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Esl instructor education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an esl instructor. Esl instructors usually study english, education, or linguistics. 64% of esl instructors hold a bachelor's degree, and 25% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 7,537 real esl instructor resumes to see exactly what esl instructor education sections show.
The most common colleges for esl instructors are the New York University and the New York University.
There are also many online esl instructor courses to help get the education required to be an esl instructor.
What education do you need to become an esl instructor?
What degree do you need to be an esl instructor?
- Bachelor's, 64%
- Master's, 25%
- Associate, 5%
- Doctorate, 2%
- Other Degrees, 4%
What should I major in to become an esl instructor?
- English, 22%
- Education, 9%
- Linguistics, 9%
- Other Majors, 53%
Most common colleges for esl instructors
| Esl instructor common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| New York University | 8.38% |
| University of California, Santa Barbara | 6.32% |
| University of Phoenix | 6.15% |
| University of Houston | 5.47% |
| Ohio State University | 5.30% |
Best majors for esl instructors
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | 21.8% |
| 2 | Education | 8.6% |
| 3 | Linguistics | 8.5% |
| 4 | Elementary Education | 7.0% |
| 5 | Business | 5.8% |
Best colleges for esl instructors
The best colleges for esl instructors are Columbia University in the City of New York, Harvard University, and Northwestern University.
An esl instructor with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for esl instructors. 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 esl instructors.
1. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
2. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
3. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
4. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
5. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
6. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
7. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
8. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
In-state tuition
$53,740
Enrollment
5,567
9. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
In-state tuition
$49,816
Enrollment
6,840
10. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
20 best online courses for esl instructors
Advertising disclosure
1. Teach English: Intermediate Grammar
This specialization is for ESL teachers and future ESL teachers who want to make their classes more effective and fun. You will learn how to use online videos and activities that ESL teachers at University of California, Irvine created to teach intermediate ESL learners. You will review language-learning pedagogy and best practices for using these resources effectively. This specialization will give any ESL teacher loads of creative ideas for their classrooms...
2. Teach English Now! Teaching Language Online
Whether you have already taught English as a Second Language and want to start teaching it online, you've already been teaching ESL online and want to sharpen your skills, or you are new to teaching and interested in teaching ESL online, ASU and VOXY provide you with the basic ideas and concepts you need to know in order to successfully teach ESL online. This course uses a fun and interesting theme of "International Travel" to deliver content in an entertaining way. There are also plenty of...
3. Speak English Like a Native: Troubleshooting Course for ESL
English language students, learn conversation skills with over 50 video lectures in this Basic English language course...
4. Speak English Better with Natives and Abroad Now! ESL Course
How to Solve Communication Problems in Real Time: Natives that Speak Fast, Vocabulary, Phrasal Verbs, Idioms, Numbers...
5. Low Intermediate English: Planning & Organization
In this course, you will learn important language for planning your life, including your social life, your travels, and your work. Learning activities in this course will take place on Voxy, an engaging language learning platform that automatically adapts to your current level and your performance across reading, listening, speaking, grammar, and vocabulary skills so that every lesson is optimized for rapid improvement. Each week is made up of engaging, short, task-based lessons that can be...
6. More ESL English: English Language Learning, Intermediate
Popular English speaking and listening course to communicate in English on the job, with co-workers, customers, etc...
7. Everyday English for ESL
Learn the English you need to communicate successfully in everyday situations...
8. Excel at Teaching English: Be a Better ESL Teacher
Increase Understanding, Increase Productivity, Increase Teacher and Learner Satisfaction...
9. Business English Course for ESL Students
Learn essential Business English vocabulary for presentations, meetings, negotiations, phone calls, e-mails, and more!...
10. ESL English: Strong English for Good Jobs (Fast!), Beginning
Popular English listening class makes understanding spoken English easy--from the author of twenty English textbooks!...
11. English Fluency for ESL/ EFL
Get Independent and Comfortable on Your Journey to English Fluency: Become Confident in Your English Speaking Skill...
12. TESOL - Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages
Teaching Skills and Classroom Management...
13. TESOL Teacher Training: Second Language Acquisition (SLA)
Putting Theory Into Practice in the ESL/EFL Classroom...
14. Complete English Course: Learn English Language Beginners
Learn English for Beginners (A1->A2+) with a Native teacher: English Speaking, English Grammar, English Pronunciation...
15. Intermediate English Course: Develop Your Grammar and Skills
Intermediate (B1 and B2) level English language course for learners who want to improve their English to Advanced Level...
16. English Speaking Course. Speak English Slang & Idioms. ESL.
Learn to speak English. Language training for American English speaking. Idioms, slang, accent reduction, pronunciation...
17. Learn German Language: Complete German Course - Intermediate
Learn German Language: Native Teacher, German Speaking, German Grammar, Vocabulary. Complete German Course. Intermediate...
18. ASL First 500+ Basic Signs American Sign Language
Learn to sign and understand over five hundred basic vocabulary signs in American Sign Language. ASL dialogues included...
19. IELTS Vocabulary: Learn 400 Essential Words for IELTS
Improve your IELTS Band Score by learning key words for the IELTS Writing, Speaking, Reading and Listening Tests...
20. ASL First 120 Basic Signs American Sign Language
Learn, practice, review, and master 120 fundamental signs in American Sign Language (ASL)...
Top 10 most affordable universities for esl instructors
The most affordable schools for esl instructors are Hunter College of the City University of New York, california state university - long beach, and usf sarasota-manatee.
If the best universities for esl instructors 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 esl instructors.
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. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
3. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,587
Cost of attendance
13,043
4. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
5. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
6. Queens College of the City University of New York
Queens, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,338
Cost of attendance
14,281
7. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
8. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
9. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
10. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for esl instructors
The hardest universities for esl instructors to get into are Columbia University in the City of New York, Harvard University, and Northwestern University.
Some great schools for esl instructors 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 esl instructors 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. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
2. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
4. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
5. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
6. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
7. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
8. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
9. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
10. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for esl instructors
The easiest schools for esl instructors to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, gwynedd mercy university, and barry university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an esl instructor 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 esl instructors.
1. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
2. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
3. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
4. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
999
5. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
6. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
7. Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA • Private
Admissions rate
85%
SAT average
1,053
8. Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,035
9. Our Lady of the Lake University
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,002
10. San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,054
Average esl instructor salary by education level
| Esl instructor education level | Esl instructor salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $50,864 |
| Doctorate Degree | $60,128 |
Esl instructor education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common education, training, and library questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025