Pennsylvania Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide
Pennsylvania requires all teachers to complete a teacher preparation program at one of the state’s colleges and universities to become eligible to teach. The guide below is designed to help aspiring teachers find quality teaching schools in Pennsylvania. Continue reading to find a table of accredited, state-approved teacher preparation programs and lists of affordable and top-ranked programs.
Table of Contents
- PA Teacher Preparation Program Comparison
- 19 Affordable PA Bachelor’s in Education Programs
- Top-Ranked Pennsylvania Education Programs
- Best Bachelor’s in Education Programs
- Best Online M.Ed. Programs
- Schools With Associate Degrees in Education
Comparison of Pennsylvania Schools With Teacher Preparation Programs
The table below compares 96 Pennsylvania teacher preparation programs across key factors. All of the schools included are not-for-profit institutions approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). Completing a state-approved program is a key step toward licensure. While Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accreditation is not required for licensure, we include it because CAEP is a respected credential accepted in many states.
Data includes enrollment, completion, and pass rates for traditional and alternative programs, based on the 2024 Title II Report (2022-2023 school year). Traditional programs are usually part of a bachelor’s degree, while alternative certification programs target career changers and may lead to a certificate or master’s degree. Many schools offer both—review our Pennsylvania traditional certification guide and our Pennsylvania alternative certification guide for more. Net price reflects the average annual cost for in-state undergraduates–tuition, books, room and board–minus grants and scholarships.
| State-Approved School | CAEP Accred.?1 | Trad. Teacher Program Enrollment2 | Trad. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers2 | Trad. Licensing Exams Pass Rate2 | Alt. Teacher Program Enrollment2 | Alt. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers2 | Alt. Licensing Exams Pass Rate2 | Net Price3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albright College | No | 96 | 29 | 88% | — | — | — | $19,553 |
| Alvernia University | No | 88 | 15 | 91% | — | — | — | $27,129 |
| Arcadia University | No | 183 | 55 | 72% | — | — | — | $29,576 |
| Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania | Yes | 538 | 203 | 75% | 14 | 9 | — | $18,302 |
| Bryn Athyn College | No | 18 | 6 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $19,129 |
| Bryn Mawr College | No | 1 | 1 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $37,015 |
| Bucknell University | No | 49 | 9 | 90% | — | — | — | $39,359 |
| Cabrini University | No | 249 | 59 | 50% | — | — | — | $21,875 |
| Cairn University | No | 86 | 30 | 100% | — | — | — | $23,396 |
| California University of Pennsylvania | Yes | 705 | 125 | 77% | 5 | 5 | — | $19,116 |
| Carlow University | No | 145 | 57 | 72% | — | — | — | $21,212 |
| Cedar Crest College | No | 64 | 26 | 60% | — | — | — | $22,438 |
| Chatham University | No | 26 | 5 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $28,310 |
| Chestnut Hill College | No | 168 | 36 | 50% | — | — | — | $24,892 |
| Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | No | 45 | 3 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $11,068 |
| Clarion University of Pennsylvania | Yes | 375 | 84 | 78% | — | — | — | $19,526 |
| Delaware Valley University | No | 59 | 11 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $28,530 |
| DeSales University | No | 70 | 22 | 100% | 72 | 38 | 100% | $29,836 |
| Drexel University | Yes | 240 | 51 | 65% | 22 | 15 | N.Av. | $39,463 |
| Duquesne University | Yes | 372 | 95 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $32,408 |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | Yes | 344 | 179 | 73% | 344 | 179 | N.Av. | $18,500 |
| Eastern Mennonite University at Lancaster | No | — | — | — | — | — | — | N.Av. |
| Eastern University | No | 385 | 111 | 70% | — | — | — | $23,961 |
| Edinboro University of Pennsylvania | Yes | 6 | 3 | 67% | — | — | — | $14,170 |
| Elizabethtown College | No | 178 | 67 | 73% | — | — | — | $25,767 |
| Gannon University | No | 57 | 20 | 73% | — | — | — | $22,839 |
| Geneva College | No | 57 | 23 | 95% | — | — | — | $19,967 |
| Gettysburg College | No | 26 | 6 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $34,850 |
| Grove City College | No | 173 | 44 | 90% | — | — | — | $22,371 |
| Gwynedd Mercy University | No | 236 | 103 | 67% | — | — | — | $25,219 |
