Preparation Institution Performance Score Report: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/2016_EPI_Overall_Score_536193_7.PDF
8. National Council on Teacher Quality 2014-2016 Teacher Preparation Program Review: http://www.nctq.org/teacherPrep/2016/findings/home.do
9. US Department of Education 2016 Title II Reports: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx