The state of Ohio has over 3,500 public schools with over 1.6 million students. With public education making up 75% of schools in the state, Ohio has a great need for qualified teachers who also complete a Ohio Department of Education approved degree program.
With a lot of licensures to choose from, including a several in intervention and special education, prospective Ohio teachers have a lot of information to sift through. Additionally, many Ohio teachers also choose to go back to school to earn Masters in Education degrees and to gain additional endorsements for their licenses. With over 20 universities offering online education degrees, especially at the graduate level, Ohio is a great location for early childhood education degrees.
Our editors first reviewed online education degrees in Ohio in January 2018. This ranking was last updated in December 2023.
Requirements for Teaching Licensure in Ohio
The Ohio Department of Higher Education offers 8 types of teaching licensure. All Ohio Educator Licenses applicants must complete a educator preparation program approved by the Chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education and pass the requisite Ohio Assessments for Educators exam required for your specific license. Six of Ohio’s teaching licenses require a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Admission Requirements
Admissions requirements vary according to the degree sought. At the undergraduate level, many Ohio universities accept the Common Application used for all degree programs and many colleges across the nation. Often students are only admitted to the specific education degree program after they have completed an associates degree or the university’s general education requirements. Sometimes, undergraduate education programs will require certain GPAs or additional letters of recommendation for admittance.
At the graduate level, applicants need to have a bachelor’s degree. Sometimes that degree will need to be in education or a closely related field. Students without an education degree may be asked to complete additional coursework in order to be accepted into or graduate from a M.Ed program. Most M.Ed programs also require transcripts and test scores. Most commonly, these will be GRE test scores from within the last 5 years, but sometimes applicants are also asked for their OAE or Ohio Assessment for Educators or Praxis scores, especially if the program is designed for students who already hold Bachelor’s in Education degrees.
Average Salaries for Common ECED-holding Roles in Ohio
| Job Title | Average Salary |
| School Principal | $101,320 |
| Professor of Education | $80,840 |
| Special Education Teacher | $62,950 |
| High School Math or Science Teacher | $62,360 |
| Public School Teacher | $61,810 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $61,620 |
| School Psychologist | $60,140 |
| ESL Teacher | $58,590 |
| Preschool Teacher | $35,330 |
Scholarships for Future Educators in the State of Ohio
JFK Scholarship
The JFK Scholarship is for an Ohio Education Association member who is a teacher enrolled in a graduate-level program in the amount of $4,000.
TEACH Grant
TEACH Grants are part of a federal program that provides up to $4,000 a year to students who are completing or plan to complete coursework to start a career as a teacher.
Jean Kershaw Scholarship
The Jean Kershaw Scholarship is a $2,000 scholarship for a student enrolled in an undergraduate teacher education program in Ohio.
The 5 Best Early Childhood Education Degree Programs in Ohio
Ohio has a total of 20 education degree-granting institutions that provide online education degrees. These schools range from small private liberal arts schools to large public research universities offering associates degrees in early childhood education to master’s degrees in various subspecialties in education. Because Ohio has so many specialized teaching licensures, it is important for students to choose the degree that offers the right licensure and endorsement. A great resource is the complete list of Educator Preparation Programs approved by the Ohio Department of Higher Education. To select the following top five universities, we’ve looked at several factors: the cost of tuition, the number of online education degrees, and the institution’s academic prestige according to national ranking numbers.
1. University of Dayton
The University of Dayton is a private Roman Catholic research university in Dayton, Ohio. Founded in 1850 by the Society of Mary, the University of Dayton is one of only three Marianist universities in the nation and the second largest private university in Ohio. Today, UD has 11,674 students and offers hundreds of programs covering arts, sciences, business, education, health sciences, engineering, and law. That means UD students have a wide variety of educational options to explore their career interests. UD also works hard to ensure students have a successful college experience through the universities approach to tuition. Students’ scholarships and grants grow with tuition to ensure students pay the same tuition during the course of their degree.
The University of Dayton offers a wide range of online education degrees and certificates. Dayton’s online education degree programs are divided into teacher education degrees and educational administration degrees. For educational administration, online students can choose between 9 master’s degrees, and can select between 7 preparation programs that lead to Ohio-issued licenses. For teacher education, Dayton’s online students can choose between 11 online degrees, 7 preparation programs that lead to Ohio-issued endorsements, and 2 certificates. At the bachelor’s level, Dayton students can enroll in a BSE in Early Childhood Leadership and Advocacy online degree program. At the master’s level, online education students can choose between Early Childhood Leadership and Advocacy, Interdisciplinary Educational Studies, Literacy, Teacher Leader, Technology-Enhanced Learning, and Transdisciplinary Early Childhood Education.
- Online Education Degree Homepage
- Online Ed Degrees: 11
- In-state Tuition: $46,170
2. University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1819 as Cincinnati College, UC is the oldest institution of higher education in Cincinnati. Today, UC has an enrollment of over 41,000 students, making it the second largest university in Ohio and one of the top 50 largest schools in the country. UC offers over 100 bachelor’s degrees, over 300 degree-granting programs, and over 600 total programs of study from the bachelors to doctoral levels. That means UC students have a lot of options to choose from as they explore their career interests. A great many of those degree options are also available in fully online formats.
Several of UC’s online degree programs include programs in Early Childhood Education. At the undergraduate level, online students at UC can choose between an Associates in Early Childhood Care and Education, with 2 specialty tracks, or a Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education. At the master’s level students can choose between the following degree plans: curriculum and instruction, educational leadership, instructional design and technology, literacy and second language studies, medical education for health care professionals, and special education. Of particular note is UC’s M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction. This degree offers 4 concentration areas, two of which prepare graduates for licensure in middle childhood education or secondary education. Online students in curriculum and instruction can also choose to gain additional endorsements in gifted education or STEM teaching and learning.
