Best Bachelor's in History Teacher Education Programs in 2026
The top 25 out of 112 programs reviewed from the IPEDS database, ranked on graduation rate, affordability, and more. CIP 13.1328.

- In-state tuition typically runs from $5,024 to $46,940 a year, with a median near $24,550.
- 36 of 112 ranked programs sit at public universities, and 4 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
University of Connecticut
90score- 83%Grad rate
- $17,010/yrIn-state tuition
- $39,678/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 52%Admit rate
- 20,056Undergrads
- 6Grads/yr
- 1325SAT mid
- History and Social Studies Education (IB/M), B.A.
- On-campus
About the programUConn's History and Social Studies Education is part of the Neag School's Integrated Bachelor's/Master's (IB/M) program, a five-year sequence granting a bachelor's degree followed by a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction and leading to Connecticut certification in grades 4-12. Candidates complete a subject-area major of at least 42 credits (24 in history, 18 in social studies), plus professional education including 9 credits of directed student teaching and graduate practica. The catalog totals about 112 credits. CAEP accredits the Neag School and explicitly covers its History/Social Studies initial preparation program. Delivery is in person at the Storrs campus. As a bachelor's degree in history teacher education, it adds to the bachelor's-level history teacher education options in Connecticut.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageWhere it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. Start with the outcome that matters most, 83% of students graduate, top 1% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. A 52% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Cost only helps its case: at $17,010 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. Together, that is one of the strongest profiles on the page.
- 2
Brigham Young University
87score- 81%Grad rate
- $6,688/yrTuition (in or out of state)
- 68%Admit rate
- 32,952Undergrads
- 23Grads/yr
- 1365SAT mid
- Bachelor of Arts in History Teaching
- On-campus
About the programBrigham Young University's Bachelor of Arts in History Teaching is a secondary teacher preparation major. Students study history alongside professional education coursework and complete a student teaching placement paired with an academic internship. The program aligns with Utah Effective Teaching Standards and meets the state's educational requirements for a professional teaching license to teach history in secondary classrooms. It is delivered on the Provo campus. This program offers a bachelor's degree in history teacher education in Utah.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageThe 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 81% graduation rate lands it in the top 4% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. A 68% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Cost only helps its case: at $6,688 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. Together, that is one of the strongest profiles on the page.
- 3
University of Delaware
80score- 81%Grad rate
- $14,600/yrIn-state tuition
- $39,190/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 71%Admit rate
- 20,026Undergrads
- 10Grads/yr
- 1280SAT mid
- History Education (Social Studies Secondary Education)
- On-campus
About the programThe University of Delaware's History Education major is one of several tracks within its Social Studies Secondary Education program, based in the History department and administered through the Center for Secondary Education. Candidates gain extensive classroom experience tutoring and teaching in local secondary schools before completing a year-long student teaching placement in a middle or high school. The on-campus program in Newark prepares graduates to teach grades 6 through 12 and is accredited by the National Council for the Social Studies and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. This program offers a bachelor's degree in history teacher education in Delaware.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageIts place on the list comes down to outcomes, selectivity, and price, weighted in that order. Start with the outcome that matters most, 81% of students graduate, top 4% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. A 71% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Cost only helps its case: at $14,600 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.
- 4
Providence College
78score- 86%Grad rate
- $62,520/yrTuition (in or out of state)
- 51%Admit rate
- 4,236Undergrads
- 2Grads/yr
- 1320SAT mid
- History/Secondary Education Major
- On-campus
About the programProvidence College's History/Secondary Education major is built for students who want deep historical grounding on the way to teaching high school social studies. Majors complete 33 credits in history that span a gateway course, U.S., European, and global history, a junior or senior seminar, and electives, then add two courses in another social science such as economics, geography, or political science to broaden the picture. Combined with the required education coursework, the program meets Rhode Island certification requirements for social studies teachers and satisfies most other states as well. Classroom preparation is substantial, with four structured field experiences in sequence, at least one set in urban schools, culminating in a full year working alongside a master teacher. The program is delivered on campus. As a bachelor's degree in history teacher education, it adds to the bachelor's-level history teacher education options in Rhode Island.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageWe 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 86% graduation rate lands it in the top 1% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. A 51% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $62,520 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.