| Holy Family University | No | 243 | 65 | 65% | — | — | — | $15,234 |
| Immaculata University | No | 197 | 52 | 71% | — | — | — | $28,952 |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania | Yes | 872 | 184 | 82% | 1 | — | — | $20,933 |
| Juniata College | No | 73 | 28 | 86% | — | — | — | $24,524 |
| Keystone College | No | 67 | 28 | 71% | — | — | — | $25,268 |
| King’s College | No | 53 | 24 | 47% | — | — | — | $27,561 |
| Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | Yes | 53 | 24 | 72% | 34 | 17 | N.Av. | $21,673 |
| La Roche University | No | 45 | 12 | 90% | — | — | — | $23,932 |
| La Salle University | No | 81 | 45 | 74% | 81 | 45 | N.Av. | $25,401 |
| Lancaster Bible College | No | 89 | 29 | 74% | — | — | — | $20,736 |
| Lebanon Valley College | No | 171 | 90 | 86% | — | — | — | $27,963 |
| Lehigh University | No | 57 | 21 | 95% | — | — | — | $29,098 |
| Lincoln University | No | 59 | 14 | N.Av. | 2 | — | — | $17,405 |
| Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania | Yes | 193 | 68 | 83% | — | — | — | $19,521 |
| Lycoming College | No | 66 | 22 | 81% | 11 | 4 | N.Av. | $19,659 |
| Mansfield University of Pennsylvania | No | 211 | 44 | 61% | — | — | — | $12,010 |
| Marywood University | No | 358 | 77 | 87% | 358 | 3 | N.Av. | $21,657 |
| Mercyhurst College | No | 200 | 63 | 83% | — | — | — | $26,942 |
| Messiah University | No | 347 | 87 | 94% | — | — | — | $27,641 |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania | Yes | 737 | 256 | 77% | — | — | — | $21,599 |
| Misericordia University | No | 99 | 23 | 58% | — | — | — | $27,693 |
| Moore College of Art and Design | No | 32 | 8 | N.Av. | 12 | 3 | N.Av. | $40,141 |
| Moravian College | No | 112 | 60 | 73% | — | — | — | $29,936 |
| Mount Aloysius College | No | 4 | 4 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $22,082 |
| Muhlenberg College | No | 41 | 25 | 90% | — | — | — | $35,152 |
| Neumann University | No | 104 | 31 | 88% | — | — | — | $29,471 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Abington | No | — | — | — | — | — | — | N.Av. |
| Pennsylvania State University-Altoona | No | — | — | — | — | — | — | N.Av. |
| Pennsylvania State University-Berks | No | — | — | — | — | — | — | N.Av. |
| Pennsylvania State University-Brandywine | No | — | — | — | — | — | — | N.Av. |
| Pennsylvania State University-Harrisburg | No | 90 | 40 | 58% | — | — | — | N.Av. |
| Pennsylvania State University-Lehigh Valley | No | — | — | — | — | — | — | N.Av. |
| Pennsylvania State University-University Park | Yes | 1271 | 468 | 81% | 1 | — | — | $25,548 |
| Point Park University | No | 189 | 74 | 71% | — | — | — | $23,980 |
| Relay Graduate School of Education | No | — | — | — | 105 | 25 | 92% | N.Av. |
| Robert Morris University | Yes | 28 | 28 | 65% | — | — | — | $26,917 |
| Rosemont College | No | 64 | 15 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $17,516 |
| Saint Francis University | No | 194 | 35 | 69% | — | — | — | $29,393 |
| Saint Joseph’s University | No | 381 | 121 | 79% | 381 | 121 | N.Av. | $35,780 |
| Saint Vincent College | No | 174 | 28 | 80% | — | — | — | $21,169 |
| Salus University | No | 18 | 5 | N.Av. | — | — | — | N.Av. |
| Seton Hill University | No | 176 | 33 | 72% | — | — | — | $23,008 |
| Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania | Yes | 311 | 155 | 81% | — | — | — | $21,631 |
| Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | Yes | 762 | 261 | 76% | — | — | — | $18,117 |
| Susquehanna University | No | 193 | 65 | 84% | 18 | 10 | N.Av. | $26,597 |
| Swarthmore College | No | 7 | 7 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $20,360 |
| Temple University | No | 979 | 227 | 81% | — | — | — | $23,254 |
| Thiel College | No | 49 | 20 | 63% | — | — | — | $25,513 |
| University of Pennsylvania | No | 32 | 29 | 93% | 43 | 28 | 64% | $24,167 |
| University of Pittsburgh | No | 63 | 32 | 97% | 76 | 33 | 100% | $22,346 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Bradford | No | 38 | 11 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $15,519 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg | No | 68 | 16 | 75% | — | — | — | $15,211 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown | No | 234 | 52 | 72% | — | — | — | $17,574 |
| University of Scranton | No | 167 | 28 | 65% | — | — | — | $36,093 |
| University of the Arts | No | 40 | 14 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $40,269 |
| University of Valley Forge | No | 38 | 13 | 70% | — | — | — | $21,680 |
| Ursinus College | No | 26 | 12 | 82% | — | — | — | $31,400 |
| Villanova University | No | 44 | 25 | 90% | — | — | — | $38,303 |
