How To Get a Free Teaching Degree & Certificate 2027

Becoming a public school teacher takes two things: a bachelor's degree and a license or certificate issued by your state. Both carry costs, yet you have more ways to reduce them than most people expect, from federal grants to paid teacher residencies.

Ahead, you'll find an honest look at what "free" can and can't mean in teacher preparation, along with practical strategies for lowering your costs. You'll also see ten affordable online programs, typical costs and timelines, and current career data, so keep reading to map out a path that fits your budget.

Disclaimer: The schools advertised on Learn.org do not guarantee free tuition. Tuition-free programs do not always mean zero cost to attend. In some cases, eligibility for low-cost college education is limited by state residency, income thresholds, employer partnerships, or other requirements. Always verify with the individual school or program to understand what is covered and what out-of-pocket expenses you may still be responsible for.

Are There Free Online Teaching Degrees?

No, an accredited teaching degree is not free. Colleges charge tuition and fees for any program that leads to a recognized credential, and you'll also pay for textbooks, technology, background checks, and licensing exams along the way.

That said, you can lower the price dramatically and sometimes erase your tuition bill altogether. Grants, scholarships, employer support, and transfer credits can cover a large share of a bachelor's degree, and certain certification routes, such as paid residencies and district-sponsored programs, may cost you little or nothing while you train.

What "Free" Really Means for an Online Teaching Degree

When a teaching program is called free, it typically means that gift aid or an outside sponsor covers tuition. Fees, supplies, exam registration, and living costs often remain your responsibility, and some funding comes with strings attached.

Those strings matter in teacher preparation. Certain grants require you to teach in a high-need field at a school serving low-income families for several years, and failing to meet that commitment can turn the money into a loan you must repay with interest. Weigh any service requirement carefully before you accept the funding.

Ways to Make an Online Teaching Degree Low-Cost

Teacher candidates have access to funding sources that students in many other fields don't. The strategies below work best when you combine several of them.

Complete the FAFSA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens the door to Pell Grants, work-study, and many state and school awards. It's also required for the federal TEACH Grant, so filing is the first step toward most teacher-specific funding.

Submit the form early each year, since some state and institutional funds are limited. Online students at eligible accredited schools qualify for the same federal aid as students who attend on campus.

Apply for the TEACH Grant

The federal TEACH Grant provides up to $4,000 per year, with a small annual reduction, to students who plan to teach in a high-need field. In exchange, you agree to teach full time for at least four years at a school that serves low-income families, and you must complete that service within eight years of finishing your program.

If you don't meet the service requirement, the grant converts to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan, with interest charged from the date of disbursement. Review the current terms and your state's list of high-need fields before you commit.

Look for Teacher-Specific Scholarships and Grants

Many states, school districts, professional associations, and foundations offer awards for future teachers. Some target shortage areas such as special education, math, and science, while others support students who plan to teach in rural or underserved communities.

Your school's education department and financial aid office can point you to awards you might not find on your own. Applying to several smaller scholarships each term can add up to a meaningful reduction.

Use Employer and District Support

If you already work in a school as a paraprofessional, aide, or substitute, your district may offer tuition assistance or a program designed to help staff become licensed teachers. Some districts partner directly with colleges to reduce costs for employees who commit to teaching locally.

Under federal tax rules, employers can generally provide up to $5,250 per year in educational assistance without it counting as taxable income to you. Ask your human resources office what's available and whether a work commitment applies.

Transfer Credits You Already Have

Credits from an associate degree, earlier college coursework, or exams such as CLEP can count toward your bachelor's degree. Starting at a community college and transferring to a four-year school is a common way to complete the first two years at a lower price.

Request a credit evaluation before you apply, and confirm that your credits meet the requirements for the licensure area you want. Policies vary widely, and the difference between schools can amount to a year of tuition.

Consider Alternative Certification or a Teacher Residency

If you already hold a bachelor's degree in another subject, you don't need a second one to teach. All states offer alternative routes to certification, and some let you begin teaching under supervision while you complete your coursework.

Teacher residencies pair you with an experienced mentor teacher in a school district while you earn your certification, and some pay a stipend or salary during training. Programs such as Teach for America and state-sponsored pathways also support career changers, so compare what each one costs and requires.

Plan for Loan Forgiveness

If you do borrow, teaching-specific forgiveness programs can reduce what you ultimately repay. The federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness program can cancel part of your Direct Loan balance after five consecutive years of teaching in a qualifying low-income school, and Public Service Loan Forgiveness offers another route for public school employees.

Eligibility depends on your subject area, school, and type of loan, so check the current requirements on the Federal Student Aid website. Forgiveness isn't guaranteed, which makes grants and scholarships a safer first choice.

Low-Cost Online Colleges With Teaching Degrees

The programs below offer online teaching degrees or certification routes at accessible prices, ranging from bachelor's programs to fast-track options for career changers. Because teaching licenses are issued by individual states, confirm that any program you consider meets the requirements where you plan to teach.

1. Western Governors University

Western Governors University suits you if you'd rather move at your own speed. Its online teaching degrees, including a BA in elementary education, are competency-based, so you can advance quickly through material you already know and spend more time on new concepts. Coursework and assessments are paired with a clinical experience that includes observation hours, followed by student teaching in an approved classroom.

WGU is a nonprofit university accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), and it charges a flat rate per term rather than per credit, which means finishing sooner can lower your total cost. The university says its elementary education program prepares you for licensure in any of the 50 states, but you should still confirm requirements with your state's education department before you enroll.

2. Fort Hays State University

Fort Hays State University gives you several ways in, depending on where you are in your education. At the undergraduate level, programs in elementary education, early childhood unified, business, history, physical education, and Spanish can be completed entirely online, with field experiences that prepare you for Kansas licensure.

If you already hold a bachelor's degree in another field, two graduate-level routes are worth a look. The traditional certification master's program in elementary education (PreK-6) is built for non-education bachelor's holders, while the two-year Transition to Teaching option lets you teach in a Kansas classroom on a restricted license after a district hires you. FHSU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), and the traditional certification program is also accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

3. University of North Dakota

A campus visit is never required for the University of North Dakota's online Bachelor of Science in Education in elementary education. The program prepares you to seek licensure for grades 1 through 8 in North Dakota or grades 1 through 6 in Minnesota, and you'll need an overall GPA of at least 2.75 and passing scores on state licensure exams to qualify for a North Dakota license.

If you're planning to keep studying, look at the accelerated option that combines a bachelor's degree in elementary education with a master's in reading education. You can apply after completing 60 credits or earning an associate degree, and you'll finish both degrees in less time than it would take separately. UND holds HLC accreditation.

4. University of Wisconsin–Superior

The University of Wisconsin–Superior began as a teacher education college in 1893, and its online elementary education program for grades K-9 is the only 100% online elementary education bachelor's from a public university in Wisconsin. You'll work with children in local classrooms early in the program and throughout your coursework, then finish with a full semester of student teaching.

The major requires an instruction minor, and you can add licensure in early childhood education, early childhood special education, or K-12 special education. If you already have a bachelor's degree, UW-Superior also offers licensure programs that apply your prior coursework, which can save money compared with starting a second degree. The university is accredited by HLC.

5. Valley City State University

Valley City State University has built its reputation on teacher education, and its online elementary education program is designed with working adults in mind, particularly paraprofessionals and others already employed in schools. You can pair the degree with optional credentials, including a reading credential, a kindergarten endorsement, an English language learner endorsement, and a special education strategist endorsement.

VCSU's education programs carry CAEP accreditation and meet North Dakota licensure requirements, though the university notes that it can't confirm that they satisfy every other state's rules. Check with your state's licensing board before you commit, especially if you plan to teach outside North Dakota.

6. Southwest Minnesota State University

Southwest Minnesota State University's online BS in Elementary Teacher Education prepares you for Minnesota licensure through 25 online classes plus student teaching and lab or fieldwork courses, for a total of 77 to 78 credit hours of teacher education coursework. The degree is also offered on campus, so you can choose the format that fits your life.

Plan around one detail: your student teaching must take place in a Minnesota public school under a Minnesota-licensed supervising teacher, even if you live elsewhere during your online coursework. The program is approved by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB), and scholarships are available to help with costs.

7. Northern New Mexico College

Northern New Mexico College offers fully online teacher education built for working adults, paraprofessionals, and career changers. You can pursue early childhood education, which leads to PreK through grade 3 licensure, or elementary education, which leads to K-8 licensure with opportunities to add a TESOL endorsement.

If you already have a bachelor's degree, the alternative licensure program lets you become a licensed teacher without starting over, with fully online options in elementary education (K-8), secondary education (7-12), and special education (K-12). Licensure follows completion of coursework and the required state assessments, and the college emphasizes small class sizes and strong ties to local communities. Northern is accredited by HLC.

8. University of Northern Colorado

Designed for students who have already completed an associate degree in elementary education, the University of Northern Colorado's online BA is a degree completion program leading to Colorado teacher licensure with an elementary education (K-6) endorsement. The Culturally and Linguistically Diverse concentration builds skills for supporting multilingual learners, which is useful in classrooms of nearly every kind.

The degree requires 120 total credits and in-person field placement, so line up a school in your area early. Coursework is offered in the fall and spring terms, and you'll need a passing Praxis score for licensure. Students who plan to teach outside Colorado should review the university's licensure eligibility information by state. UNC is accredited by HLC.

9. University of North Georgia

Career changers with a bachelor's degree will find a quick option at the University of North Georgia, where the online Master of Arts in Teaching includes initial Georgia teaching certification. The PK-5 track requires 30 credit hours and finishes in three consecutive semesters, running from summer through spring.

Other concentrations take longer, and the university cautions that its programs may not meet licensure requirements in states other than Georgia. UNG is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Because this is a graduate program, compare its total cost with certificate-only or alternative routes before you decide.

10. Concordia University Wisconsin

Concordia University Wisconsin's accelerated elementary education program lets you earn a bachelor's degree and a Wisconsin license for grades K-9 entirely online. You can start at the beginning of any eight-week session, field experiences begin in your first year, and the coursework can be completed in as little as three years.

As a private Lutheran university, Concordia also offers an optional Lutheran Teaching Diploma. The program accepts up to six credits of prior learning assessment, which lets you document relevant experience for credit. Because the school is private, compare your net price after aid with public options before you make a final choice.

How We Rank Schools

To create this list, we review data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), along with program-level details published by each university. Teacher preparation adds a few extra layers, since a program's value depends heavily on whether it leads to a license in your state.

Programs that connect directly to initial licensure, include supervised classroom experience, and carry state approval or educator-preparation accreditation rank above those that offer coursework alone. Four criteria guide each placement:

• Accreditation: Regionally accredited institutions are the only ones considered, and state approval or CAEP accreditation of the teacher preparation program counts as a meaningful additional signal.
• Affordability and financial aid: Per-credit costs, net price, transfer-friendly policies, and access to scholarships or teacher-specific aid all shape a school's position.
• Online availability: Coursework must be deliverable online, with clear, local options for student teaching and field experience.
• Student outcomes: College Scorecard data on graduation rates and post-enrollment earnings offers a window into how students fare after they enroll.

Learn more about our ranking methodology.

How Much Does an Online Teaching Degree Cost?

Many public universities charge roughly $200 to $700 per credit hour for online undergraduate courses, which works out to about $24,000 to $84,000 in tuition for a 120-credit bachelor's degree. Private schools and some out-of-state rates run higher, and fees, textbooks, and technology costs add to the total.

Teacher candidates face a few extra expenses on top of tuition. Licensing exams such as the Praxis each carry their own registration fees, and you'll also pay for background checks, fingerprinting, and your state's license application. Alternative certification programs and certificate-only routes typically cost much less than a full degree, particularly when your employer or a district contributes.

How Long Does It Take To Earn a Teaching Degree Online?

A bachelor's degree in education generally takes about four years of full-time study, since it combines 120 credits with a semester of student teaching. Competency-based and accelerated programs can shorten that timeline if you're able to move through familiar material quickly.

If you already have an associate degree or a large number of transfer credits, you may finish in about two years. Career changers with a bachelor's degree can often earn certification in one to two years through alternative routes, while some programs let you start teaching under supervision before you've completed every requirement.

How To Choose the Right Low-Cost Teaching Degree

Price matters, but licensure fit matters more, since a cheap program that doesn't meet your state's requirements costs you time and money. Use the criteria below to compare your options.

• State approval and licensure fit: Confirm that the program leads to a license in the state where you plan to teach, and check how its credential would transfer if you move.
• Student teaching logistics: Ask where and how your classroom placement will be arranged, since some programs require placement in a specific state or school type.
• Accreditation: Regional accreditation protects your financial aid eligibility, and educator-preparation accreditation or state approval signals that the program meets professional standards.
• Grade level and subject area: Match the program to the age group and subject you want to teach, and look for high-need areas such as special education, math, and science that may open up additional funding.
• Total cost and aid: Compare net price rather than tuition alone, and ask about TEACH Grant eligibility, teacher scholarships, and employer or district partnerships.
• Exam preparation and support: Programs that prepare you for required licensure exams and offer advising through the certification process can save you from costly retakes.

Career Outlook With an Online Teaching Degree

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), elementary school teachers earn a median annual wage of $63,970, and overall employment of kindergarten and elementary school teachers is projected to show little or no change through 2035. Even so, the BLS projects about 99,400 openings each year, mostly from teachers who retire or move into other occupations.

Public school teachers need a bachelor's degree and a state-issued license, and all states offer an alternative route for people who already hold a degree in another subject. If you're drawn to older students, high school teachers also typically enter with a bachelor's degree and earn a median annual wage of $72,040.

FAQs About Free Online Teaching Degree Programs

The answers below address common concerns about free learning options and what they mean for your path into the classroom. They'll help you set realistic expectations as you compare programs.

Are There Free Online Teaching Courses?

Yes, free teaching courses exist, and many are available online. Platforms such as Coursera and edX often let you audit education courses at no charge, and sites such as Khan Academy offer free lessons that help you build subject knowledge. These resources can strengthen your skills and help you decide whether teaching is right for you, but they don't carry college credit and they don't lead to a state license.

Are There Free Online Teaching Certificates?

Some websites offer free certificates of completion for short courses on topics such as classroom management or teaching English as a foreign language. These can enrich your resume, though they are not the same as the state-issued certification required to teach in public schools. A required state license usually comes through an approved preparation program, and some of those, including paid residencies and district-sponsored routes, cost little or nothing while you train.

Is a Free Online Teaching Degree Respected by Employers?

School districts care about whether your degree comes from an accredited institution and whether you hold a valid state license. A degree earned online from an accredited school, paired with a completed student teaching experience, is treated the same as one earned on campus. Verify that both the school and its teacher preparation program are approved before you enroll.

Can I Become a Teacher Without an Education Degree?

Yes, many teachers enter the classroom with a degree in another subject. The BLS notes that people with a bachelor's degree in another field can complete a teacher education program to earn certification, and all states offer alternative routes for degree holders. Requirements differ by state, so contact your state's education department to learn which pathway applies to you.

Will My Teaching License Transfer to Another State?

Each state sets its own licensure requirements, so a license earned in one state doesn't automatically carry over. Many states offer reciprocity or take part in agreements such as the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, which can simplify the process, though you may still need to pass additional exams or complete coursework. Review the destination state's requirements before you choose a program, especially if you expect to relocate.

Explore Affordable Online Teaching Degrees

Learn.org brings teaching programs together in one place so you can compare your options side by side. Browse programs through Learn.org and connect directly with schools to get personalized details on licensure requirements, costs, and financial aid.