What is a ESL Bachelor's Degree?
A bachelor's degree in ESL (English as a Second Language) helps prepare students to teach English to non-native speakers. This degree primarily focuses on getting students ready to become an ESL teacher, although it's not the only direction an ESL degree can take you.
An ESL bachelor's degree can help you to achieve your goal of teaching children or adults, in your own country or a foreign one. You will be able to teach in a traditional classroom or an online environment. If becoming a teacher isn't your dream, you could use your degree in other new and exciting ways, like becoming a curriculum planner to help develop the ESL curriculum for a school district or language center.
The Best Bachelor Degree Programs in ESL
| School | Tuition* | Acceptance Rate | Graduation Rate | Financial Aid % | Placement Services | Career Services | Accepts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgetown University | $56058 | 14% | 95% | 55% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 2 | Colorado School of Mines | $19062 | 53% | 83% | 88% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 3 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $53790 | 7% | 95% | 74% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 4 | Cornell University | $57222 | 11% | 95% | 62% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 5 | Duke University | $57931 | 8% | 95% | 63% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 6 | Yale University | $55500 | 6% | 97% | 64% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 7 | Texas A & M University-College Station | $11361 | 58% | 82% | 76% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 8 | University of California-Davis | $14495 | 39% | 87% | 66% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 9 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | $9943 | 28% | 82% | 63% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 10 | University of Delaware | $14280 | 71% | 81% | 88% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 11 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus | $12682 | 21% | 90% | 69% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 12 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | $10725 | 54% | 88% | 61% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 13 | University of California-Los Angeles | $13240 | 12% | 92% | 61% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 14 | The University of Texas at Austin | $10824 | 32% | 86% | 67% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 15 | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | $17274 | 59% | 85% | 64% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 16 | Rice University | $49112 | 9% | 93% | 69% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 17 | Purdue Global-Main Campus | $9992 | 60% | 82% | 65% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 18 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | $16540 | 23% | 93% | 65% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 19 | University of Houston | $9221 | 65% | 61% | 87% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 20 | University at Buffalo | $10524 | 61% | 75% | 84% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 21 | University of Wyoming | $4747 | 96% | 60% | 93% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 22 | University of California-San Diego | $14415 | 31% | 87% | 63% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 23 | University of California-Santa Cruz | $13991 | 51% | 75% | 70% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 24 | Binghamton University | $10201 | 41% | 82% | 75% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 25 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | $7396 | 55% | 69% | 78% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 26 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $60578 | 5% | 95% | 59% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 27 | University of Connecticut | $17226 | 49% | 84% | 75% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 28 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | $15027 | 57% | 83% | 81% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 29 | University of Maryland-College Park | $10779 | 44% | 87% | 66% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 30 | Boston College | $57910 | 27% | 94% | 56% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 31 | University of Arizona | $12379 | 85% | 65% | 91% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE Credits |
| 32 | Utah State University | $7659 | 91% | 54% | 86% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE Credits |
| 33 | North Dakota State University-Main Campus | $9619 | 94% | 60% | 90% | No | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 34 | University of North Dakota | $9736 | 81% | 61% | 92% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 35 | CUNY City College | $7340 | 46% | 56% | 87% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 36 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | $8980 | 23% | 91% | 65% | No | Yes | AP Credits |
| 37 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | $11084 | 54% | 86% | 79% | Yes | Yes | AP / NCCRS Credits |
| 38 | Washington State University | $11841 | 76% | 60% | 89% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE Credits |
| 39 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | $9335 | 67% | 52% | 82% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 40 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick | $15407 | 61% | 84% | 71% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 41 | University of Utah | $8615 | 62% | 70% | 85% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 42 | University of Missouri-Kansas City | $10543 | 61% | 50% | 92% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 43 | George Mason University | $12564 | 87% | 71% | 74% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE / NCCRS Credits |
| 44 | University of Illinois at Chicago | $15214 | 73% | 61% | 78% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 45 | Auburn University | $11492 | 81% | 79% | 72% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 46 | University of Maine | $11438 | 90% | 57% | 99% | Yes | Yes | AP Credits |
| 47 | Florida State University | $6517 | 36% | 83% | 97% | Yes | Yes | AP / ACE Credits |
To get a more in-depth look at our school ranking methodology, please visit our ranking methodology page.
*Tuition information is based on published tuition and required fees, per data by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
ESL Bachelor's Degree Concentrations
In many universities, pursuing an ESL degree is actually considered to be a concentration within a broader education degree. With a bachelor's degree in ESL you will get a well-rounded education in all aspects related to teaching English as a second language, but you will also gain the qualifications to be a teacher outside of ESL as well.
Therefore, some colleges give you the option to either follow a general ESL track, or concentrate on the age group of your choice: elementary or secondary, or if you are passionate about adult ESL education, you can focus on adult learners.
