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University teacher education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a university teacher. University teachers usually study elementary education, english, or education. 63% of university teachers hold a bachelor's degree, and 23% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 360 real university teacher resumes to see exactly what university teacher education sections show.
The most common colleges for university teachers are the Michigan State University and the Michigan State University.
There are also many online university teacher courses to help get the education required to be a university teacher.
What education do you need to become a university teacher?
What degree do you need to be a university teacher?
- Bachelor's, 63%
- Master's, 23%
- Doctorate, 5%
- Associate, 3%
- Other Degrees, 6%
What should I major in to become a university teacher?
- Elementary Education, 15%
- English, 10%
- Education, 10%
- Business, 7%
- Other Majors, 58%
Most common colleges for university teachers
| University teacher common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Michigan State University | 8.51% |
| Eastern Michigan University | 6.38% |
| DePaul University | 6.38% |
| Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey | 6.38% |
| University of Oregon | 6.38% |
Best majors for university teachers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elementary Education | 15.3% |
| 2 | English | 10.2% |
| 3 | Education | 10.2% |
| 4 | Business | 7.3% |
| 5 | Psychology | 6.2% |
Best colleges for university teachers
The best colleges for university teachers are Harvard University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
A university 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 university 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 university teachers.
1. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
2. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
4. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
5. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
6. SUNY at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$10,099
Enrollment
21,404
7. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Enrollment
31,503
8. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
9. Brown University
Providence, RI • Private
In-state tuition
$55,466
Enrollment
6,752
10. University of Wisconsin - Madison
Madison, WI • Private
In-state tuition
$10,555
Enrollment
30,360
20 best online courses for university teachers
Advertising disclosure
1. Music Education for Teachers
In the Music Education for Teachers specialization, you will explore ways of integrating popular music into your teaching. You'll begin by learning from two highly experienced teachers, Krystal Banfield, the Vice President of Educational Outreach for Berklee College of Music, and David Alexis a Berklee Professor and long-time instructor for the Berklee City Music Program. They will take you through their process of incorporating popular music, improvisation, arranging, and music technology into...
2. Speaking Skills for University Success
As a student in an English-speaking university, you’ll need to speak in many situations, both formal and informal, planned and spontaneous. In this course, you’ll get advice for speaking in many different situations. You’ll learn how to prepare for an academic discussion with classmates and how to lead a discussion effectively. You’ll learn about how to work smoothly in group projects—a popular type of assignment in many university classes—and what to say in small talk with classmates or others...
3. TESOL Teacher Training: Second Language Acquisition (SLA)
Putting Theory Into Practice in the ESL/EFL Classroom...
4. Outcome Based Education (OBE) & Academic Quality Assurance
Master Course for Teachers' Development: Grow Your Teaching-Learning Expertise to World-Class Level...
5. Educating Deaf Children: Becoming an Empowered Teacher
Many Deaf children around the world still leave school functionally illiterate. In some cases, there is no allowance made for the education of Deaf children at all. This 4-week course provides you with invaluable knowledge and skills about teaching Deaf children. You will learn about the importance of Deaf culture and community, the need for a language-rich environment for the Deaf child from as young as possible, and that having access to sign language can help Deaf children academically,...
6. Get Organized: How to be a Together Teacher
This course is designed for classroom teachers who juggle time-sensitive tasks and often-exhausting teaching schedules. With an eye toward long-term sustainability, The Together Teacher examines the purpose for planning ahead, provides tools for tracking time commitments, deadlines and tasks, and helps teachers develop a personal organization system that interacts with their day-by-day practices. All teachers, from the pen & paper list maker to the tech-savvy digital maven, will benefit from...
7. Excel at Teaching English: Be a Better ESL Teacher
Increase Understanding, Increase Productivity, Increase Teacher and Learner Satisfaction...
8. Preparation for CELTA Teacher Training
Learn the skills required to succeed in your CELTA training - gain practice in lesson planning and writing assignments!!...
9. THINK GLOBAL: TEACHERS TRAINING COURSE (IDP-ICE)
A group of seven European partners from Catalonia, Belgium, and Wales worked together on the Erasmus+ funded ‘Think Global’ project on global competence. The project seeks to address the following research question through development and piloting of practical classroom activities: What is global competence, and how can it be learned effectively? The Think Global project explores, through international collaboration, how global competence is defined, taught, learned, and measured in the...
10. Mindfulness for Life Coaching Success: Teacher Certificate
Transform Lives with Mindfulness & Meditation: Accredited Life Coach Teacher Certificate (2023)...
11. Professional Accredited Yoga Teacher Training Diploma Course
Full Certification Diploma Course to Learn the In depth techniques of Yoga to teach to Students & Groups!...
12. Implementing Positive Behaviour Management in the Classroom
Practical Strategies to Address Behaviour Issues in any Classroom...
13. Academic Writing Essentials: University Writing Crash Course
Learn the strategies, tools, and secrets to write successfully at the university level...
14. Mind Maps/ Mind Mapping for Teachers, Trainers, & Presenters
Using Mind Mapping to Plan>Rehearse >Teach brain-friendly lessons, broadcasts or webinars (Mind Maps,Memory,Mindmapping)...
15. Mindfulness Teacher Training Certificate
Become a certified mindfulness teacher with this accredited mindfulness teacher training programme...
16. Academic Essay Writing for English Language Learners
Academic writing is easy... if you know how. Learn to write essays from an experienced university teacher and pass exams...
17. 120-Hour TESOL Course for Online English Teachers
Teach English Online - A Recipe for Long-Term Success...
18. My Google Classroom: Google Classroom Made Easy to Beginners
Master Google Classroom: Discover How to Successfully Setup and Start Teaching With Google Classroom in Minutes!...
19. TESOL - Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages
Teaching Skills and Classroom Management...
20. Advanced Reiki Master Teacher Certificate & Course Material
Develop Your Reiki Master Teacher Skills & Get Certified! Learn How to Teach Others - Advanced Course for Reiki Masters...
Top 10 most affordable universities for university teachers
The most affordable schools for university teachers are Baruch College of the City University of New York, california state university - long beach, and usf sarasota-manatee.
If the best universities for university 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 university teachers.
1. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
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. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
5. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
6. Lehman College of the City University of New York
Bronx, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,210
Cost of attendance
14,359
7. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
8. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
9. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
10. California State University - Fresno
Fresno, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,587
Cost of attendance
16,915
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for university teachers
The hardest universities for university teachers to get into are Harvard University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.
Some great schools for university 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 university 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. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
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. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
7. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
8. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
9. Brown University
Providence, RI • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
10. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for university teachers
The easiest schools for university teachers to get into are Barry University, gwynedd mercy university, and the university of texas permian basin.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a university 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 university teachers.
1. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
2. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
3. The University of Texas Permian Basin
Odessa, TX • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,046
4. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
5. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
999
6. Holy Names University
Oakland, CA • Private
Admissions rate
70%
SAT average
849
7. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
8. Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, OK • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
964
9. Our Lady of the Lake University
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,002
10. Saint Martin's University
Lacey, WA • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,111
Average university teacher salary by education level
| University teacher education level | University teacher salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $55,554 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $42,652 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $49,677 |
| Doctorate Degree | $60,782 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $47,100 |
University teacher education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025