- Online Education Degree Homepage
- Online Ed Degrees: 6
- In-state Tuition: $13,170
3. Miami University
Miami University is a public research university in Oxford, Ohio. Founded in 1809, Miami University is the 10th oldest public university in the nation. Today, Miami’s nearly 20,000 students can choose between 120 undergraduate degrees and 60 graduate degrees from across 8 schools and colleges. That means students have a lot of options to explore as they find their career paths. Miami also maintains a Tuition Promise that ensures that Tuition, Room and Board, and Fees will be frozen for undergraduates over the course of 4 years. That means students can be reassured that the value of their scholarships or grants will not change either.
Miami University offers a range of online education degree programs. At the master’s level, online students can choose between degrees in instructional design and technology, educational technology, and special education licensure. Graduate students also have several fully online educational certificates, including: an educational psychology certificate in autism spectrum disorders, or an instructional design and educational technology certificate. Miami’s M.Ed of Educational Technology includes a K-12 Computer/Technology Licensure Endorsement. This program focuses on preparing teachers to be leaders in technology integration and to engage students in meaningful learning through technology. In addition to taking the required courses, online students seeking this licensure endorsement must also pass the Ohio Assessment Exam. Similarly, students in the special education M.Ed program can choose between options for initial teaching certification, with a special education licensure, without a license, or to add an intervention specialist licensure.
- Online Education Degree Homepage
- Online Ed Degrees: 6
- In-state Tuition: $15,555
4. University of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a public research university located in Toledo, Ohio. Founded in 1872, as the Toledo University of Arts and Trades as a vocational school. Eventually, it transitioned to a university in the late 1800s and slowly added academic programs to become a comprehensive research university. Today, Toledo’s over 15,000 students get the benefits of the resources at a large university with comprehensive degree programs. That includes over 250 academic programs across 19 colleges and schools, including University of Toledo Online. For online students, UT Online still offers a range of options as well, with 25 undergraduate and 24 graduate programs.
A significant amount of UT Online’s degree programs include education degrees. At the undergraduate level, online students can complete a Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education. At the graduate level, online students have 15 degree, certificate, or endorsement options. For degrees, online students can choose between diversity, early childhood education, or education and English. Certain certificates stand out among UT’s offerings, including a virtual educator certificate and the educational assessment specialist certificate. Online master’s students also have a number of unique endorsement options including: preschool special needs endorsement, Ohio reading endorsement, and transition to work endorsement. While many of UT Online’s education offerings are approved by the Ohio Department of Education, most do not include a licensure track incorporated into the curriculum.
- Online Education Degree Homepage
- Online Ed Degrees: 11
- In-state Tuition: $12,020
5. Bowling Green State University-Main Campus
Bowling Green State University is a public research university located in Bowling Green, Ohio. Founded in 1910 as a teacher training and education school, the school slowly developed into a comprehensive public university. Today, BGSU has nearly 17,000 students that take advantage of the resources available at a large, research university. Some of those resources include more than 200 undergraduate programs of study, as well as graduate programs, that come from across BGSU’s 8 colleges. That includes Higher Learning Commission accredited fully online degree programs.
BGSU is well known for being a leader in teacher preparation. BGSU offers 15 fully online M.Ed degrees and several certificates or endorsements. Several of BGSU’s master’s degrees focus on special education, including assistive technology, autism spectrum disorders, and secondary transition. While these programs do not leader to an initial teacher license, they are designed for teachers who already hold licenses and are seeking renewal or additional endorsements and career advancement. Other fully online M.Ed. programs include ones on classroom technology, curriculum and teaching, learning design, music education, and reading. BGSU online students can also gain additional certificates or endorsements in K-12 online teaching, reading endorsements, and and autism spectrum disorders among others.
- Online Education Degree Homepage
- Online Ed Degrees: 15
- In-state Tuition: $13,639
| Miami University-Oxford | Oxford, Ohio | Online Ed Degrees: 6 | |
 TUITION 15555
| |||
| Bowling Green State University-Main Campus | Bowling Green, Ohio | Online Ed Degrees: 15 | |
 TUITION 13639
| |||
| Ohio State University-Main Campus | Columbus, Ohio | Online Ed Degrees: 4 | |
 TUITION 12485
| |||
| Wright State University-Main Campus | Dayton, Ohio | Online Ed Degrees: 6 | |
 TUITION 10864
| |||
| Cleveland State University | Cleveland, Ohio | Online Ed Degrees: 4 | |
 TUITION 12254
| |||
| University of Akron Main Campus | Akron, Ohio | Online Ed Degrees: 3 | |
 TUITION 12427
| |||
| Baldwin Wallace University | Berea, Ohio | Online Ed Degrees: 4 | |
 TUITION 36850
| |||
| Xavier University | Cincinnati, Ohio | Online Ed Degrees: 3 | |
 TUITION 45000
| |||
| Walsh University | North Canton, Ohio | Online Ed Degrees: 4 | |
 TUITION 33235 | |||
| Tiffin University | Tiffin, Ohio | Online Ed Degrees: 5 | |
 TUITION 30120
| |||
| Mount Saint Joseph University | Cincinnati, Ohio | Online Ed Degrees: 4 | |
 TUITION 34900
| |||
| Cedarville University | Cedarville, Ohio | Online Ed Degrees: 3 | |
| |||
| Notre Dame College | Cleveland, Ohio | Online Ed Degrees: 3 | |
 TUITION 31950
GRADUATE DEGREES
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| Franciscan University of Steubenville | Steubenville, Ohio | Online Ed Degrees: 2 | |
 TUITION 31080 GRADUATE DEGREES
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