Best Bachelor's in Business Teacher Education Programs in 2026

The top 24 out of 30 programs reviewed from the IPEDS database, ranked on graduation rate, affordability, and more. CIP 13.1303.

A bachelor's in Business and Innovation/Entrepreneurship Teacher Education Program prepares you to teach business, marketing, finance, and entrepreneurship courses in middle and high schools, typically within a career and technical education program. You learn both the subject content, such as accounting, business law, and starting a venture, and the classroom methods to teach it to teenagers. Graduates lead courses that blend academic standards with hands-on, real-world business skills. The ranking below compares programs on cost, graduation rates, and other factors that matter when you are choosing where to enroll.

30Programs analyzed
$7,939Median in-state tuition
57%Median graduation rate
$66,270Median wage, career and technical education teachers
  • In-state tuition typically runs from $5,039 to $34,950 a year, with a median near $7,939.
  • 23 of 30 ranked programs sit at public universities, and 9 offer an online or hybrid option.
  • Most lead to an initial state teaching license, which means supervised student teaching plus a licensure exam (37 of 52 US jurisdictions use the Praxis series).
  • We rank on graduation rate first, then selectivity and affordability, all from federal IPEDS data.
  1. 1

    Southern Utah University

    Cedar City, UTPublic

    73score
    • 61%Grad rate
    • $6,186/yrIn-state tuition
    • $20,416/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 82%Admit rate
    • 13,126Undergrads
    • 4Grads/yr
    • Business Education, B.A./B.S.
    • On-campus
    About the program

    SUU's Business Education major, available as a B.A. or B.S., is designed for students who want to bring real business knowledge into a secondary classroom. Through the Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business, students build a foundation in areas such as accounting, business law and ethics, economics, and marketing, then layer on professional education coursework that meets Utah's teaching certification requirements. Business Education is an approved secondary content area for grades 7-12, so the two halves of the degree are meant to work together toward the same license. Reaching that license calls for at least 30 semester hours of professional education courses plus student teaching, which adds roughly ten hours and a practicum. The program is delivered on campus. This bachelor's-level business teacher education program prepares graduates for work as career in Utah.

    Why it ranks here

    Its rank is built from three numbers: graduation rate, admission rate, and in-state tuition, in that order of weight. Its strongest card is completion: a 61% graduation rate lands it in the top 28% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. A 82% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Cost only helps its case: at $6,186 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. That combination is what puts it in the top handful here.

    Program page
  2. 2

    Concordia University-Wisconsin

    Mequon, WIPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    70score
    • 68%Grad rate
    • $34,950/yrTuition (in or out of state)
    • 78%Admit rate
    • 2,401Undergrads
    • 1Grads/yr
    • 25ACT mid
    • Business Education Major (secondary/K-12 teaching)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Concordia University Wisconsin's Business Education major treats business as a subject spanning every grade, and it is licensable in Wisconsin as a K-12 program only. Housed in the School of Education, it runs roughly 120 credits on the public education plan, or 124 on the Lutheran Teacher Diploma plan, so the exact load depends on the track a student picks. The heart of the final year is 12 credits of secondary student teaching paired with a portfolio, and candidates must clear the applicable Wisconsin content examinations before licensure. Classes meet in the traditional way on the Mequon campus. With a choice between the Lutheran Teacher Diploma and Christian Teacher Certification pathways, the program speaks to students who want to teach business while working within a faith-based framework. A bachelor's-level path in business teacher education, it builds toward a career among career in Wisconsin.

    Why it ranks here

    Where it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. Start with the outcome that matters most, 68% of students graduate, top 7% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. A 78% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $34,950 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. Together, that is one of the strongest profiles on the page.

    Program page
  3. 3

    Lee University

    Cleveland, TNPrivate nonprofit

    69score
    • 63%Grad rate
    • $23,040/yrTuition (in or out of state)
    • 71%Admit rate
    • 3,271Undergrads
    • 1Grads/yr
    • 1135SAT mid
    • Business, 6-12 Teacher Licensure
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Lee University's Bachelor of Science in Business with 6-12 Teacher Licensure blends two worlds, joining genuine business study with the professional education needed to lead a secondary classroom. Delivered on campus, the business side carries a technology emphasis that reaches into programming, systems analysis and design, and business information systems, so future teachers truly know the field they will teach. Professional education coursework and a full semester of student teaching complete the preparation for Tennessee licensure in business for grades 6-12. As a Christian university, Lee also folds in a required Christian Service component. The program is shared between the university's business faculty and the Helen DeVos College of Education, and it suits students who want to bring practical business knowledge to middle and high school learners. As a bachelor's degree in business teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as career in Tennessee.

    Why it ranks here

    We rank on the things that actually shape a teaching degree: whether students finish, how hard it is to get in, and the price of admission. Its strongest card is completion: a 63% graduation rate lands it in the top 21% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. A 71% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $23,040 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. Strong on the measures that matter most, it earns a place near the top.

