Maryland Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide

This guide to teacher preparation programs in Maryland is designed for aspiring teachers looking to obtain a teaching degree in the state. There are many teaching schools in Maryland that prepare students for a career in the classroom as well as advanced educator positions. Continue reading to find more information on the various options for teaching degrees in Maryland as well as a table of accredited, state-approved teacher preparation programs, lists of top-rated teaching programs, and student reviews. Whether you’re a first-time college student or looking to change careers, this guide can help you find a program that is right for your personal career goals as a future educator.

Table of Contents

• Teacher Preparation Program Comparison
• Top-Ranked Schools with Education Programs
• Select Schools with Teacher Preparation Degrees
• Schools with Associate Degrees in Education
• Student Reviews

Quick Facts

• There are 38 colleges and universities with teacher degree programs in Maryland.¹
• 17 schools offer an associate’s degree in education.¹
• 18 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in education.¹
• 22 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in education.¹
• 1 school ranked in Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Education Majors 2022.²
• 6 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2023.³
• 2 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Online Graduate Education Programs 2022.⁴
• 10 educator preparation providers (EPPs) are accredited by the NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP.⁵
• 3 educator preparation providers (EPPs) are accredited by the AAQEP.⁶

For not-for-profit schools with teacher degree programs.

Comparison of Maryland Schools with Teacher Preparation Programs

We have designed the following table to help you compare teacher preparation programs in Maryland according to various factors. All of the schools included are not-for-profit institutions approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) for the preparation of teachers. Completing a state-approved teacher preparation program is an important step towards earning licensure.

While accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) is not a requirement for licensure, it is included in the following table as CAEP provides a highly-regarded accreditation that is accepted in many states.

You will also find data on teacher preparation program enrollment, completion, and licensing exam pass rates by institution, for both traditional and alternative programs, for the 2018-2019 academic year in this table. These data points are collected from annual US Department of Education reports under Title II (Teacher Quality) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which holds institutions and state departments of education accountable for increasing academic achievement through improvements in teacher quality. Traditional teacher preparation programs are usually completed as part of a bachelor’s degree program. Alternative certification programs are typically designed for career changers looking to enter the field and lead to a postgraduate certificate or a master’s degree. Many schools in our table offer both traditional and alternative programs. Take a look at our Maryland traditional and alternative certification guides for more information.

Finally, we have provided the net price per year for undergraduate tuition, based on the cost of attendance (tuition, books, room and board, and related expenses) for students who qualify for in-state tuition and fees, less the average financial aid award (including grants and scholarships).

• — indicates none or not applicable.
• N.Av. indicates data was not available or pass rates were omitted for confidentiality.

Top-Ranked Schools with Education Programs in Maryland

Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Education Majors 2022

• Goucher College

US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2023

• Johns Hopkins University (#14 tie)
• University of Maryland-College Park (#30 tie)
• Towson University (#131 tie)
• Salisbury University (#202 tie)
• Bowie State University (#207-274)
• Frostburg State University (#207-274)

US News & World Report’s Best Online Graduate Education Programs 2022

• Towson University (#46 tie)
• Goucher College (#120 tie)

Select Maryland Schools with Teacher Preparation Degrees

Coppin State University

Coppin State University (CSU)’s School of Education is located in Baltimore and focuses on training the next generation of urban educators. Two academic departments make up the School of Education. The Department of Teaching & Learning offers degrees that meet the educational requirements for teacher certification in the state, such as the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Elementary Education and the BS in Special Education. A Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) is also open to applicants with a bachelor’s degree in another subject who would like to enter the field of teaching. The Department of Instructional Leadership & Professional Development offers graduate degrees for certified teachers interested in leadership roles in education, such as the Certificate in School Administration I and the Master of Education (MEd) in Contemporary Educational Leadership.

Towson University

Towson University’s College of Education offers numerous undergraduate and graduate programs designed for teacher certification in Maryland as well as careers in other education settings. Undergraduate students can focus on Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle School, Secondary, or Special Education. Dual majors are also offered in Early Childhood & Special Education and Elementary Education & Special Education. At the graduate level, several post-baccalaureate certificates (PBCs) are available, including Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Classroom, Educational Administrator, and Educational Technology, as well as Master of Education (MEd) degrees that can help candidates qualify for advanced professional certification. Some of Towson’s more unique offerings include an undergraduate minor in Linguistic Diversity and a combined bachelor’s and Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program, which enables students to earn a bachelor’s degree in any subject as well as a MAT degree in an accelerated time frame.

University of Maryland

The University of Maryland (UMD) offers education degrees through the College of Education. Aspiring teachers will find many UMD programs that meet state educational requirements to become a teacher through traditional and alternative pathways. At the undergraduate level, a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Elementary Education is offered for students interested in teaching grades 1-6, while BS and Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees in Secondary Education are available with a variety of concentration areas. Additionally, UMD offers teacher preparation programs in areas such as Music Education, Special Education, and Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL). To help meet the demand for qualified STEM teachers, UMD runs the Terrapin Teachers program, which promotes teaching as a potential career path to undergraduate students in science and math fields and offers support in meeting teacher certification requirements throughout their undergraduate journey. Master and doctoral degrees are available to certified educators interested in developing advanced research skills or preparing for leadership roles in the education sector.

Schools with Associate Degrees in Education

While a bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational level required to qualify for state certification, an associate’s degree can be the first step towards a career in education. It can qualify graduates for careers in non-licensed roles in early childhood education, after-school care, and related areas. The credits earned from an accredited associate degree program can also typically be transferred towards a bachelor’s degree. The following Alabama schools offer associate’s degrees in education.¹ Schools with an asterisk (*) also offer four-year teaching programs and/or alternative route to certification programs.

Allegany College of Maryland
12401 WIllowbrook Rd
Cumberland, MD 21502
(301) 784-5000
www.allegany.edu

Anne Arundel Community College*
101 College Pkwy
Arnold, MD 21012
(410) 777-2222
www.aacc.edu

Baltimore City Community College
2901 Liberty Heights Ave
Baltimore, MD 21215
(410) 462-8300
www.bccc.edu

Carroll Community College
1601 Washington Rd
Westminster, MD 21157
(888) 221-9748
www.carrollcc.edu

Cecil College
1 Seahawk Dr
North East, MD 21901
(410) 287-1000
www.cecil.edu

Chesapeake College
1000 College Cir
Wye Mills, MD 21679
(410) 822-5400
www.chesapeake.edu

College of Southern Maryland
8730 Mitchell Rd
La Plata, MD 20646
(301) 934-2251
www.csmd.edu

Community College of Baltimore County
7201 Rossville Blvd
Baltimore, MD 21237
(443) 840-2222
www.ccbcmd.edu

Frederick Community College
7932 Opossumtown Pike
Frederick, MD 21702
(301) 846-2400
www.frederick.edu

Garrett College
687 Mosser Rd
McHenry, MD 21541
(301) 387-3000
www.garrettcollege.edu

Hagerstown Community College
11400 Robinwood Dr
Hagerstown, MD 21742
(240) 500-2000
www.hagerstowncc.edu

Harford Community College
401 Thomas Run Rd
Bel Air, MD 21015
(443) 412-2000
www.harford.edu

Howard Community College
10901 Little Patuxent Pkwy
Columbia, MD 21044
(443) 518-1000
www.howardcc.edu

Montgomery College*
51 Mannakee St
Rockville, MD 20850
(240) 567-5000
www.montgomerycollege.edu

Prince George’s Community College
301 Largo Rd
Largo, MD 20774
(301) 546-7422
www.pgcc.edu

Washington Adventist University*
7600 Flower Ave
Takoma Park, MD 20912
(800) 835-4212
www.wau.edu

Wor-Wic Community College
32000 Campus Dr
Salisbury, MD 21804
(410) 334-2800
www.worwic.edu

Student Reviews

Hood College
401 Rosemont Ave
Frederick, MD 21701
(301) 663-3131
www.hood.edu

Student Review: “I really enjoyed my time at Hood College in their Teacher Preparation program. It was very clear that the professors were knowledgeable and well connected to the school systems in the state of Maryland and also in D.C. The professors were engaged in the community which significantly supported the experiences that I was able to have while attending as a member of the program. The professors also cared so deeply for each student, as Hood is a smaller college. This allowed me to schedule one on one time with them as needed to get any of my questions answered and to support my development as an educator. I loved that you are able to start field experience right away, giving you more time in the classroom and more time to observe others who excel at this craft. The hands-on teaching experiences that were arranged for me were so valuable and have helped me get to where I am in my career today.” -Student at Hood College

Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 516-8000
www.jhu.edu

Student Review: “It was an online program which made it a little more difficult to cultivate strong relationships with individuals; other than that, however, I really enjoyed my time as a student at Johns Hopkins. The courses were rigorous, the professors were very responsive, and I learned a lot about the field of education and about teaching. What I liked most about the program was that it was fur current teachers. For that reason, a lot of what we had to do in “class” were case studies of students that we were working with. Therefore, I was able to use my graduate program to connect more with my students and to create in-depth analyses of what we were learning in school.” -Student at Johns Hopkins University

Towson University
8000 York Rd
Towson, MD 21252
(410) 704-2000
www.towson.edu

Student Review: “Since enrolling at Towson University to major in teaching, I can truly say that I have grown, not only intelligence wise, but I’ve grown as a human being. That may sound like a corny line, but it’s the truth and I give all credit to my professors who did an amazing job teaching their curriculum. While the curriculum itself is very challenging at times, I find that once I do well on a homework assignment or an exam, it really feels rewarding and has me feeling good about myself. I will be graduating from college this May and I’m actually somewhat disappointed. The professors and students I have met while attending Towson University have transformed me into the person I am today. I entered Towson as an immature boy, unsure of what my future held and I am leaving a man, who is confident in his abilities to apply what I learned and help others get to the point where I am.” -Brendan M., student at Towson University

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. The Princeton Review. The Best 385 Colleges, 2022 Edition. The Princeton Review, 2021.
3. US News & World Report Best Graduate Education Schools 2023: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/edu-rankings
4. US News & World Report Best Online Graduate Education Schools 2022: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/education/rankings
5. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): http://caepnet.org/provider-search
6. Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP): https://aaqep.org/accredited-programs
7. US Department of Education 2020 Title II Report: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx