Best institutions to study Online Educator/Online Teaching
A program that prepares individuals to teach students at various academic levels through online instructional technologies.
17 U.S. institutions graduated 59 Online Educator/Online Teaching students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 13.1211, a specialization of Teacher Education and Professional Development (CIP 13.12), and leads most directly to the Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education occupation (BLS SOC 25-2021).
About Online Educator/Online Teaching programs
A program that prepares individuals to teach students at various academic levels through online instructional technologies. Includes instruction in andragogy, pedagogy, assessment, instructional design and technology, and learning science.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Online Educator/Online Teaching program, part of Teacher Education and Professional Development, prepares individuals to effectively teach students at various academic levels using online instructional technologies. This program is ideal for those looking to enhance their teaching skills in a digital environment, focusing on both pedagogy and andragogy.
Students will gain essential skills in learning strategies, critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication. Coursework covers instructional design, assessment techniques, and the application of learning science to adapt teaching methods for diverse student needs.
Credentials awarded
What Online Educator/Online Teaching graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Postbaccalaureate certificate35 graduates / yr · 13 institutions59%
- Master's degree17 graduates / yr · 2 institutions29%
- Post-master's certificate7 graduates / yr · 2 institutions12%
Graduates over time
Online Educator/Online Teaching completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 62 |
| 2021 | 81 |
| 2022 | 153 |
| 2023 | 153 |
| 2024 | 115 |
| 2025 | 59 |
CIP 13.1211 was introduced in CIP 2020, so the series starts when institutions began reporting under the new code.
Top 17 institutions for Online Educator/Online Teaching, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 15 | 63% | $27,082 | $45,853 |
| 2 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TNPublicPost-degree cert. | 9 | 54% | — | $42,657 |
| 3 | The Chicago School at Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 6 | 0% | — | — |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Whitewater, WIPublicPost-degree cert. | 5 | 59% | — | $43,611 |
| 5 | Post University Waterbury, CTPrivate for-profitPost-degree cert. | 4 | 25% | $14,659 | — |
| 6 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicPost-degree cert. | 4 | 90% | — | $46,162 |
| 7 | Ball State University Muncie, INPublicPost-degree cert. | 2 | 62% | — | $41,821 |
| 8 | University of Saint Francis - Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, INPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 2 | 55% | $20,012 | — |
| 9 | University of Rochester Rochester, NYPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 2 | 85% | $25,874 | — |
| 10 | Lebanon Valley College Annville, PAPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 2 | 65% | $24,925 | $51,300 |
| 11 | University of Wyoming Laramie, WYPublicPost-degree cert. | 2 | 59% | — | $45,901 |
| 12 | Athens State University Athens, ALPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | — | — | $40,948 |
| 13 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, INPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 80% | — | $46,765 |
| 14 | University at Albany Albany, NYPublicMaster's | 1 | 61% | — | — |
| 15 | Neumann University Aston, PAPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 1 | 54% | $28,753 | — |
| 16 | Point Park University Pittsburgh, PAPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 1 | 59% | $23,704 | $35,540 |
| 17 | American College of Education Indianapolis, INPrivate for-profitPost-degree cert. | 1 | — | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Teacher Education and Professional Development field (CIP 13.12) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 10 states
Where Online Educator/Online Teaching graduates come from. Each state links to all Teacher Education and Professional Development programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 4 | 19 | Wilkes University15 / yr |
| Tennessee | 1 | 9 | Middle Tennessee State University9 / yr |
| Indiana | 4 | 6 | Ball State University2 / yr |
| California | 1 | 6 | The Chicago School at Los Angeles6 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 5 | University of Wisconsin - Whitewater5 / yr |
| Connecticut | 1 | 4 | Post University4 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 4 | University of Georgia4 / yr |
| New York | 2 | 3 | University of Rochester2 / yr |
| Wyoming | 1 | 2 | University of Wyoming2 / yr |
| Alabama | 1 | 1 | Athens State University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-2021, Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers as elementary, middle, or secondary school teachers, among other roles. While the job outlook for these positions shows a decline of 2%, there are approximately 91,000 annual openings, with a median wage of $62,340 for those typically holding a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 13.1211
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Educationprimary SOC 25-2021 | $63,970 | -2.0% Decline | ~91,000 | Bachelor's degree |
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education SOC 25-2031 | $72,040 | -1.6% Decline | ~66,200 | Bachelor's degree |
Self-Enrichment Teachers SOC 25-3021 | $46,800 | +3.7% About as fast as average | ~51,400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education SOC 25-2022 | $64,370 | -2.0% Decline | ~40,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Teachers and Instructors, All Other SOC 25-3099 | $66,140 | -0.1% Little or no change | ~18,000 | Bachelor's degree |
Postsecondary Teachers, All Other SOC 25-1199 | $77,640 | +1.8% Little or no change | ~13,500 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Education Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1081 | $75,350 | +2.1% About as fast as average | ~5,600 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Online Educator/Online Teaching programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Instruct students individually and in groups, using teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the students.
- Guide and counsel students with adjustment or academic problems or with special academic interests.
- Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
- Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
- Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
Tools and technology used
Other Teacher Education and Professional Development specializations
The 13 other 6-digit CIP codes under Teacher Education and Professional Development (CIP 13.12).
- Elementary Education and TeachingCIP 13.120242,176 graduates / yr1,131 institutions
- Early Childhood Education and TeachingCIP 13.121033,622 graduates / yr910 institutions
- Secondary Education and TeachingCIP 13.120510,339 graduates / yr530 institutions
- Teacher EducationCIP 13.12069,066 graduates / yr279 institutions
- Teacher Education and Professional DevelopmentCIP 13.12996,107 graduates / yr191 institutions
- Junior High/CIP 13.1203
Intermediate/ Middle School Education and Teaching 2,728 graduates / yr273 institutions - Kindergarten/CIP 13.1209
Preschool Education and Teaching 1,689 graduates / yr113 institutions - Adult and Continuing Education and TeachingCIP 13.1201942 graduates / yr67 institutions
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Educational MethodsCIP 13.1213398 graduates / yr21 institutions
- Montessori Teacher EducationCIP 13.1207282 graduates / yr16 institutions
- College/CIP 13.1214
Postsecondary/ University Teaching 95 graduates / yr16 institutions - International Teaching and LearningCIP 13.1212limited data34 graduates / yr1 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Waldorf/
Steiner Teacher Education13.1208
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
See all Teacher Education and Professional Development programs →
Common questions
What credentials can I earn from this program?+
You can earn a Postbaccalaureate certificate, a Master's degree, or a Post-master's certificate.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in learning strategies, critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue after completing this program?+
You can become an elementary or secondary school teacher, among other teaching roles.
What is the job outlook for teachers?+
The job outlook shows a decline of 2%, but there are around 91,000 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Online Educator/Online Teaching?+
Online Educator/Online Teaching is CIP 13.1211 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Teacher Education and Professional Development (CIP 13.12). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to teach students at various academic levels through online instructional technologies. Includes instruction in andragogy, pedagogy, assessment, instructional design and technology, and learning science.
How many institutions offer Online Educator/Online Teaching programs?+
17 U.S. institutions reported Online Educator/Online Teaching graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 10 states, awarding 59 credentials in the year. That is 0.1% of all Teacher Education and Professional Development graduates.
How much do Online Educator/Online Teaching graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education occupation, which Online Educator/Online Teaching most directly leads to, pays a median of $63,970 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Teacher Education and Professional Development field report median earnings of $45,853 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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