Minnesota Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide
This guide to schools of education in Minnesota is designed to help aspiring teachers find the right program for their future career goals. There are many colleges and universities that offer teacher preparation programs that train students to work as professional educators. The information on this page includes lists of top-rated teaching programs, a table of accredited, state-approved teacher preparation programs, and student reviews. For anyone looking to obtain a teaching degree in Minnesota, this guide aims to help you find the best possible program for your individual needs.
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 58 colleges and universities with teacher degree programs in Minnesota.1
- 27 schools offer an associate’s degree in education.1
- 30 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in education.1
- 22 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in education.1
- No schools ranked in Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Education Majors 2020.3
- 5 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2023.3
- 4 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Online Master’s in Education Programs 2022.4
- 4 educator preparation providers (EPPs) are accredited by the NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP.5
- 4 educator preparation providers (EPPs) are accredited by the AAQEP.6
For not-for-profit schools with teacher degree programs.
Comparison of Minnesota Schools with Teacher Preparation Programs
We have designed the following table to help you compare teacher preparation programs in Minnesota according to various factors. All of the schools included are not-for-profit institutions approved by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) 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 Minnesota 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).
State-Approved School | CAEP Accred.?5 | Trad. Teacher Program Enrollment7 | Trad. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers7 | Trad. Licensing Exams Pass Rate7 | Alt. Teacher Program Enrollment7 | Alt. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers7 | Alt. Licensing Exams Pass Rate7 | Net Price1 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Augsburg University | No | 390 | 75 | 79% | — | — | — | $24,306 |
Bemidji State University | No | 290 | 105 | 90% | 312 | 79 | 74% | $14,924 |
Bethany Lutheran College | No | 61 | 11 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $16,968 |
Bethel University | No | 492 | 144 | 93% | — | — | — | $29,107 |
College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University | No | 215 | 60 | 92% | — | — | — | $27,960 |
College of St. Scholastica | No | 241 | 79 | 91% | — | — | — | $23,215 |
Concordia College-Moorhead | No | 122 | 67 | 95% | — | — | — | $24,096 |
Concordia University-St. Paul | Yes | 287 | 108 | 61% | — | — | — | $16,521 |
Crown College | No | 45 | 17 | 95% | — | — | — | $25,977 |
Fond Du Lac Tribal and Community College | No | — | — | — | — | — | — | $9,336 |
Gustavus Adolphus College | No | 73 | 38 | 98% | — | — | — | $26,701 |
Hamline University | Yes | 394 | 102 | 89% | — | — | — | $21,528 |
Martin Luther College | No | 480 | 104 | 81% | — | — | — | $21,396 |
Metropolitan State University | No | 389 | 63 | 88% | — | — | — | $15,941 |
Minnesota State University-Mankato | Yes | 1,063 | 170 | 82% | 69 | 11 | N.Av. | $15,201 |
Minnesota State University-Moorhead | Yes | 596 | 236 | 81% | — | — | — | $17,324 |
North Central University | No | 47 | 18 | 79% | — | — | — | $22,259 |
Southwest Minnesota State University | No | 416 | 77 | 67% | — | — | — | $14,340 |
St. Catherine University | No | 102 | 25 | 97% | 1 | — | — | $18,912 |
St. Cloud State University | No | 1,234 | 233 | 81% | — | — | — | $13,697 |
St. Mary’s University of Minnesota | No | 221 | 87 | 94% | — | — | — | $22,021 |
St. Olaf College | No | 129 | 32 | 97% | — | — | — | $27,838 |
University of Minnesota-Crookston | No | 57 | 10 | 100% | — | — | — | $12,010 |
University of Minnesota-Duluth | No | 460 | 124 | 92% | 187 | 62 | N.Av. | $18,211 |
University of Minnesota-Morris | No | 82 | 28 | 99% | — | — | — | $11,147 |
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | No | 711 | 426 | 95% | — | — | — | $17,729 |
University of Northwestern-St. Paul | No | 165 | 49 | 96% | — | — | — | $23,967 |