    Program page
  4. 4

    University of Nebraska-Lincoln

    Lincoln, NEPublic

    68score
    • 67%Grad rate
    • $8,250/yrIn-state tuition
    • $26,400/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 87%Admit rate
    • 19,701Undergrads
    • 1Grads/yr
    • 1214SAT mid
    • Business, Marketing & Information Technology Education (6-12), Bachelor of Science in Education and Human Sciences
    • On-campus
    About the program

    For students drawn to both business and the classroom, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln offers a Bachelor of Science in Education and Human Sciences that prepares candidates for the Nebraska Business, Marketing and Information Technology endorsement in grades 6 through 12. The program is unusually cross-disciplinary, drawing the College of Education and Human Sciences together with business administration and computer science so that future teachers understand the fields they will teach. Alongside practicum courses and a semester of student teaching, candidates complete 1,000 hours of paid, business-related work experience, grounding their instruction in the workplace itself. That real-world requirement also earns them a supplemental work-based learning endorsement for grades 9-12. The 120-credit degree is completed on campus and leads to a Nebraska teaching certificate. A bachelor's-level path in business teacher education, it builds toward a career among career in Nebraska.

    Why it ranks here

    Its place on the list comes down to outcomes, selectivity, and price, weighted in that order. Start with the outcome that matters most, 67% of students graduate, top 10% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. Admission is close to open access at 87%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. Tuition is middle of the road for programs nationwide at $8,250 in state, so cost neither helps nor hurts its standing. That combination is what puts it in the top handful here.

    Program page
  5. 5

    Immaculata University

    Immaculata, PAPrivate nonprofit

    67score
    • 71%Grad rate
    • $28,130/yrTuition (in or out of state)
    • 86%Admit rate
    • 1,652Undergrads
    • 1Grads/yr
    • 1240SAT mid
    About the program

    Immaculata University's Education, B.A. lets students major in a subject area and add education coursework to earn Pennsylvania secondary teaching certification. Its listed secondary certification subjects include biology, chemistry, English, music education, and social studies and history. The program pairs a full academic major with the professional preparation required for the classroom, so graduates finish grounded in their teaching field. As a bachelor's degree in business teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as career in Pennsylvania.

    Why it ranks here

    We rank on the things that actually shape a teaching degree: whether students finish, how hard it is to get in, and the price of admission. Its strongest card is completion: a 71% graduation rate lands it in the top 1% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. Admission is close to open access at 86%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. The one drag is price, $28,130 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. Strong on the measures that matter most, it earns a place near the top.

    Program page
  6. 6

    Illinois State University

    Normal, ILPublicOnline available

    62score
    • 65%Grad rate
    • $11,215/yrIn-state tuition
    • $22,863/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 88%Admit rate
    • 19,107Undergrads
    • 5Grads/yr
    • 1100SAT mid
    • Bachelor of Science in Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Illinois State University's Bachelor of Science in Education in business education answers a real statewide need, and the university notes it is the only dedicated K-12 business teaching program at a public institution in Illinois. Run through the College of Education in partnership with the College of Business, it gives future teachers grounding in the full breadth of the field, from accounting and business law to marketing, entrepreneurship, and web design. That wide scope is intentional, preparing graduates to teach any business and information technology course a school might offer. An online delivery option makes the program reachable for students who cannot relocate. Completing it leads to K-12 Business and Computer Education teaching credentials, filling a role the university points to as a persistent teacher shortage area. This bachelor's-level business teacher education program prepares graduates for work as career in Illinois.

    Why it ranks here

    Where it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. Start with the outcome that matters most, 65% of students graduate, top 14% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. Admission is close to open access at 88%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. The one drag is price, $11,215 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. On balance it is a well-rounded pick, which is what earns it a spot this high.

    Program page
  7. 7

    University of Northern Iowa

    Cedar Falls, IAPublic

    61score
    • 68%Grad rate
    • $8,564/yrIn-state tuition
    • $20,340/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 93%Admit rate
    • 7,711Undergrads
    • 3Grads/yr
    • 1150SAT mid
    • Business - Teaching, B.A.
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Northern Iowa's Business, Teaching, B.A. prepares candidates to teach business at the 5-12 level. Housed in the Wilson College of Business, the program combines a business teaching core with professional education courses, teaching methods, and classroom internships. Delivered on campus in Cedar Falls, it leads to Iowa licensure to teach business in secondary schools. This bachelor's-level business teacher education program prepares graduates for work as career in Iowa.

    Why it ranks here

    The ranking rewards programs that graduate their students, stay at least somewhat selective, and keep tuition reasonable, so here is how this one measures up. Its strongest card is completion: a 68% graduation rate lands it in the top 7% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. Admission is close to open access at 93%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. The one drag is price, $8,564 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. No single weakness drags it down, and that consistency lands it in the upper tier.

    Program page
  8. 8

    Buena Vista University

    Storm Lake, IAPrivate nonprofit

    61score
    • 62%Grad rate
    • $41,798/yrTuition (in or out of state)
    • 78%Admit rate
    • 1,436Undergrads
    • 2Grads/yr
    • 23ACT mid
    • Bachelor of Science
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Buena Vista University offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Education for the secondary level, preparing educators to teach business subjects to secondary students. The program is delivered in a hybrid format and follows a secondary education licensure pathway for teaching in grades 5 through 12. Graduates of this business teacher education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as career.

