Missouri Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide

This guide to teaching schools in Missouri provides essential information to help you research options for pursuing a career as a teacher. Aspiring teachers must complete an accredited program in order to obtain a teaching degree in Missouri. Scroll down to find lists of top-rated teaching programs, a table of accredited, state-approved teacher preparation programs, and student reviews of Missouri teaching schools. Whether you are a first-time college student or are in need of a career change, this guide can help you find a program that fits your goal of becoming an educator.

Quick Facts

• There are 56 colleges and universities with teacher degree programs in Missouri.¹
• 16 schools offer an associate’s degree in education.¹
• 39 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in education.¹
• 35 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in education.¹
• 3 schools ranked in Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Education Majors 2022.²
• 7 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2022.³
• 8 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Online Graduate Education Programs 2022.⁴
• 14 educator preparation providers (EPPs) are accredited by the NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP.⁵
• 3 educator preparation providers (EPPs) are accredited by the AAQEP.⁶

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

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

Comparison of Missouri State Schools with Teacher Preparation Programs

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

Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Education Majors 2022

• College of the Ozarks
• Stephens College
• William Jewell College

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

• University of Missouri (#41 tie)
• Washington University in St. Louis (#73 tie)
• University of Missouri-Kansas City (#103 tie)
• Saint Louis University (#154 tie)
• University of Missouri-St. Louis (#167 tie)
• Maryville University of St. Louis (#211-277)
• Southwest Baptist University (#211-277)
• William Woods University (#195-258)

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

• University of Missouri (#14 tie)
• Southeast Missouri State University (#120 tie)
• Lindenwood University (#130 tie)
• Drury University (#199 tie)
• Park University (#226 tie)
• Missouri State University (#242-321)
• Northwest Missouri State University (#242-321)
• Webster University (#242-321)
• Maryville University of St. Louis (#228-299)
• William Woods University (#228-299)

Select Missouri Schools with Teacher Preparation Degrees

Southeast Missouri State University

The mission of Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) College of Education, Health and Human Studies is to prepare and sustain remarkable leaders in teaching, counseling, and educational leadership. Departments within the program are categorized by discipline and focus, including educational leadership, elementary and early special education, and middle or secondary education. Secondary education may focus on a variety of disciplines, from art to physics, but the overall goal of the program is the same as that of elementary school education: to succeed as an educational leader from their first day on the job. The school confers degrees at the associate, bachelor’s, and master’s levels, and caters to students of all backgrounds, demographics, and work experience. Many of the undergraduate degrees have online and hybrid options, and the majority of master’s degrees are offered online. Continuing education for working professionals is also available to obtain specific credentials in the field, including certificates in Autism Spectrum Disorders and Child Advocacy Studies Training Program (CAST).

University of Missouri

The University of Missouri College of Education and Human Development (Mizzou CEHD) offers bachelor’s degrees leading to teacher certification in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education, as well as K-12 subjects including Special Education, Music Education, and World Languages Education; grades 5-9 subjects like Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies; and grades 9-12 subjects like Agricultural Education, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Language Arts, Mathematics, Physics, and Social Studies. There are also degree options for students who are not seeking certification, including the Bachelor of Educational Studies (BES) degree with emphases in Educational Games & Simulations Design and Educational Leadership. Mizzou CEHD confers multiple master’s degrees including a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Autism, Elementary Education, and Gifted Education, as well as Master of Arts (MA) and Master of Science (MS) degrees in Educational Psychology; Human Development and Family Science; and Online Education, among others. In addition, multiple Doctor of Education (EdD) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs are offered in Behavioral Disorders, Counseling Psychology, Educational Leadership, Educational Policy Studies, Higher Education, Reading Education, and Special Education, to name a few. Mizzou CEHD has an average class size of 17 at the undergraduate level and 10 at the graduate level.

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.

Baptist Bible College*
628 E Kearney
Springfield, MO 65803-3498
(417) 268-6000
www.gobbc.edu

Crowder College
601 Laclede Ave
Neosho, MO 64850
(417) 451-3223
www.crowder.edu

Drury University*
900 N Benton
Springfield, MO 65802-3791
(417) 873-7373
www.drury.edu

East Central College
1964 Prairie Dell Rd
Union, MO 63084
(636) 584-6500
www.eastcentral.edu

Jefferson College
1000 Viking Dr
Hillsboro, MO 63050-2440
(636) 797-3000
www.jeffco.edu

Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City
3200 Broadway Blvd
Kansas City, MO 64111-2429
(816)614-1000
www.mcckc.edu

Mineral Area College
5270 Flat River Rd
Park Hills, MO 63601-1000
(573) 431-4593
www.mineralarea.edu

Missouri State University-West Plains
128 Garfield Ave
West Plains, MO 65775-2715
(417)-255-7255
wp.missouristate.edu

Missouri Valley College*
500 E College St
Marshall, MO 65340
(660) 831-4000
www.moval.edu

Moberly Area Community College
101 College Ave
Moberly, MO 65270-1304
www.macc.edu

North Central Missouri College
1301 Main St
Trenton, MO 64683
(660) 359-3948
www.ncmissouri.edu

Ozarks Technical Community College
1001 E Chestnut Expy
Springfield, MO 65802
(417) 447-7500
www.otc.edu

Southwest Baptist University*
1600 University Ave
Bolivar, MO 65613-2596
(800) 526-5859
www.sbuniv.edu

St. Charles Community College
4601 Mid Rivers Mall Dr
Cottleville, MO 63376-0975
(636)922-8000
www.stchas.edu

State Fair Community College
3201 W 16th St
Sedalia, MO 65301-2199
(877)311-7322
www.sfccmo.edu

Three Rivers College
2080 Three Rivers Blvd
Poplar Bluff, MO 63901
(573) 840-9600
www.trcc.edu

Student Reviews

Culver-Stockton College
1 College Hill
Canton, MO 63435-1299
(573) 288-6000
https://culver.edu/

Student Review: “Going to school at CSC was a wonderful experience. Their courses for education were challenging to me but the teachers were always willing to give an extra hand and there were tutors available to anyone who needed them. It was very obvious that the teachers and their aides had real-life experience in the fields they were teaching in and the students really benefited from their expertise. The class sizes were exceptionally small, with most having only two dozen or so students. I remember the biggest class I had to take only had three dozen students but it was handled so well and the teacher offered extensive office hours and you were left feeling like it was a much smaller class. There was also a fantastic selection of fine arts events on campus that ranged from guest artists to performance groups and these were held weekly for all of the students. This is a religious college so there are required theology classes to take before you can graduate but these are few and they cover many religions as well as Christianity, which the college is founded on. The option to not take these would have been nice, but the classes themselves were very educational. In all, I loved my time at CSC and I really felt like the things I learned have helped me be a better teacher.” -Student at Culver-Stockton College

Rockhurst University
1100 Rockhurst Rd
Kansas City, MO 64110
(816) 501-4000
https://www.rockhurst.edu/

Student Review: “I truly enjoyed my time at Rockhurst University. Several college programs out there are simply a hoop to jump through and don’t work towards progressing you as an educator or a person. Rockhurst is all about their Jesuit mission, and it permeates the coursework. It’s all about improving the world through education, which I appreciated as an educator. The campus itself is small and not very far away from the heart of downtown Kansas City. Though it can be in a busier part of town, the security on staff was excellent. The teaching staff there was also remarkable, and always worked with me when I was having difficulties. I can’t say enough about my time there.” -Student at Rockhurst University

University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg, MO 64093
(660) 543-4111
https://www.ucmo.edu/

Student Review: “The University of Central Missouri education degree really prepared me for a teaching career in today’s workplace. The faculty are all very knowledgeable and truly care about the students. It almost feels like a family atmosphere and a small, tight-knit community of learners. One of the advantages is the size of classes are small, allowing greater faculty/student interaction. Also, the job placement rate for educators is extremely high. UCM really cares about its teacher job placement rate. The campus is extremely beautiful, well kept, and safe. It is still possible to take a walk across campus at night and feel safe and secure. One disadvantage of UCM is its location in Warrensburg, Missouri. While Warrensburg is growing, it is still a fairly small town lacking the advantages of big city life. However, Kansas City is just a short one hour drive away if you want to experience city life.” -Student at University of Central Missouri

University of Missouri-Columbia
105 Jesse Hall
Columbia, MO 65211
(573) 882-2121
https://missouri.edu/

Student Review: “Mizzou offers one of the prettiest campuses in the Midwest, the entire campus is considered a botanical garden, so it is kept up very nicely. The academics are challenging, but not impossible, and Mizzou is very good about providing resources to help its students. Another thing that I really love about Mizzou is all the events they have for students. The first week of school they have a welcome barbecue that is a great way for new students to meet people. Greek life is very big in Mizzou, and that can be a good thing or a bad thing for some. Greek life is present in about everything you do, and when meeting someone, usually the phrase “what house are you in” comes up, but if you aren’t Greek there is still plenty to do. The dorms, for the most part, are spacious and well maintained. I live in a suite, so I have a lot of room, and really like having a living room to hang out with friends. I overall really enjoy Mizzou, and am happy that I came here.” -Marin S., student at University of Missouri-Columbia

University of Missouri-Kansas City
5100 Rockhill Rd
Kansas City, MO 64110
(816) 235-1000
https://www.umkc.edu/

Student Review: “Overall, my experience was positive. The program was tailored to my exact needs, and my adviser was able to clearly lay out the path I needed to take to achieve what I wanted (teaching certification and an MA in Curriculum and Instruction). The professors were knowledgeable and easy to work with. The cost was a bit higher than other schools, but I think it was worth it because of the reputation of UMKC and their School of Education.” -Student at University of Missouri-Kansas City

University of Missouri-St Louis
One University Blvd
Saint Louis, MO 63121-4400
(314) 516-5000
http://www.umsl.edu/

Student Review: “I completed a 4 year educator preparation program. This included one full year of student teaching in a variety of grade levels, along with the usual classes and coursework. My favorite parts of the program were 1) I had many experienced or retired teachers that taught specific classes according to their specialty. 2) I got an incredible amount of hands-on experience working with students. This helped me to connect the coursework with the actual job. I also made some great career connections through academic development meetings held during my student teaching. My least favorite part of the program was the lack of communication in regards to questions I had about paperwork to be submitted. The MOPTA assessment required that I upload and complete a variety of documents in order to receive my certification. Overall, I would recommend the educator program at UMSL. I had a great experience that prepared me for my teaching job now. I learned a lot about technology and how to use it in the classroom, as well as how to work with students of varying abilities.” -Student at University of Missouri-St. Louis

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, 2019.
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. 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