| Washington & Jefferson College | No | 24 | 9 | N.Av. | — | — | — | $27,477 |
| Waynesburg University | No | 129 | 20 | 76% | — | — | — | $20,029 |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania | Yes | 1380 | 456 | 70% | — | — | — | $19,336 |
| Westminster College | No | 147 | 23 | 91% | — | — | — | $21,101 |
| Widener University | No | 78 | 23 | 44% | 6 | 3 | N.Av. | $32,695 |
| Wilkes University | No | 146 | 16 | 64% | — | — | — | $30,281 |
| Wilson College | No | 18 | 10 | N.Av. | 213 | 92 | 92% | $22,318 |
| York College of Pennsylvania | No | 108 | 56 | 77% | — | — | — | $22,876 |
- — indicates none or not applicable.
- N.Av. indicates data was not available or pass rates were omitted for confidentiality.
Most Affordable Bachelor’s in Education Programs in Pennsylvania
Our list of the most affordable bachelor’s in education programs is based on the net price per year for undergraduate tuition. Net price is the average cost of attendance after grants and scholarships are applied. These 19 most affordable schools have a net price under $20,000.
- Cheyney University of Pennsylvania ($11,068)
- Mansfield University of Pennsylvania ($12,010)
- Edinboro University of Pennsylvania ($14,170)
- University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg ($15,211)
- Holy Family University ($15,234)
- University of Pittsburgh-Bradford ($15,519)
- Lincoln University ($17,405)
- Rosemont College ($17,516)
- University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown ($17,574)
- Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania ($18,117)
- Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania ($18,302)
- East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania ($18,500)
- California University of Pennsylvania ($19,116)
- Bryn Athyn College ($19,129)
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($19,336)
- Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania ($19,521)
- Clarion University of Pennsylvania ($19,526)
- Albright College ($19,553)
- Lycoming College ($19,659)3
Top-Ranked Schools With Education Programs in Pennsylvania
Best Bachelor’s in Education Programs in Pennsylvania
Our list of the top 14 bachelor’s in education programs is based on the traditional pathway pass rate data from the 2024 Title II Reports.
- Cairn University (100%)
- DeSales University (100%)
- University of Pittsburgh (97%)
- Geneva College (95%)
- Lehigh University (95%)
- Messiah University (94%)
- University of Pennsylvania (93%)
- Alvernia University (91%)
- Westminster College (91%)
- Bucknell University (90%)
- Grove City College (90%)
- La Roche University (90%)
- Muhlenberg College (90%)
- Villanova University (90%)2
Best Online Master of Education Programs in Pennsylvania
Visit our ranking of the best online Master of Education (M.Ed.) programs in Pennsylvania to see the full list plus a breakdown of the most affordable schools.
- Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
- Lehigh University
- University of Pennsylvania
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Schools With Associate Degrees in Education
While a bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational level required to qualify for state certification, an associate degree can be the first step toward 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 toward a bachelor’s degree. The 26 Pennsylvania schools below offer associate degrees in education.1 Schools with an asterisk (*) also offer four-year teaching programs and/or alternative route to certification programs.
- Bucks County Community College
- Butler County Community College
- Community College of Allegheny County
- Community College of Beaver County
- Community College of Philadelphia
- Delaware County Community College
- Gannon University*
- Harrisburg Area Community College
- Immaculata University*
- Lackawanna College
- Lehigh Carbon Community College
- Luzerne County Community College
- Manor College
- Montgomery County Community College
- Mount Aloysius College*
- Northampton County Area Community College
- Northern Pennsylvania Regional College
- Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
- Pennsylvania Institute of Technology
- Pennsylvania State University
- Pennsylvania Western University
- Point Park University*
- Reading Area Community College
- Saint Francis University*
- Westmoreland County Community College
- Wilson College*
References:
1. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): https://caepnet.org/provider-search
2. US Department of Education 2024 Title II Report: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx
3. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/