    Why it ranks here

    Where it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. Start with the outcome that matters most, 62% of students graduate, top 24% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. A 78% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $41,798 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. On balance it is a well-rounded pick, which is what earns it a spot this high.

    Program page
  9. 9

    University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

    Whitewater, WIPublicOnline available

    61score
    • 59%Grad rate
    • $7,119/yrIn-state tuition
    • $17,219/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 86%Admit rate
    • 10,084Undergrads
    • 6Grads/yr
    • 21ACT mid
    • Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE), Business Education - Business & Marketing Education Comprehensive Emphasis
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater describes its Bachelor of Science in Education in Business Education, based in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, as the longest continuously running program of its kind in the country. Spanning 123 to 125 credits, the Business and Marketing Education Comprehensive Emphasis gives future teachers broad footing across subjects such as accounting, marketing, personal finance, and business law rather than a single specialty. Classroom experience starts in the first year and builds toward pre-student teaching at the middle level and secondary student teaching, so candidates spend real time with students well before graduation. That comprehensive design pays off at licensure, qualifying graduates for three separate Wisconsin credentials in Business, Marketing, and Vocational education. Delivery is on campus. Graduates of this business teacher education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as career.

    Why it ranks here

    The ranking rewards programs that graduate their students, stay at least somewhat selective, and keep tuition reasonable, so here is how this one measures up. Its strongest card is completion: a 59% graduation rate lands it in the top 34% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. Admission is close to open access at 86%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. Cost only helps its case: at $7,119 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. No single weakness drags it down, and that consistency lands it in the upper tier.

    Program page
  10. 10

    Winona State University

    Winona, MNPublicOnline available

    60score
    • 57%Grad rate
    • $8,388/yrIn-state tuition
    • $15,120/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 75%Admit rate
    • 5,317Undergrads
    • 3Grads/yr
    • Business Education (Teaching)
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Winona State University's Business Education (Teaching) bachelor's degree bridges two colleges, drawing on the College of Business and the College of Education through the Department of Education Studies to prepare candidates for grades 5-12 business teaching licensure. The 120 credit degree, with 43 to 79 program credits, puts real weight on time in the classroom, combining 100 hours of field experience with more than 480 hours of student teaching in the final semester for over 500 combined hours. Its flexible delivery mixes in-person, online, and hybrid coursework, available on the Winona campus or in partnership with MSU-Mankato. Winona State reports being the only public university in Minnesota that offers this degree and licenses 5-12 business teachers, a distinctive niche it points to alongside a 100% job placement rate. That combination makes it a focused choice for future business educators. This bachelor's-level business teacher education program prepares graduates for work as career in Minnesota.

    Why it ranks here

    Its rank is built from three numbers: graduation rate, admission rate, and in-state tuition, in that order of weight. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among programs nationwide at 57%, solid without being a standout. A 75% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $8,388 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. On balance it is a well-rounded pick, which is what earns it a spot this high.

    Program page
  11. 11

    Dickinson State University

    Dickinson, NDPublicOnline available

    57score
    • 51%Grad rate
    • $7,470/yrTuition (in or out of state)
    • 37%Admit rate
    • 1,339Undergrads
    • 1Grads/yr
    • Bachelor of Science in Education - Business Education
    • CAEP-accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    Dickinson State University's Bachelor of Science in Education in Business Education comes out of the School of Business and Entrepreneurship, and it reflects that home by blending a business education major with a grounding in career and technical education. Running between 84 and 89 credits, the degree balances that subject preparation with a full secondary professional education sequence, so candidates build business expertise and teaching skill side by side. Rather than saving practice for the end, the program moves students through graduated field experiences that build toward a semester of student teaching. Those who qualify can also add a middle school pedagogical endorsement, widening the range of classrooms they are ready for. Accredited by CAEP, the program is offered in Bismarck, Williston, through DSUlive, and online, and it leads to the professional teaching license in business education. Earning a bachelor's degree in business teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of North Dakota's career.

    Why it ranks here

    Where it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among programs nationwide at 51%, solid without being a standout. A 37% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Cost only helps its case: at $7,470 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. No single weakness drags it down, and that consistency lands it in the upper tier.

    Program page
  12. 12

    North Dakota State University-Main Campus

    Fargo, NDPublic

    54score
    • 64%Grad rate
    • $9,309/yrIn-state tuition
    • $13,963/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 95%Admit rate
    • 9,762Undergrads
    • 1Grads/yr
    • 22ACT mid
    • Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Business Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    North Dakota State University's Bachelor of Science in Business Education is shaped for future teachers who want to bring the working world into grades 5-12 classrooms. Rather than treating business as a single subject, the program pulls together coursework in teacher education, business, computer science, and communication, giving candidates both the content and the classroom method to teach it well. That mix reflects how broad school business departments actually are, spanning everything from technology to workplace communication. The experience builds toward a culminating student teaching placement in nearby middle and secondary schools. Housed in the School of Education and delivered on campus, the program is CAEP accredited, state approved, and leads to licensure. As a bachelor's degree in business teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as career in North Dakota.

