Education Schools and Programs in The United States

Education Studies in The United States

In the United States, education as a field of study covers two things: the preparation of school teachers, and graduate study of teaching, learning, education policy and school leadership. All states require public school teachers to hold at least a bachelor's degree and a state licence or certification, so teacher education programmes are designed around state rules.

SpainExchange lists 185 colleges and universities in the United States under education.

How education degrees are organised

• Associate degree: a two-year programme, usually at a community college. Credits can count towards a bachelor's degree: two years of community college followed by two years at a university
• Bachelor's degree: usually four years of full-time study. Future kindergarten and elementary teachers typically take a bachelor's degree in elementary education; many states require high school teachers to have majored in a content area such as mathematics or science
• Master's degree: typically two years. Some states require teachers to earn a master's degree after they have obtained their certification and a job
• Doctorate: research degrees for careers in universities, research and education leadership

Teacher education programmes combine coursework with student teaching, in which future teachers work with a mentor teacher and gain experience in a classroom. Purdue University's Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies Education, for example, is a 120-credit programme taken over eight semesters and prepares graduates to teach social studies in grades 6 to 12. The University of Wisconsin-Madison offers bachelor's programmes such as Elementary Education and Special Education, while its secondary education programmes are taught at master's level.

Admission and language

International students apply directly to each college or university. U.S. universities require an English language proficiency test before admission. Each university reviews the subjects an applicant studied abroad and may ask for a report from a credential evaluation agency. Requirements for graduate study differ by school: Stanford University's Graduate School of Education, which offers PhD, MS and MA programmes, does not require the GRE for admission in the 2027-28 academic year.

Programmes that lead to a teaching licence can have extra steps: at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, all students entering such a programme must complete a background check before they begin. Once accepted by a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), the student receives a Form I-20 from the school's international student office and uses it to apply for the F student visa.

Costs

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), average tuition and fees at four-year institutions in 2022-23 were $9,800 at public institutions and $40,700 at private non-profit institutions. At public two-year institutions the average was $4,000. The public figures are in-district or in-state rates; international students should check which rate applies to them.

Where to study education

Baltimore and Boston have the most schools in this directory (four each), followed by Los Angeles, Denver and Philadelphia (three each). Examples include public universities such as The Ohio State University, the University of Michigan and the University of Washington; private universities such as Stanford University, Duke University and Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia; and community colleges such as Des Moines Area Community College, Pasadena City College and North Seattle College.

Licensing and recognition

A degree alone does not allow a person to teach in a public school. All states require public school teachers to be licensed or certified for the grade level they teach. Requirements vary by state but generally involve a bachelor's degree with a minimum grade point average, a student-teaching programme, a background check, and a general teaching test plus a test in the subject to be taught. Teachers in private schools typically are not required to be licensed. All states also offer an alternative route for people who already have a bachelor's degree.

A licence is issued by one state. Purdue, for example, states that it has interstate licensing agreements with the other 49 states. Students who plan to teach in their home country should ask their own education authority how a U.S. degree is recognised.

Qualified teachers from abroad can also teach in U.S. schools through the J-1 Teacher exchange programme. Among other conditions, participants need a degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree in education or in the subject they will teach, at least two years of teaching or related professional experience, and must satisfy the standards of the state where they will teach. The base period of the exchange is three years.

Careers

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), kindergarten and elementary school teachers held about 1.5 million jobs in 2025, high school teachers about 1.1 million and special education teachers about 584,100. Employment in all three groups is projected to show little or no change from 2025 to 2035, but BLS still projects many openings each year to replace teachers who leave: about 99,400 for kindergarten and elementary teachers, 63,500 for high school teachers and 37,100 for special education teachers.

Frequently asked questions

Which degree do I need to become a teacher in the United States?

All states require public school teachers to have at least a bachelor's degree, plus a state licence or certification for the grade level they teach.

Can a teacher trained abroad work in a U.S. school?

Yes, for example through the J-1 Teacher exchange programme, which asks for a degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree, at least two years of experience and compliance with the standards of the state. The base period is three years.