- 5
College of the Ozarks
78score- 64%Grad rate
- $21,800/yrTuition (in or out of state)
- 12%Admit rate
- 1,454Undergrads
- 1Grads/yr
- 1135SAT mid
- History Education (Social Science)/Secondary Education Major, B.A.
- On-campus
About the programThe History Education (Social Science)/Secondary Education major at College of the Ozarks is built for students who want to teach history and the broader social sciences at the secondary level. It follows an approved secondary program, so candidates who complete the sequence, pass the required state exams, and clear background checks are recommended for Missouri teacher certification. Student teaching is a required part of that path, giving future teachers real time leading a classroom before they graduate. The college's teacher education program holds Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education approval, which reflects state program approval rather than a separate programmatic accreditor. Instruction is delivered on campus, and the degree leads to Missouri certification. As a bachelor's degree in history teacher education, it adds to the bachelor's-level history teacher education options in Missouri.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageThree 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, 64% of students graduate, top 25% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. It is genuinely selective too, admitting just 12% of applicants, a sign of a competitive, well-prepared cohort. Cost only helps its case: at $21,800 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. Together, that is one of the strongest profiles on the page.
- 6
Marist University
75score- 80%Grad rate
- $46,920/yrTuition (in or out of state)
- 57%Admit rate
- 5,551Undergrads
- 8Grads/yr
- 1265SAT mid
- Bachelor of Arts in History with Adolescence Education (Five-Year BA/MAT)
- On-campus
About the programMarist offers History teacher preparation through a five year, cohort based BA/MAT dual degree in Adolescence Education. Candidates complete a content rich Bachelor of Arts in History (42 to 56 credits) and a 36 credit Master of Arts in Teaching that leads to New York dual certification in History/Social Studies and Students with Disabilities, grades 7-12. Twelve MAT credits are taken during the senior year and included in undergraduate tuition; the remaining coursework follows graduation, including hybrid summer courses and a full time student teaching practicum in the final spring. A junior year formal review assesses academic progress and fieldwork dispositions. As a bachelor's degree in history teacher education, it adds to the bachelor's-level history teacher education options in New York.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageWe 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 80% graduation rate lands it in the top 5% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. A 57% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $46,920 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.
- 7
Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary
75score- 68%Grad rate
- $19,440/yrTuition (in or out of state)
- 68%Admit rate
- 551Undergrads
- 1Grads/yr
- 1090SAT mid
- Secondary World History Education, B.S.
- Hybrid
About the programFaith Baptist Bible College's Bachelor of Science in Secondary World History Education is built for students who want to teach history to middle and high school students. The coursework balances substantive history content with professional education, so candidates develop both a command of the material and the skills to teach it. Flexibility is part of the design, with classes offered on campus or online to fit different students' circumstances. Because Faith is approved by the Iowa Department of Education, graduates are eligible for Iowa teacher licensure once they complete the program. Those who want to widen their options can pursue several added endorsements, including K-8 reading, K-8 English and language arts, middle school social studies, K-12 coaching, and K-12 ESL. It is a bachelor's degree in history teacher education at the bachelor's level, based in Iowa.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageIts place on the list comes down to outcomes, selectivity, and price, weighted in that order. Start with the outcome that matters most, 68% of students graduate, top 17% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. A 68% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Cost only helps its case: at $19,440 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.
- 8
Michigan State University
71score- 81%Grad rate
- $17,739/yrIn-state tuition
- $44,510/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 85%Admit rate
- 41,234Undergrads
- 12Grads/yr
- 1270SAT mid
- History: Social Studies Education, B.A.
- On-campus
About the programMichigan State's Bachelor of Arts in History: Social Studies Education is a 120-credit program that lets students go deep in history while preparing to teach the wider social studies. A substantial history major, some 43 credits of content, sits alongside 36 credits of teacher education, with additional work in regional studies, political science, and history seminars filling out the picture. Graduates are recommended for a Michigan secondary teaching certificate in social studies, qualifying them to teach history, political science, geography, and economics. The practical capstone is a six-credit student teaching internship, TE 428, served in a public school and coordinated with the College of Education. Instruction takes place on campus in East Lansing. It is a bachelor's degree in history teacher education at the bachelor's level, based in Michigan.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageThe 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 81% graduation rate lands it in the top 4% 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. Cost only helps its case: at $17,739 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.