    Why it ranks here

    We rank on the things that actually shape a teaching degree: whether students finish, how hard it is to get in, and the price of admission. Its strongest card is completion: a 64% graduation rate lands it in the top 17% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. Admission is close to open access at 95%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. The one drag is price, $9,309 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. No single weakness drags it down, and that consistency lands it in the upper tier.

    Program page
  13. 13

    University of Nebraska at Kearney

    Kearney, NEPublic

    54score
    • 58%Grad rate
    • $6,690/yrIn-state tuition
    • $14,610/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 89%Admit rate
    • 4,213Undergrads
    • 4Grads/yr
    • 1015SAT mid
    • Bachelor of Arts in Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Built for future business educators, the Bachelor of Arts in Education at the University of Nebraska at Kearney leads to the Business, Marketing and Information Technology 6-12 Teaching Field Endorsement, and it draws on both the College of Business and Technology and the College of Education so students learn their subject and how to teach it side by side. Across 120 credit hours, candidates prepare to teach business topics in middle and high school classrooms, while also gaining the practical range to supervise work co-op programs and manage computer networks. That breadth reflects how much a business teacher actually juggles day to day. Coursework stays grounded in the campus experience rather than online delivery, and the endorsement leads to Nebraska licensure. Students who want to go further can follow an accelerated 4+1 track that folds an MBA into a fifth year, finishing both degrees in that time. This bachelor's-level business teacher education program prepares graduates for work as career in Nebraska.

    Why it ranks here

    Three things decide where a program lands on this list: how many students finish, how selective it is, and what it costs. Start with the outcome that matters most, 58% of students graduate, top 45% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. Admission is close to open access at 89%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. Cost only helps its case: at $6,690 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. On balance it is a well-rounded pick, which is what earns it a spot this high.

    Program page
  14. 14

    Western Michigan University

    Kalamazoo, MIPublic

    51score
    • 58%Grad rate
    • $15,861/yrIn-state tuition
    • $19,826/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 85%Admit rate
    • 13,027Undergrads
    • 3Grads/yr
    • Business Education B.S.
    About the program

    Western Michigan University offers a Business Education B.S. through its College of Education and Human Development, which houses more than 20 undergraduate majors. The college reports that 98% of its undergraduates take part in experience-driven learning. As a bachelor's degree in business teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as career in Michigan.

    Why it ranks here

    Its rank is built from three numbers: graduation rate, admission rate, and in-state tuition, in that order of weight. Its strongest card is completion: a 58% graduation rate lands it in the top 45% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. Admission is close to open access at 85%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. The one drag is price, $15,861 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. No single weakness drags it down, and that consistency lands it in the upper tier.

    Program page
  15. 15

    Northwest Missouri State University

    Maryville, MOPublic

    51score
    • 54%Grad rate
    • $6,713/yrIn-state tuition
    • $13,426/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 86%Admit rate
    • 5,241Undergrads
    • 4Grads/yr
    • 1085SAT mid
    • Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed.) - Business Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Northwest Missouri State University positions its Bachelor of Science in Education in Business Education for students who know the business world and want to bring it into high school classrooms. Fittingly housed in the School of Computer Science and Information Systems, the program grounds candidates in subjects such as accounting, marketing, technology, and economics before translating that knowledge into teaching practice. Clinical work starts early, with practicum hours beginning in the freshman year as students observe and assist high school teachers, and it builds toward a semester-long senior placement centered on lesson planning and classroom teaching. Completed under the secondary B.S.Ed. program, it meets Missouri certification standards for Business Education in grades 9-12. Delivered on campus, the program sits within teacher education offerings approved by Missouri's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. A bachelor's-level path in business teacher education, it builds toward a career among career in Missouri.

    Why it ranks here

    Its place on the list comes down to outcomes, selectivity, and price, weighted in that order. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among programs nationwide at 54%, solid without being a standout. Admission is close to open access at 86%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. Cost only helps its case: at $6,713 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. No single weakness drags it down, and that consistency lands it in the upper tier.

    Program page
  16. 16

    Utah State University

    Logan, UTPublic

    50score
    • 59%Grad rate
    • $7,627/yrIn-state tuition
    • $24,060/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 92%Admit rate
    • 25,706Undergrads
    • 2Grads/yr
    • 1180SAT mid
    • Business Education (7-12 Teaching License) - BS
    About the program

    Utah State University's Bachelor of Science in Business Education prepares students to teach business at the 7-12 level. Housed in the Applied Sciences, Technology and Education Department, it blends business content such as accounting, management, web design, and image and video editing with teacher preparation coursework. Candidates complete a supervised student teaching experience and graduate qualified for a Utah teaching license in business education. Graduates of this business teacher education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as career.

    Why it ranks here

    We rank on the things that actually shape a teaching degree: whether students finish, how hard it is to get in, and the price of admission. Its strongest card is completion: a 59% graduation rate lands it in the top 34% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. Admission is close to open access at 92%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. Tuition is middle of the road for programs nationwide at $7,627 in state, so cost neither helps nor hurts its standing.

    Program page
  17. 17

    Trinity Christian College

    Palos Heights, ILPrivate nonprofit

    49score
    • 58%Grad rate
    • $19,980/yrTuition (in or out of state)
    • 85%Admit rate
    • 825Undergrads
    • 1Grads/yr
    • 1185SAT mid
    • B.A. in Business Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Trinity Christian College's Bachelor of Arts in Business Education blends a solid business foundation with teacher preparation, pairing core study in subjects such as accounting, economics, and marketing with a secondary education minor. That combination points graduates toward an Illinois Professional Educator License endorsed in business, marketing, and computer education for grades 6 through 12, so they enter classrooms fluent in both content and pedagogy. The program runs on campus in Palos Heights, Illinois. Anyone considering it should be aware that in November 2025 the college's Board of Trustees announced it will cease academic operations at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year, with teach-out agreements arranged at Saint Xavier, Calvin, and Olivet Nazarene universities. This bachelor's-level business teacher education program prepares graduates for work as career in Illinois.

    Why it ranks here

    Three things decide where a program lands on this list: how many students finish, how selective it is, and what it costs. Start with the outcome that matters most, 58% of students graduate, top 45% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. Admission is close to open access at 85%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. The one drag is price, $19,980 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability.

    Program page
  18. 18

    Emporia State University

    Emporia, KSPublic

    45score
    • 56%Grad rate
    • $5,542/yrIn-state tuition
    • $13,855/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 98%Admit rate
    • 2,396Undergrads
    • 1Grads/yr
    • 21ACT mid
    About the program

    Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas is home to The Teachers College, which prepares educators across a range of teaching fields. The university is associated with an undergraduate listing in business and innovation or entrepreneurship teacher education at the bachelor's level. Through The Teachers College, students pursuing secondary teaching fields complete professional education coursework alongside study in their content area as they prepare to enter Kansas classrooms. Earning a bachelor's degree in business teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Kansas's career.

    Why it ranks here

    The ranking rewards programs that graduate their students, stay at least somewhat selective, and keep tuition reasonable, so here is how this one measures up. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among programs nationwide at 56%, solid without being a standout. Admission is close to open access at 98%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. Cost only helps its case: at $5,542 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results.

    Program page
  19. 19

    Fort Hays State University

    Hays, KSPublicOnline available

    41score
    • 48%Grad rate
    • $4,704/yrIn-state tuition
    • $16,522/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 90%Admit rate
    • 10,172Undergrads
    • 14Grads/yr
    • 1055SAT mid
    • Business Education (Teacher Licensure concentration)
    • Online
    About the program

    Fort Hays State University's Bachelor of Science in Business Education carries a teacher licensure concentration and runs fully online, making it a flexible route into the middle and high school classroom. Candidates prepare to teach grades 6 through 12 across the practical side of business, in subjects such as accounting, economics, entrepreneurship, and office technology. The curriculum deliberately braids business content together with professional education coursework, so students build subject knowledge and teaching skill in tandem. Before earning licensure, they observe in secondary schools and then step into student teaching. Offered through the Department of Applied Business Studies, the program accommodates different goals by keeping both a licensure and a non-licensure track open. Earning a bachelor's degree in business teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Kansas's career.

    Why it ranks here

    Where it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 48% the graduation rate trails the national median, which caps how high it can climb. Admission is close to open access at 90%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. Cost only helps its case: at $4,704 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results.

    Program page
  20. 20

    Missouri Baptist University

    Saint Louis, MOPrivate nonprofit

    39score
    • 48%Grad rate
    • $31,530/yrTuition (in or out of state)
    • 69%Admit rate
    • 4,958Undergrads
    • 1Grads/yr
    • 15ACT mid
    • Business Education
    • AAQEP-accredited
    About the program

    Missouri Baptist University's Business Education degree pairs commerce content with classroom craft, preparing candidates for secondary certification at grades 9 through 12, or grades 5 through 12 with the combined middle and secondary option. The Bachelor of Science is the preferred route, though Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Professional Studies options exist as well. Because Business Education must serve as the primary major, students ground their teaching in a full business foundation, and those who wish can layer on Marketing Education for dual certification. Offered through the College of Education, the Teacher Education Program carries national accreditation at the initial-licensure level from AAQEP, effective June 2024 through June 2029, and holds state approval from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, so the credential is recognized on both fronts. Earning a bachelor's degree in business teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Missouri's career.

    Why it ranks here

    Where it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 48% the graduation rate trails the national median, which caps how high it can climb. A 69% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $31,530 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability.

    Program page
  21. 21

    The University of Montana-Western

    Dillon, MTPublicOnline available

    35score
    • 51%Grad rate
    • $5,039/yrIn-state tuition
    • $18,420/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 100%Admit rate
    • 1,335Undergrads
    • 1Grads/yr
    • Business & Computer Applications Education, BS
    • CAEP-accredited
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Montana Western's Business and Computer Applications Education, BS, prepares candidates for K-12 licensure in business and technology subjects, run jointly by the Department of Education and the Business and Technology Department. Its signature feature is the Experience One block schedule, in which students take one course at a time in small classes, and Montana Western describes itself as the only public four-year institution in the nation using this one-course-at-a-time model. Field experiences in real classrooms run throughout the program and build toward a culminating student-teaching term. The university reports that its teacher-education programs recently earned CAEP accreditation. For those who already hold a degree, a separate post-baccalaureate certification option in the same content area is offered fully online. A bachelor's-level path in business teacher education, it builds toward a career among career in Montana.

    Why it ranks here

    The ranking rewards programs that graduate their students, stay at least somewhat selective, and keep tuition reasonable, so here is how this one measures up. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among programs nationwide at 51%, solid without being a standout. Admission is close to open access at 100%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. Cost only helps its case: at $5,039 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results.

    Program page
  22. 22

    Indiana State University

    Terre Haute, INPublic

    31score
    • 43%Grad rate
    • $9,978/yrIn-state tuition
    • $22,042/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 81%Admit rate
    • 6,224Undergrads
    • 1Grads/yr
    • Business Education (B.S.)
    About the program

    Built jointly by the Scott College of Business and the Bayh College of Education, Indiana State University's Business Education (B.S.) sits at the meeting point of two disciplines, weaving business coursework together with the pedagogy candidates need to run a classroom. It prepares them to teach business subjects at the middle, junior high, and high school levels, so graduates carry both content depth and licensure. What makes the path distinctive is how early it puts students in front of learners, with field experiences beginning in the very first semester and continuing throughout. That gradual immersion builds toward a full semester of student teaching through the TOTAL (Teachers of Tomorrow Advancing Learning) program, giving candidates real classroom footing well before their capstone term arrives. A bachelor's-level path in business teacher education, it builds toward a career among career in Indiana.

    Why it ranks here

    Where it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 43% the graduation rate trails the national median, which caps how high it can climb. A 81% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $9,978 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability.

    Program page
  23. 23

    Ferris State University

    Big Rapids, MIPublic

    22score
    • 47%Grad rate
    • $14,582/yrTuition (in or out of state)
    • 91%Admit rate
    • 8,991Undergrads
    • 1Grads/yr
    • 1005SAT mid
    • Business, Management, Marketing, and Technology Education (Bachelor's)
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Ferris State University's bachelor's degree in Business, Management, Marketing, and Technology Education is aimed at students who want to bring real business knowledge into the classroom. Through the School of Education, candidates combine business and professional coursework with general education and hands-on field experiences, so the subject expertise and the teaching craft develop together. A distinctive feature is the requirement to pair the major with a secondary teaching minor in a field such as biology, chemistry, English, mathematics, or history, which broadens the range of classrooms a graduate can teach. Courses are offered in a mix of on-campus and online formats at Big Rapids, adding some scheduling flexibility. The program leads to secondary and vocational teaching certification and is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. Graduates of this business teacher education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as career.

    Why it ranks here

    The ranking rewards programs that graduate their students, stay at least somewhat selective, and keep tuition reasonable, so here is how this one measures up. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 47% the graduation rate trails the national median, which caps how high it can climb. Admission is close to open access at 91%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. The one drag is price, $14,582 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability.

    Program page
  24. 24

    Eastern Washington University

    Cheney, WAPublic

    21score
    • 43%Grad rate
    • $7,521/yrIn-state tuition
    • $25,518/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 91%Admit rate
    • 6,952Undergrads
    • 2Grads/yr
    • Business and Marketing Education/Secondary
    About the program

    Eastern Washington University's Business and Marketing Education program leads to a Bachelor of Arts in Education and prepares candidates to teach business and marketing at the secondary level, grades 5 through 12. Delivered through the School of Education within the College of Professional Programs, it grounds future teachers in both their subject and the craft of the classroom. Student teaching in business and marketing anchors the preparation, giving candidates real time leading students before they graduate. Graduates go on to pursue Career and Technical Education certification in Business and Marketing, a route that also asks for related paid work experience in the field, so classroom knowledge is paired with firsthand industry exposure. The program leads to teaching licensure. Graduates of this business teacher education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as career.

    Why it ranks here

    Its place on the list comes down to outcomes, selectivity, and price, weighted in that order. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 43% the graduation rate trails the national median, which caps how high it can climb. Admission is close to open access at 91%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. Cost only helps its case: at $7,521 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results.

    Program page
How we rank

Each program is scored 0 to 100 against the other programs in its specialty: graduation rate (50%), selectivity by admission rate (30%), and affordability by in-state tuition (20%). Scores are percentile-based within the specialty, so they compare like with like. A program missing a field gets the neutral median for it, so it is neither rewarded nor punished. Earnings are intentionally excluded: federal per-school earnings are not yet published for education programs, and the field-level salary figure is identical for every school, so ranking on it would be meaningless. To keep the overall list from being dominated by a single state's public-university system, it shows at most 2 programs per state; the value, affordability, graduation-rate, and selectivity pages rank every program without that limit.