University of St. Thomas | No | 309 | 87 | 94% | 73 | 37 | 89% | $31,799 |
Winona State University | No | 740 | 208 | 91% | 92 | 37 | 72% | $17,185 |
- — 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 Minnesota
US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2023
- University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (#19 tie)
- University of St. Thomas (#168 tie)
- St. Cloud State University (#188 tie)
- Concordia University St. Paul (#207-274)
- St. Mary’s University of Minnesota (#207-274)
US News & World Report’s Best Online Master’s in Education Programs 2022
- College of St. Scholastica (#53 tie)
- St. Cloud State University (#140 tie)
- Concordia University St. Paul (#192 tie)
- Martin Luther College (#242-321)
Select Minnesota Schools with Teacher Preparation Degrees
St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College’s Education Department is focused on preparing students for initial licensure and their first years in the classroom. There are three degrees offered: a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Education, a BA in Social Studies Education, and a Bachelor of Music (BM) in Music Education (which is also offered as a BA in Music or as a BA/BM double-degree option). The BA in Education must be paired with a second major in the student’s chosen teaching content area. These content areas include K-12 licenses such as Visual Art, World Languages (French, German, Latin, or Spanish), and English as a Second Language(ESL), as well as secondary/middle school licenses like Mathematics (grades 5-12), Biology (grades 9-12), Chemistry (9-12), and Physics (9-12). All students complete at least 120 hours of field experience prior to completing a formal student teaching placement. St. Olaf also offers an Educational Studies Concentration, which can be added to any liberal arts degree and allows students to expand their program of study with selected courses on issues of education.
University of Minnesota-Crookston
The University of Minnesota-Crookston’s (UMN-Crookston) Humanities, Social Sciences, and Education Department houses its Teacher Education Unit. Four teacher preparation programs are offered, all of which are Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees intended to train students for initial certification and their first teaching role. BS degrees are offered in Agricultural Education, Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, and English Education. Within the Agricultural Education degree, students may choose between concentrations in Agricultural Science, Agricultural Systems Engineering Technology, or Natural and Managed Environmental Education. Early Childhood Education majors may choose an emphasis in Primary Education or Program Management. Students in the English Education program will be prepared to teach grades 5-12, while Elementary Education majors will be prepared to teach any subject to grades K-6. UMN Crookston is home to a unique on-campus Early Childhood Development Center, which offers Early Childhood and Elementary Education majors valuable field learning and observation experiences.
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (UMN) is the flagship campus of the UM system and is home to the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD). CEHD offers three undergraduate degree programs: a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Early Childhood, a BS in Elementary Education Foundations, and a BS in Special Education. For the Early Childhood and Elementary programs, students may choose to pursue one additional year of studies and receive a Master of Education (M.Ed.) as well. Graduate programs include accelerated M.Ed. degrees intended to prepare students for licensure in Social Studies, Mathematics, English, and Science Education in as little as 12-15 months. UMN also offers graduate programs focused on career advancement for experienced teachers and those interested in roles other than teaching, such as a Master of Arts (MA) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Education Policy and Leadership, an MA or PhD in Higher Education, and an MA or PhD in Quantitative Methods in Education. Online options include an MA in Early Childhood Education and an online graduate minor in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health.
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 Alabama 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.
