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Adult literacy teacher education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an adult literacy teacher. Adult literacy teachers usually study elementary education, english, or psychology. 57% of adult literacy teachers hold a bachelor's degree, and 26% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 107 real adult literacy teacher resumes to see exactly what adult literacy teacher education sections show.

The most common colleges for adult literacy teachers are the Nova Southeastern University and the Nova Southeastern University.

There are also many online adult literacy teacher courses to help get the education required to be an adult literacy teacher.

What education do you need to become an adult literacy teacher?

What degree do you need to be an adult literacy teacher?

The most common degree for adult literacy teachers is bachelor's degree, with 57% of adult literacy teachers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 26% and master's degree degree at 10%.
  • Bachelor's, 57%
  • Master's, 26%
  • Associate, 10%
  • Doctorate, 2%
  • Other Degrees, 5%

What should I major in to become an adult literacy teacher?

You should major in elementary education to become an adult literacy teacher. 18% of adult literacy teachers major in elementary education. Other common majors for an adult literacy teacher include english and psychology.

Most common colleges for adult literacy teachers

Adult literacy teachers often get their degrees at Nova Southeastern University, Harvard University, and Valdosta State University. Here are the most common colleges for adult literacy teachers in the US based on their resumes.
Adult literacy teacher common collegePercentages
Nova Southeastern University12.00%
Harvard University8.00%
Valdosta State University8.00%
Texas Woman's University8.00%
Western Washington University4.00%

Best majors for adult literacy teachers

Best colleges for adult literacy teachers

The best colleges for adult literacy teachers are Vanderbilt University, Boston University, and Johns Hopkins University.

An adult literacy teacher with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for adult literacy teachers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become adult literacy teachers.

1. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

2. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

3. San Diego State University

San Diego, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,488

Enrollment

30,018

4. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

5. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$53,740

Enrollment

5,567

6. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Enrollment

16,205

7. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

8. College of New Jersey, The

Ewing, NJ • Private

In-state tuition

$16,551

Enrollment

6,886

9. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

In-state tuition

$49,816

Enrollment

6,840

10. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

20 best online courses for adult literacy teachers

Advertising disclosure

1. Oralpha: Literacy for new citizens, a course for trainers

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You are interested in welcoming processes of migrants and refugees? You want to dedicate yourself to teaching lamguage and literacy? The objective of this course is to get to know the simultaneous process of literacy and language learning in the host society for migrated young people and adults. The linguistic integration is key for integration in the society. This course offers insight into international migration today and the real linguistic needs of migrated people in the countries of...

2. Science Literacy

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Fake news or good science? In a world where we have access to unlimited information, it is hard to sift through the echo chamber of opinions fueled by emotions and personal biases, rather than scientific evidence. Science Literacy will teach you about the process of science, how to think critically, how to differentiate science from pseudoscience, how indigenous wisdom can inform science, how to understand and design a scientific study, and how to critically evaluate scientific communication in...

3. Train the Trainer Foundation: Adult Education Mastery Course

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4.6
(1,679)

Deploy a repeatable system for employee learning to ensure you reach every learner…every time...

4. Cello for Adult Beginners

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4.7
(263)

Learn With a Juilliard-Trained Professional Cellist, No Prior Experience Needed!...

5. Basic Information Literacy

coursera

Learn how to begin tackling a big project or presentation. Join today and equip yourself with basic information literacy skills to navigate the vast landscape of knowledge to find just what you need. This course will cover creating a workable project/presentation, understanding the various types of information sources, searching the various types of information sources, recognizing faulty information or bias, using proper citation conventions, avoiding plagiarism, and skimming information to...

6. Advanced Information Literacy

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This course is designed to build upon a learner's search skills and expertise in the information literacy concepts that underpin scholarship at college or university. This badge incentivizes them to continue improving their information literacy competencies over their academic and workplace career. By participating in this course, one can use these advanced search skills to save time conducting literature reviews, efficiently gather and organize information, ethically use sources, and protect...

7. Introduction to Data Literacy

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4.5
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Using Data to Increase Sales, Optimize Operations, and Enhance Product Development...

8. Data Literacy and Business Analytics for Business Leaders

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Improve your Data Literacy and Business Analytics. Apply Business Statistics for Data Driven Decision Making...

9. Analysing: Numeric and digital literacies

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Being financially and data-literate is a requirement of all effective leaders. This includes the ability to analyse data and harness its value, as well as to leverage these skills to become a future-focused business leader. In four themed courses, this specialisation will: teach you that financial literacy is a required capability for every business leader (Know Your Numbers 1); provide you with a foundational understanding of how to manage your organisation’s finances effectively (Know Your...