  • Graduation rate: 50%
  • Selectivity (admission rate): 30%
  • Affordability (in-state tuition): 20%

What careers can you get with a bachelor's in Business Teacher Education?

Graduates most often go on to work as career and technical education teachers. Nationally, the median wage for that occupation is $66,270, with most earning between $50,040 and $101,340, and roughly 111,420 people employed across the United States, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Business teachers are reported within career and technical education teachers.

Read the full guide on how to become a career and technical education teacher, or see career and technical education teachers pay by state →

$66,270Median annual wage
$50,040 to $101,34010th to 90th percentile
111,420Employed nationally

Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 25-2032), and BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Wages are national and not school-specific.

Career and Technical Education Teachers Salary by State in 2026

Median annual wage for career and technical education teachers, by state. Highest is Washington at $101,180, lowest is Puerto Rico at $53,160.

StateMedian wage
Washington$101,180
Connecticut$100,810
Massachusetts$98,020
New Jersey$83,770
Rhode Island$81,820
California$80,620
New York$79,820
Delaware$79,230
Ohio$79,230
Vermont$79,220
Georgia$78,760
Oregon$78,380
Maryland$78,320
Alaska$78,130
Maine$78,050
Illinois$77,950
Michigan$77,400
New Hampshire$76,320
Pennsylvania$75,760
Virginia$75,580
Wisconsin$74,310
Colorado$72,750
Utah$72,380
South Carolina$72,120
Minnesota$71,650
New Mexico$66,750
Texas$64,610
Nevada$64,510
Nebraska$63,180
Arizona$62,980
Wyoming$62,570
Florida$62,140
Arkansas$61,780
Tennessee$61,700
North Dakota$61,500
Louisiana$61,300
Kentucky$61,130
Idaho$60,510
Alabama$59,470
Missouri$59,300
Oklahoma$58,800
North Carolina$58,600
Kansas$58,300
Mississippi$57,910
West Virginia$57,760
Iowa$57,660
Indiana$56,390
South Dakota$56,070
Montana$55,190
Puerto Rico$53,160

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

How much a bachelor's in Business Teacher Education program costs

Published in-state tuition across the 30 ranked bachelor's programs typically runs from $5,039 to $34,950 a year, with a median near $7,939. Most of that spread is public versus private: public universities charge state residents the least, while private colleges set a single sticker price that applies to everyone. 23 of the 30 programs here are public, which is usually where the lowest in-state numbers come from.

Sticker price is rarely what a student pays. Grants and scholarships lower the net cost, and future teachers have aid written specifically for them: the federal TEACH Grant provides up to $4,000 a year to students who agree to teach a high-need subject in a low-income school, and many states add service scholarships and loan-forgiveness programs for people who commit to the classroom. Two costs to watch are out-of-state tuition, which at public schools often runs two to three times the resident rate, and mandatory fees and living expenses, which the tuition figure leaves out entirely.

What none of this changes is the paycheck at the end. The median wage for career and technical education teachers is $66,270 regardless of where the degree was earned, so two graduates can reach the same salary having paid very different tuition to get there. That is exactly why affordability, essentially graduation rate per tuition dollar, is one of the factors we weight rather than an afterthought.

Sources: tuition and program data from IPEDS; the TEACH Grant from Federal Student Aid; wages from BLS OEWS.

How to get licensed to teach with a bachelor's in Business Teacher Education

A bachelor's in Business Teacher Education program prepares you academically, but teaching in a public school also requires a license issued by the state where you work. Every state runs its own credential, yet the path rhymes almost everywhere. You complete a state-approved preparation program, log supervised field experience that builds to a full term of student teaching, and pass one or more licensure exams, then apply to the state with a background check and, in most places, complete a mentored first year before the license becomes fully clear and renewable.

The exams are where states differ most. 37 of the 52 US jurisdictions use ETS's Praxis series to test basic skills and subject knowledge; the rest run their own, such as California's CBEST and CSET or New York's NYSTCE. A growing number also require a performance assessment like edTPA, in which candidates submit video and written evidence from their own student teaching. The grade-band and subject endorsements on your license, elementary versus a specific secondary subject, are set by the tests you pass and the program you complete.

Because the specifics are decided state by state, where you plan to teach matters as much as where you study. Licenses do not transfer automatically, though most states honor an out-of-state credential through interstate reciprocity, usually with some added coursework or testing. Check your target state's department of education for its exact requirements before you enroll.

Sources: licensure requirements from each state's department of education; the Praxis series from ETS; edTPA; programmatic standards from CAEP.

How does accreditation work in 2026 for a bachelor's in Business Teacher Education?

Two different things get called accreditation, and only one of them gets you licensed. Institutional accreditation comes first: a regional accreditor such as SACSCOC, the Higher Learning Commission, or the Middle States Commission reviews the whole university, and it is what lets credits transfer and federal financial aid flow. Any college worth considering has it, but on its own it says nothing specific about the quality of the education program.