Alexandria Technical & Community College
1601 Jefferson St
Alexandria, MN 56308
(320) 762-0221
www.alextech.edu
Anoka-Ramsey Community College
11200 Mississippi Blvd NW
Coon Rapids, MN 55433
(763) 433-1100
www.anokaramsey.edu
Central Lakes College-Brainerd
501 W College Dr
Brainerd, MN 56401
(218) 855-8000
www.clcmn.edu
Century College
3300 Century Ave N
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
(651) 770-3200
www.century.edu
Concordia University-Saint Paul*
282 Concordia Ave
St Paul, MN 55104
(651) 641-8230
www.csp.edu
Crown College
8700 College View Dr
St Bonifacius, MN 55375
(952) 446-4100
www.crown.edu
Dakota County Technical College
1300 145th St E
Rosemount, MN 55068
(651) 423-8300
www.dctc.edu
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
2101 14th St
Cloquet, MN 55720
(218) 879-0800
www.fdltcc.edu
Hennepin Technical College
9000 Brooklyn Blvd
Brooklyn Park, MN 55445
(952) 995-1300
www.hennepintech.edu
Inver Hills Community College
2500 80th St E
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076
(651) 450-3000
www.inverhills.edu
Itasca Community College
1851 US-169
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
(218) 322-2300
www.itascacc.edu
Leech Lake Tribal College
6945 Little Wolf Rd NW
Cass Lake, MN 56633
(218) 335-4200
www.lltc.edu
Mesabi Range College
1001 Chestnut St W
Virginia, MN 55792
(218) 741-3095
www.mesabirange.edu
Minneapolis Community and Technical College
1501 Hennepin Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 659-6000
www.minneapolis.edu
Minnesota State College Southeast
308 Pioneer Rd
Red Wing, MN 55066
(651) 385-6300
www.southeastmn.edu
Minnesota State Community and Technical College
1414 College Way
Fergus Falls, MN 56537
(218) 736-1500
www.minnesota.edu
Minnesota West Community and Technical College
1450 College Way
Worthington, MN 56187
(800) 658-2330
www.mnwest.edu
Normandale Community College
9700 France Ave S
Bloomington, MN 55431
(952) 358-8200
www.normandale.edu
North Hennepin Community College
7411 85th Ave N
Brooklyn Park, MN 55445
(763) 488-0391
www.nhcc.edu
Northland Community and Technical College
1101 State Hwy 1
Thief River Falls, MN 56701
(218) 683-8800
www.northlandcollege.edu
Oak Hills Christian College
1600 Oak Hills Rd SW
Bemidji, MN 56601
(218) 751-8670
www.oakhills.edu
Ridgewater College
2101 15th Ave NW
Willmar, MN 56201
(800) 722-1151
www.ridgewater.edu
Rochester Community and Technical College
851 30th Ave SE
Rochester, MN 55904
(507) 285-7210
www.rctc.edu
South Central College
1920 Lee Blvd
North Mankato, MN 56003
(507) 389-7200
www.southcentral.edu
St. Cloud Technical and Community College
1540 Northway Dr
St Cloud, MN 56303
(320) 308-5000
www.sctcc.edu
St. Paul College
235 Marshall Ave
St Paul, MN 55102
(651) 846-1600
www.saintpaul.edu
Vermilion Community College
1900 E Camp St
Ely, MN 55731
(218) 235-2100
www.vcc.edu
Student Reviews
Bemidji State University
1500 Birchmont Dr
Bemidji, MN 56601
(800) 475-2001
www.bemidjistate.edu
Minnesota State College Southeast
308 Pioneer Rd
Red Wing, MN 55066
(651) 385-6300
https://www.southeastmn.edu/
Minnesota State University-Moorhead
1104 7th Ave S
Moorhead, MN 56563
(218) 477-4000
www.mnstate.edu
St. Cloud State University
720 4th Ave S
St Cloud, MN 56301
(320) 308-0121
www.stcloudstate.edu
St. Mary’s University of Minnesota
700 Terrace Heights
Winona, MN 55987
(507) 457-1600
https://www.smumn.edu/
University of Minnesota-Duluth
1049 University Dr
Duluth, MN 55812
(218) 726-8000
www.d.umn.edu
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 2023: 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. Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP): https://aaqep.org/accredited-programs
7. US Department of Education 2020 Title II Report: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx