Are you looking for a great school that can launch you to an even greater career as a teacher? Then look no further! We have a list of amazing colleges in the Midwestern and Western US that offer exceptional Education and Teaching programs where you can grow and thrive as an educator. Even better than just telling you about these schools, this list can connect you to them—immediately. Just click the green “Connect me” button below any school, and your CollegeXpress profile information will be sent directly to the college or university. That school will then reach out to you with more information. It doesn’t get much easier than that. Start exploring and connecting now to find your dream Teaching program!
Central Washington University
Central Washington University 
is a public institution in Ellensburg, Washington, that originated in 1891 as a teacher training school. Today, its School of Education continues this legacy by offering over 25 major and minor endorsements, including high-demand fields like Special Education and STEM Teaching. Students benefit from a career-ready curriculum that integrates hands-on field experience into every quarter, preparing them to lead diverse K-12 classrooms across the state. With five locations and a top-10% national ranking for grade-specific education, CWU remains a premier choice for future educational leaders.
Concordia University Irvine
Concordia University Irvine is a Lutheran university on a 70-acre campus in Irvine, California—50 miles south of Los Angeles. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and a 16:1 student-faculty ratio, CUI’s School of Education offers everything from a Liberal Studies program to an EdD in Leadership. The School’s professional programs include Elementary Education with a Multiple Subject Credential, Secondary Education with a Single Subject Credential, Special Education–Education Specialist with a Mild-Moderate Credential, and more.
Cottey College
Cottey College is a private women's college in Nevada, Missouri, owned and supported by the P.E.O. Sisterhood. Undergraduates can choose from education programs including a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education or a Bachelor of Arts/Science in Secondary Education with various subject focuses. Students benefit from an education curriculum built on hands-on experience and extensive in-classroom opportunities, long before student teaching begins, through a unique approach that emphasizes the social-emotional side of teaching and the development of caring, competent leaders in the classroom.
Connect me with Cottey College!
Grace College
Grace College is a private evangelical Christian college and seminary in Winona Lake, Indiana. Undergraduates can choose from more than 90 major and minor programs, including Elementary Education Pedagogy, Elementary Social Studies, Elementary Science, and more. Education majors at Grace are required to gain 170+ hours of field experience in local classrooms before student teaching, with wide-ranging opportunities within private Christian and public schools, inner-city settings, and diverse cultures and socioeconomic levels.
Moody Bible Institute
Moody Bible Institute is a private church-affiliated institution in Chicago, Illinois. A Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Moody teaches from a biblical perspective and gives students purposeful, research-based training in effective teaching techniques and a teaching certification. With this degree, graduates can teach in a Christian, charter, Montessori, or private school; apply for international teaching positions; be a teacher or lay leader in a local church; or earn teaching certifications through the state Department of Education.
Ohio University
Ohio University is a comprehensive public university in Athens, Ohio—75 miles southeast of Columbus. With 17,000 undergraduates and a 16:1 student-faculty ratio, the University has more than 250 academic programs, including five departments within the Patton College: Counseling & Higher Education, Human & Consumer Sciences, Educational Studies, Recreation & Sports Pedagogy, and Teacher Education. Future educators benefit from professionally accredited programs, quality professors, teaching certifications, and more.
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private comprehensive university located seven miles south of downtown Chicago, Illinois. Approximately 6,800 undergraduates pursue over 50 majors and more than 40 minors, including majors in Education Professions, Education & Teaching Certification, and Education & Society. UChicago also offers the Urban Teacher Education Program (UTEP), a joint Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree for aspiring teachers who are committed to social justice and educational equity.
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a public research institution just two miles from downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. With nearly 47,000 students on campus and a 17:1 student-faculty ratio, undergraduates can pursue programs in Early Childhood Education, Middle Childhood Education, Secondary Education, Special Education, and Human Development & Community Engagement. Known for inventing co-op education in 1906, UC offers students top-notch opportunities for classroom instruction during their academic careers.
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is a public comprehensive land-grant research institution in Moscow, Idaho—90 miles southeast of Spokane, Washington. The University offers more than 100 programs to 10,000+ students, including three academic departments for Curriculum & Instruction, Leadership & Counseling, and Movement Sciences in education. U of I offers dynamic, engaging, and interdisciplinary undergraduate and certificate programs that are state and nationally accredited and reflect the highest standards of teaching education.
Looking to learn and teach in a different part of the country? We have plenty more schools to learn about on our featured Education School Profiles page!