Program, or programmatic, accreditation is the education-specific layer. The national accreditor is CAEP, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, formed in 2013 when the two older bodies, NCATE and TEAC, merged; AAQEP is a newer alternative that a growing number of programs have adopted. A CAEP or AAQEP seal signals that the preparation program has been reviewed against national standards for clinical practice, content knowledge, and candidate outcomes.

The credential that actually licenses you, though, is state program approval. A state only allows its approved programs to recommend graduates for certification, so approval, not a national seal, is what turns your degree into a license, and it is also what makes interstate reciprocity possible. Plenty of strong programs carry state approval without a separate national accreditor, which is common and not a red flag. When you compare options, confirm two things: that the school is regionally accredited, and that the specific program is approved by the state where you intend to teach.

Programmatic accreditor: CAEP. State approval is granted by each state's department of education.

Ways to earn your bachelor's in Business Teacher Education

A traditional four-year, on-campus bachelor's is the most common route into teaching, and for good reason: the degree leans on in-person field placements that build to a full term of student teaching. That said, 9 of the 30 ranked programs advertise an online or hybrid option, which can suit paraprofessionals and career-changers already working in schools; the clinical hours still take place in a real classroom near you.

You do not have to start at a four-year school. Many students spend their first two years at a community college, earn an associate's, and transfer in, which trims the cost of the early coursework, and statewide articulation agreements often guarantee the credits apply. If you already hold a bachelor's in another field, you can usually skip a second degree entirely and enter through an alternative-certification program or a master's-with-licensure route built for career-changers.

Whatever the format, the non-negotiable is supervised clinical practice. Every licensure-track program includes a student-teaching placement, and some now pair it with a paid, year-long residency alongside a mentor teacher, an increasingly common model that eases the unpaid-semester crunch traditional student teaching can create.

Sources: online and program counts from IPEDS; alternative-certification pathways per the US Department of Education.

How to become a business and entrepreneurship teacher

The path runs from your degree through state licensure and into a supported first year in the classroom.

  1. 1

    Earn the bachelor's degree

    Complete a bachelor's in business teacher education program or a business field paired with a state-approved teaching preparation program. Coursework covers business content areas plus how to teach them.

  2. 2

    Complete a state-approved prep program with student teaching

    Finish an approved educator preparation program that includes supervised student teaching in a real classroom. This clinical experience is required for licensure in most states.

  3. 3

    Pass the required licensure exams

    Take the exams your state requires, which often include a Praxis series test or a state-specific exam covering business subjects and teaching skills. Requirements vary by state.

  4. 4

    Apply for your state teaching license

    Submit your application to the state licensing agency, which includes a background check and fingerprinting. Some states add a business or career and technical education endorsement based on your coursework.

  5. 5

    Complete a mentored first year

    Many states pair new teachers with a mentor and require an induction or provisional period before granting a full license. Use this year to strengthen your classroom practice.

Requirements summarized from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook and each state's department of education. Exact requirements vary by state.

Frequently asked questions about a Bachelor's in Business Teacher Education

Do you need a bachelor's in business education to teach business and entrepreneurship?

You need at least a bachelor's degree to teach business and entrepreneurship, either in business teacher education directly or in a business field combined with a state-approved teacher preparation program. The preparation program is what qualifies you for an initial teaching license. Some career and technical education pathways also accept industry experience alongside the degree.

How long does a bachelor's in business education take?

Earning a bachelor's in business teacher education typically takes about four years of full-time study for a bachelor's, including the student teaching semester. If you already hold a business degree, an alternative or post-baccalaureate certification route can be shorter. Timelines vary by state and program.

What do business teachers earn with a bachelor's in business education in 2026?

Business teachers earn a BLS median wage of $66,270 as Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School, the occupation category this specialty most often leads to. Actual pay depends on your state, district, experience, and the local salary schedule. Public school teachers are usually paid on a set scale that rises with years of service and additional degrees.

Do you need a teaching license with a bachelor's in business education?

Yes, you need a teaching license to teach in a public school, and business and career and technical education positions usually require a specific subject endorsement. Licensure comes from completing an approved preparation program, passing the required exams, and clearing a background check. Because business often falls under career and technical education, some states offer additional routes for candidates with strong industry backgrounds.

Can you earn a bachelor's in business education online?

You can earn some of a bachelor's in business teacher education online, but the student teaching component must be completed in person in a real school setting. Fully online options are less common for initial licensure because of that supervised requirement. Check that any program you consider is approved in the state where you plan to teach.

Is a bachelor's in business education worth it?

A bachelor's in business teacher education is worth it if your goal is to teach business and entrepreneurship in secondary schools, because it is the most direct route combining subject knowledge with licensure preparation. The skills also transfer to corporate training, curriculum development, and career and technical education program coordination. The ranking below lists program costs and graduation rates so you can weigh the investment.

Answers draw on IPEDS, the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, and each state's department of education.

Data sources for our Bachelor's in Business Teacher Education ranking