10. Data Literacy

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This specialization is intended for professionals seeking to develop a skill set for interpreting statistical results. Through four courses and a capstone project, you will cover descriptive statistics, data visualization, measurement, regression modeling, probability and uncertainty which will prepare you to interpret and critically evaluate a quantitative analysis...

11. Data Literacy for Business Professionals

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4.5
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Master the Fundamentals for Collecting, Exploring, and Presenting Data & Lead Data-Driven Projects from Start to Finish...

12. Classical Guitar Course for Adults Level 1

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4.3
(254)

Comprehensive guide for classical guitar beginners...

13. Programming for a Networked World

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Want to learn the basics of computer programming in a fun and innovative way? This course introduces computer programming using an educational block-based visual programming environment called NetsBlox (https://editor.netsblox.org/), emphasizing modern computer science concepts like networking, the internet, and distributed computing. The curriculum is hands-on, focusing on translating ideas into working computer programs and developing a mastery of practical computational literacy. After...

14. Introduction to Computer Information Systems

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This Specialization is intended for anyone seeking to learn basic computer skills. Through 3 courses, you will study computer hardware, software, and data safety. You will also learn about digital literacy and productivity tools. These courses will prepare you for a number of jobs within the field of computer information systems...

15. Computer Literacy & Basic Computer Skills for Productivity

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Enhance Productivity With This Basic Computer Course: An Introduction To Computers, Microsoft Windows, & the Apple Mac...

16. Algebra 2 & Trigonometry: A Complete High School Curriculum

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4.4
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Includes videos and over 300 pages of quizzes/worksheets (answer keys provided!)...

17. K-12 Blended & Online Learning

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This course introduces teachers and interested adults to K12 blended and online learning. Participants will design a blended or online unit and develop one module to use with K12 students...

18. Healthcare Data Literacy

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This course will help lay the foundation of your healthcare data journey and provide you with knowledge and skills necessary to work in the healthcare industry as a data scientist. Healthcare is unique because it is associated with continually evolving and complex processes associated with health management and medical care. We'll learn about the many facets to consider in healthcare and determine the value and growing need for data analysts in healthcare. We'll learn about the Triple Aim and...

19. How to Read Financial Statements: Build Financial Literacy.

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4.5
(811)

Read financial statements and speak the language of business without the drudgery of a traditional accounting course...

20. Applied Digital Literacy

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This Specialization is intended for anyone seeking to develop online, internet researching skills along with advanced knowledge of multimedia for the creation of digital objects such as presentations, infographics, posters, commercials, podcasts, and movies. Through these three courses, learners will cover how to identify their information need, understand which tools to use when fulfilling that need, employ advanced search techniques and tools in various types of information platforms...

Top 10 most affordable universities for adult literacy teachers

The most affordable schools for adult literacy teachers are Hunter College of the City University of New York, baruch college of the city university of new york, and lehman college of the city university of new york.

If the best universities for adult literacy teachers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for adult literacy teachers.

1. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

2. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

3. Lehman College of the City University of New York

Bronx, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,210

Cost of attendance

14,359

4. Queens College of the City University of New York

Queens, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,338

Cost of attendance

14,281

5. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

6. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

7. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

8. City College of New York of the City University of New York, The

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,140

Cost of attendance

14,430

9. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

10. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for adult literacy teachers

The hardest universities for adult literacy teachers to get into are Vanderbilt University, Boston University, and Johns Hopkins University.

Some great schools for adult literacy teachers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for adult literacy teachers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

2. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

3. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

4. University of Rochester

Rochester, NY • Private

Admissions rate

29%

SAT average

1,422

5. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

6. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

7. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

8. Fordham University

Bronx, NY • Private

Admissions rate

46%

SAT average

1,354

9. Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

47%

SAT average

1,321

10. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

Admissions rate

23%

SAT average

1,398

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for adult literacy teachers

The easiest schools for adult literacy teachers to get into are Felician University, d'youville college, and holy names university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an adult literacy teacher without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for adult literacy teachers.

1. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

2. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

3. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

4. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

5. The University of Texas Permian Basin

Odessa, TX • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,046

6. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

7. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

8. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

9. College of New Rochelle, The

New Rochelle, NY • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

982

10. Cardinal Stritch University

Milwaukee, WI • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,035

Average adult literacy teacher salary by education level

Adult literacy teachers with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $55,941 annually. With a Master's degree, adult literacy teachers earn a median annual income of $50,571 compared to $45,887 for adult literacy teachers with an Bachelor's degree.
Adult literacy teacher education levelAdult literacy teacher salary
Master's Degree$50,571
High School Diploma or Less$40,104
Bachelor's Degree$45,887
Doctorate Degree$55,941
Some College/ Associate Degree$44,072

Adult literacy teacher education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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