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Key takeaway: Yes, you can earn an accredited education degree online, and the diploma is identical to an on-campus one. When the program is accredited, the curriculum and degree are the same regardless of delivery format, and the diploma never says "online." Always confirm accreditation before you enroll.
The most important thing to verify is accreditation, not delivery format. For the full picture, see our guide to education accreditation.
Yes, and accreditation works the same online as on campus. Look for a program accredited by CAEP, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. For programs leading to teacher licensure, confirm the program is approved by your state’s department of education in addition to institutional accreditation. To confirm a program is legitimately accredited, check the U.S. Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and CHEA, and verify the program appears as currently accredited rather than a candidate.
Most coursework is fully online, but programs that lead to teaching licensure require supervised student teaching or clinical practicum, which you complete in a local school. Online programs typically help arrange placements near you. For more on how courses are delivered, see online education course formats and compare online vs on-campus education.
Accredited online education programs offer the same specializations as their on-campus counterparts, including early childhood education, special education, educational leadership, and curriculum and instruction. Explore the full set on our education concentrations page, or start with the online bachelor’s in education.
Compare accredited schools offering online education programs below. Evaluate each on the factors that predict outcomes: accreditation, cost, graduation rate, and salary outcome.
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
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Online education degrees often cost less in total than on-campus equivalents because you avoid housing, commuting, and relocation, and many public universities charge flat online rates. Compare programs using total tuition and fees for the full credit load rather than the advertised per-credit rate. For lower-cost options, see affordable education programs.
For most students, yes, when the program is accredited. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, education graduates earn a median of $64,330 per year (BLS, 2024). The return depends on the accredited credential, not the delivery format. For a full ROI breakdown, see is an education degree worth it?.
Yes. An online degree from a state-approved, accredited program qualifies you for teacher licensure as long as you complete the required student teaching and pass your state’s licensure exams (such as the Praxis). Confirm reciprocity if you plan to teach in another state.
Bottom line: You can earn an accredited education degree online with the same recognition as an on-campus degree. Confirm accreditation first, compare programs on cost and outcomes, and choose the specialization that fits your goals.
Most coursework is fully online, but programs that lead to teaching licensure require supervised student teaching or clinical practicum, which you complete in a local school. Online programs typically help arrange placements near you.
Yes. Look for a program accredited by CAEP, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. For programs leading to teacher licensure, confirm the program is approved by your state’s department of education in addition to institutional accreditation. Verify accreditation through the U.S. Department of Education and CHEA before enrolling.
Yes. An online degree from a state-approved, accredited program qualifies you for teacher licensure as long as you complete the required student teaching and pass your state’s licensure exams (such as the Praxis). Confirm reciprocity if you plan to teach in another state.
No. An accredited online education degree results in the same diploma and transcript as the on-campus version, and the delivery format is not noted.
For most students, yes, when the program is accredited. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, education graduates earn a median of $64,330 per year (BLS, 2024). The return depends on the accredited credential, not the delivery format.
Data verified: June 16, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