- 9
Appalachian State University
71score- 75%Grad rate
- $4,242/yrIn-state tuition
- $21,875/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 90%Admit rate
- 19,560Undergrads
- 35Grads/yr
- 1200SAT mid
- History/Social Studies Education (BS)
- On-campus
About the programAppalachian State's Bachelor of Science in History/Social Studies Education prepares candidates to teach history and social studies in grades 9 through 12. The program deliberately splits its weight between deep content and teaching practice, with history courses taught by subject-area faculty sitting alongside education coursework, classroom field experiences, and a capstone of student teaching. That balance helps future teachers know their material well and know how to bring it alive for students. Delivered on campus in Boone, it forms part of one of the largest undergraduate teacher preparation efforts in North Carolina, and the Reich College of Education's educator preparation carries CAEP accreditation. Graduates emerge ready to pursue North Carolina licensure in history and social studies. This program offers a bachelor's degree in history teacher education in North Carolina.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageIts place on the list comes down to outcomes, selectivity, and price, weighted in that order. Start with the outcome that matters most, 75% of students graduate, top 8% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. 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 $4,242 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.
- 10
Augustana College
71score- 73%Grad rate
- $51,438/yrTuition (in or out of state)
- 63%Admit rate
- 2,522Undergrads
- 4Grads/yr
- 1150SAT mid
- Secondary Education licensure in Social Science (History), grades 9-12
- On-campus
About the programAugustana College's education area offers a secondary education (grades 9-12) licensure pathway in social science with a history concentration, pairing a content major with professional education coursework leading to Illinois teacher licensure. Student teaching placements occur locally in the Quad Cities region under close faculty supervision. The program is delivered on campus and integrated with field experiences. Illinois licensure carries reciprocity with most other states through the Illinois State Board of Education. As a bachelor's degree in history teacher education, it adds to the bachelor's-level history teacher education options in Illinois.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageThree 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, 73% of students graduate, top 10% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. A 63% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $51,438 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.
- 11
Lipscomb University
71score- 72%Grad rate
- $37,460/yrTuition (in or out of state)
- 68%Admit rate
- 3,336Undergrads
- 2Grads/yr
- 1270SAT mid
- History Education, B.A.
- On-campus
About the programThe History Education, B.A. prepares students to teach middle or high school history, listed at the Secondary (6-12) level. Students major in history and complete the education coursework built into the degree to earn Tennessee teacher licensure. Lipscomb's teacher licensure program requires clinical practice, either traditional student teaching of 15 weeks across two classrooms or a job-embedded practitioner license of at least one year as teacher of record in a partner district. The program follows state guidelines for initial licensure candidates. Delivered on campus. It is a bachelor's degree in history teacher education at the bachelor's level, based in Tennessee.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageIts 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 72% graduation rate lands it in the top 11% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. A 68% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $37,460 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.
- 12
Northwest Nazarene University
71score- 71%Grad rate
- $40,024/yrTuition (in or out of state)
- 65%Admit rate
- 1,043Undergrads
- 3Grads/yr
- 1123SAT mid
- Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education, History teaching field
- On-campus
About the programNorthwest Nazarene University's Secondary Education program prepares candidates to teach grades 6-12, with History available as a teaching field for those drawn to the past. The professional education sequence moves purposefully from foundations toward practice, covering teaching methods, classroom management, and content literacy before a dedicated social studies methods course that carries embedded field hours into real classrooms. Everything builds to a semester-long student teaching placement. Idaho certification asks candidates to complete either a single 45-credit teaching field or a paired first and second field, letting students concentrate or broaden as they prefer. All of the College of Education's programs leading to an Idaho credential are accredited by CAEP and approved by the Idaho State Board of Education. As a bachelor's degree in history teacher education, it adds to the bachelor's-level history teacher education options in Idaho.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageThree 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, 71% of students graduate, top 13% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. A 65% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $40,024 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.
- 13
University of Mary
70score- 67%Grad rate
- $19,940/yrTuition (in or out of state)
- 75%Admit rate
- 2,821Undergrads
- 2Grads/yr
- 1225SAT mid
- History Education (B.A./B.S.)
- On-campus
About the programThe University of Mary's History Education major, offered as a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science, prepares candidates to teach history and social studies to students in grades 5 through 12. Coursework balances content and craft, pairing subjects such as U.S. History, North Dakota Studies, and global education with the study of classroom management and effective teaching practices. Students can shape the degree toward their interests by following an economics, geography, or politics track. Supervised teaching experience gives them time in real classrooms before they take charge of their own. Delivered on campus in Bismarck, the program makes graduates eligible for North Dakota middle and high school licensure across history and social studies subjects, with reciprocity available in other states. It is a bachelor's degree in history teacher education at the bachelor's level, based in North Dakota.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageThe 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 67% graduation rate lands it in the top 18% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. A 75% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Cost only helps its case: at $19,940 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.
- 14
Brigham Young University-Hawaii
70score- 53%Grad rate
- $6,630/yrTuition (in or out of state)
- 47%Admit rate
- 2,906Undergrads
- 4Grads/yr
- 1075SAT mid
- Social Science Education (BA)
- On-campus
About the programBuilt for future secondary teachers, Brigham Young University-Hawaii's Social Science Education (BA) leads to licensure in grades 7-12 and grounds that work in a strong sense of history. Coursework in the Faculty of Education and Social Work moves from American history and the history of civilization to the habits of the historian, while economics, geography, and political science round out the social science content. Admission is deliberate rather than automatic, since candidates formally apply to the Teacher Education Program with recommendation letters and an interview before beginning the professional year. From there the path turns practical, with pre-student teaching followed by a full 14-credit student teaching term in Laie classrooms. The result is a degree that keeps subject knowledge and real teaching experience tied closely together, and it holds AAQEP accreditation through June 2027. As a bachelor's degree in history teacher education, it adds to the bachelor's-level history teacher education options in Hawaii.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageWhere 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 53%, solid without being a standout. A 47% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Cost only helps its case: at $6,630 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.
- 15
Calvin University
68score- 74%Grad rate
- $39,350/yrTuition (in or out of state)
- 71%Admit rate
- 3,356Undergrads
- 3Grads/yr
- 1207SAT mid
- History Secondary Education Major
About the programCalvin University's History Secondary Education major prepares undergraduates for Michigan secondary teacher certification through the School of Education. The School offers secondary certification in two grade bands, 5th to 9th and 7th to 12th, that may be combined or earned independently, with social studies among the available subjects. History education candidates are advised to combine the major with the social studies program to broaden certification. As a bachelor's degree in history teacher education, it adds to the bachelor's-level history teacher education options in Michigan.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageIts 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 74% graduation rate lands it in the top 9% 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, $39,350 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.
- 16
Lee University
66score- 63%Grad rate
- $23,040/yrTuition (in or out of state)
- 71%Admit rate
- 3,271Undergrads
- 2Grads/yr
- 1135SAT mid
- On-campus
About the programLee University offers undergraduate history teacher education as a secondary licensure area within the Helen DeVos College of Education. All of the college's undergraduate teacher licensure programs are state approved. Instruction is described as personalized, delivered by faculty in technology-rich classrooms. This program offers a bachelor's degree in history teacher education in Tennessee.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageWhere it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. Start with the outcome that matters most, 63% of students graduate, top 27% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. A 71% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Cost only helps its case: at $23,040 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results.
- 17
Dickinson State University
66score- 51%Grad rate
- $7,470/yrTuition (in or out of state)
- 37%Admit rate
- 1,339Undergrads
- 2Grads/yr
- CAEP-accredited
About the programFor students who want to teach the past, Dickinson State University offers a bachelor's pathway in History secondary teacher education, delivered online and built toward teacher licensure. The program prepares candidates to lead history and social science classes at the secondary level, moving them from education coursework into a hands-on student teaching capstone. During that experience, candidates take full responsibility for a classroom, planning lessons, managing students, delivering instruction, and reflecting on their own practice with support from a cooperating teacher and a university supervisor. Learning online keeps the path open to students who cannot come to campus, while the capstone still puts them in front of real classes. The teacher education program is accredited by CAEP. This program offers a bachelor's degree in history teacher education in North Dakota.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageIts 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 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.
- 18
University of Nevada-Reno
65score- 61%Grad rate
- $8,430/yrIn-state tuition
- $26,572/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 74%Admit rate
- 19,117Undergrads
- 9Grads/yr
- 1175SAT mid
- Secondary Education and History (PackTeach), dual B.A. in Education/Secondary Education and B.A. in History
About the programThe University of Nevada, Reno PackTeach program is a four year dual degree in which students earn both a Bachelor of Arts in Education/Secondary Education and a Bachelor of Arts in History. It provides a broad history background plus all coursework required to apply for a license to teach secondary social studies in Nevada, pairing content preparation with pedagogy and applied instruction. UNR states its educator preparation programs are fully accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), which covers this initial licensure program. A Nevada teaching license requires U.S. citizenship or valid work authorization. As a bachelor's degree in history teacher education, it adds to the bachelor's-level history teacher education options in Nevada.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageThree 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, 61% of students graduate, top 35% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. A 74% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Cost only helps its case: at $8,430 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results.
- 19
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras
65score- 50%Grad rate
- $5,024/yrTuition (in or out of state)
- 55%Admit rate
- 8,710Undergrads
- 3Grads/yr
- Bachelor in Secondary Education, History concentration
- On-campus
About the programThe University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras offers a Bachelor in Secondary Education with a concentration in History through its College of Education (Facultad de Educacion Eugenio Maria de Hostos), the oldest teacher-preparation unit on the island. The official academic offerings page lists Secondary Education (History) among the College of Education bachelor's programs, indicating a subject-specialized teaching degree that prepares candidates for the secondary classroom. As a bachelor's degree in history teacher education, it adds to the bachelor's-level history teacher education options in Puerto Rico.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageWe 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. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among programs nationwide at 50%, solid without being a standout. A 55% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Cost only helps its case: at $5,024 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results.
- 20
Wartburg College
64score- 64%Grad rate
- $25,000/yrTuition (in or out of state)
- 76%Admit rate
- 1,462Undergrads
- 1Grads/yr
- 1065SAT mid
- World History Teaching (5-12), B.A.
About the programWartburg College's World History Teaching (5-12) is a Bachelor of Arts for students who want to teach history in the middle and high school grades, leading to a secondary 5-12 teaching license. Housed in the History Department and coordinated with the college's educator preparation program, it keeps students in real classrooms from the first year onward, with majors logging 80 to 100 field hours plus a 25-hour placement in a diverse setting before student teaching. What makes this track distinctive is how far it can take students literally, since history majors here can study abroad in destinations such as Switzerland, Scotland, and China, or join faculty-led May Term trips to England, Wales, and Germany. Those journeys turn the subject into something students have walked through themselves. The result is a program that grounds future teachers in both scholarship and lived experience. As a bachelor's degree in history teacher education, it adds to the bachelor's-level history teacher education options in Iowa.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageThe 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 64% graduation rate lands it in the top 25% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. A 76% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Tuition is middle of the road for programs nationwide at $25,000 in state, so cost neither helps nor hurts its standing.
- 21
University of Illinois Chicago
64score- 62%Grad rate
- $12,789/yrIn-state tuition
- $28,849/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 77%Admit rate
- 22,495Undergrads
- 20Grads/yr
- 1240SAT mid
- Bachelor of Arts in the Teaching of History
- On-campus
About the programHistory lovers headed for the secondary classroom will find a clear structure in UIC's Bachelor of Arts in the Teaching of History, which sets a full history major beside a 28-credit professional education sequence built to Illinois licensure standards. Students shape their historical study through concentrations in areas such as U.S., European, and non-Western world history, then layer in education courses on learning and instruction, exceptional learners, secondary literacy, and urban curriculum. The professional work builds toward a two-course Educational Practice with Seminar student teaching sequence, HIST 475 and 476, that prepares candidates to teach grades six through twelve. Completing the sequence leads toward Illinois licensure to teach history in the secondary years. This program offers a bachelor's degree in history teacher education in Illinois.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageThree 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, 62% of students graduate, top 30% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. A 77% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Cost only helps its case: at $12,789 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results.
- 22
Kennesaw State University
64score- 52%Grad rate
- $4,560/yrIn-state tuition
- $16,488/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 69%Admit rate
- 42,760Undergrads
- 40Grads/yr
- 1110SAT mid
- Bachelor of Science in History Education
- CAEP (page uses legacy NCATE wording)-accredited
- Hybrid
About the programKennesaw State's Bachelor of Science in History Education is a 120-credit program leading to Georgia grades 6-12 teacher certification in history. Students complete the equivalent of a history major within a cross-disciplinary teaching field, adding coursework in social sciences such as geography, political science, and economics, plus pedagogical training. Field experiences build toward a yearlong clinical placement in the final year: part-time in the fall and full-time in the spring in the same middle or high school. The program is approved by Georgia's Professional Standards Commission for certification and nationally recognized by the National Council for the Social Studies. Delivery is face-to-face or hybrid. This program offers a bachelor's degree in history teacher education in Georgia.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageThe 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 52%, solid without being a standout. A 69% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Cost only helps its case: at $4,560 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results.
- 23
CUNY Lehman College
64score- 51%Grad rate
- $6,930/yrIn-state tuition
- $14,880/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 57%Admit rate
- 11,617Undergrads
- 4Grads/yr
- 1000SAT mid
- History (Teacher Education track)
- On-campus
About the programLehman College's Bachelor of Arts in History includes a teacher education track that doubles as an approved major for students aiming to teach middle or high school social studies. Delivered on campus through the History Department as a full-time, four-year sequence, the published degree map totals 86 credits and keeps historical study at its center. Student teaching is required, with candidates applying through the Office of the Dean of Education when they are ready for that culminating placement. The plan also carries a foreign language requirement of two courses in the same language, waived only for students who already hold an associate degree, plus Writing Intensive courses that vary with transfer-credit status. Completing the track supports New York teacher certification in the subject. This program offers a bachelor's degree in history teacher education in New York.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageIts 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 51%, solid without being a standout. A 57% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Cost only helps its case: at $6,930 in state, tuition runs below the national median, so students are not paying a premium for those results.
- 24
Oklahoma City University
63score- 65%Grad rate
- $29,804/yrTuition (in or out of state)
- 77%Admit rate
- 1,514Undergrads
- 2Grads/yr
- 1155SAT mid
- B.A. in History/Political Science with teacher certification track
- On-campus
About the programAt Oklahoma City University, future history teachers earn certification through an add-on track layered onto the B.A. in History and Political Science rather than a standalone teaching major. The path is clearly mapped, asking certification students to add five specified courses, among them Regional Geography, Comparative Politics, and Oklahoma and the Southwest, which broaden a social studies teacher's range well beyond history alone. Those additions sit within a roughly 124-hour degree based in the History, Political Science, and Philosophy department. Certification itself is administered through OCU's Teacher Education Program, which requires field experiences and student teaching and meets Oklahoma's licensure requirements. The educator preparation provider holds CAEP accreditation at the initial-licensure level. It is a bachelor's degree in history teacher education at the bachelor's level, based in Oklahoma.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageWe 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 65% graduation rate lands it in the top 22% of programs nationwide, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. A 77% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $29,804 in state, above the national median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability.
- 25
Southern Utah University
63score- 61%Grad rate
- $6,186/yrIn-state tuition
- $20,416/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 82%Admit rate
- 13,126Undergrads
- 2Grads/yr
- History Teaching (History Education Emphasis, BA/BS)
About the programSouthern Utah University offers History Teaching as a history education emphasis within its History degree, available as a BA or BS. The program is coordinated by the Department of History and the Department of Teacher Education, so students combine the history major with professional education coursework. Candidates complete student teaching and practicums administered by the teacher education department and qualify for a secondary teaching license. This program offers a bachelor's degree in history teacher education in Utah.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageWhere it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. Start with the outcome that matters most, 61% of students graduate, top 35% among programs nationwide, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. 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.
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%
How much a bachelor's in History Teacher Education program costs
Published in-state tuition across the 112 ranked bachelor's programs typically runs from $5,024 to $46,940 a year, with a median near $24,550. 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. 36 of the 112 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.
Sources: tuition and program data from IPEDS; the TEACH Grant from Federal Student Aid.
How to get licensed to teach with a bachelor's in History Teacher Education
A bachelor's in History 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 History 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 History 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, 4 of the 112 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.