Curriculum for a Bachelor's Degree in ESL
The curriculum for a bachelor's degree in ESL can vary from university, but no matter where you go you will have plenty of interesting courses to choose from. Some examples of ESL courses your university may offer include:
- Learning and Development
- Multicultural Perspectives
- Applied Linguistics
- Methods and Techniques
- Skills, Approaches, and Assessment
- Assessment and Evaluation
- Verbal Communication
- The Structure of English
- Intercultural Communication
- Second Language Acquisition
Many universities also offer the opportunity to complete an accredited internship or practicum before graduation, both of which give you a chance to apply your skills to a real-world setting and would be beneficial in preparing you for the job market. It's important to gain real-world experience, so talk to your advisor or the program head about their recommendations.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Bachelor's in ESL?
A bachelor's degree in ESL, like other bachelor's in education degree, will take about four years to complete. This may vary if you choose to pursue an accelerated degree, or only take part-time classes. If these non-traditional enrollment options sound like a good fit for you, talk to the admissions department at the schools you're interested in to see if they offer any alternative enrollments.
Accreditation for Bachelor's in ESL Degrees
Making sure that the school you choose to enroll in is accredited is very important. Schools can either be accredited on a national or a regional level. Being accredited means that the education you receive has met certain standards and has been deemed to be of acceptable quality in the eyes of the Department of Education. Accreditation means a lot to prospective employers. Don't shell out big money for an education that doesn't have current accreditation status, or you may end up with a useless degree.
You should be able to easily find a school's accreditation status by checking their website or reaching out to a representative.
ESL Licensure & Certification
Becoming a certified ESL teacher doesn't automatically happen as soon as you are handed your ESL bachelor's degree.
Before you start applying for jobs, you need to take your teacher licensure tests, such as the PRAXIS. These tests are specific to whichever state you wish you teach in. On the PRAXIS website, you can enter your chosen state and find out exactly which tests you will be required to take. For example, in New Hampshire and South Carolina, you are required to take two types of tests: a CORE test, as well as any subject specific tests you choose to teach, while in Alabama and California you only need to take the subject specific tests. When choosing which tests to take, you would ideally choose one with an endorsement in ESL.
You can also find how much you will need to pay in test fees on the PRAXIS website. They currently range from $50 to $199 depending on which tests you need to take.
What Can I Do With a Bachelor's Degree in ESL?
One of the most popular career paths for ESL degree holders is becoming an ESL teacher. However, there is quite a lot of variation within this career path alone: you can teach grades K-12, university students (although for this you would probably need to continue your education first and obtain a Master's degree), or even join the adult education force and teach ESL to adults.
Additionally, there is a lot of flexibility as to where you can teach as well. Though you may stay and teach in the States, lots of schools and companies are looking for overseas teachers to travel to other countries to teach English. Because of the high demand, many ESL teachers may start out teaching abroad. China is a popular choice.
And of course, that's only covering the opportunities available within a traditional classroom environment. With technology advances constantly shifting the way teachers and students interact, teaching online is becoming more and more accessible. Companies like VIPKID, SKooli, QKids and many more hire online teachers, and may be the right fit for you if you love to travel or just value the flexibility that having a remote job offers.
Alternative Careers to Teaching
But maybe you're looking for alternative career paths to becoming an ESL Instructor. Having a teaching degree and an active license can help prepare you for a variety of other jobs, and having an ESL concentration will allow you to stand out and bring your own unique perspective and knowledge to the position.
Below are some career paths that don't require any teaching, but for which your education degree will help you to stand out:
- Curriculum Designer
- Education Policy Researcher
- Freelance Writer or Blogger
- Student Life Coordinator at a University
- Textbook Author
- Linguist
- Translator
How to Become an ESL Teacher Abroad
Teaching abroad can be a great way to start your teaching career and see the world at the same time! As mentioned, you need a bachelor's degree in education as well as state licensure to teach in the United States, but that is not the case for all other countries. If you have a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field, such as art or mathematics, and have completed an ESL certification, this may qualify you to teach abroad.
Or, depending on the program, some may even offer summer employment for students who are still in the process of completing their bachelor's degree. You don't necessarily need to wait until you have completed your degree to start your career teaching ESL abroad, which is a huge perk to going into this field.
The current annual median salary for an ESL teacher is $55,350. The 2019-29 job outlook for this type of position is -10%, which is 14% slower than average.
How to Become a Curriculum Developer
Obtaining a bachelor's degree in ESL and becoming a licensed ESL teacher is the first step to pursuing a career as a curriculum designer, developer, or specialist. The next step would be to complete a graduate program, such as a master's degree or Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction.
In a career such as this, a portfolio is going to be an important part of your job applications (unlike if you were to be applying for teaching positions), so take the time to develop one throughout your studies that best represents your work and knowledge.
The current annual median salary for a curriculum developer is $66,970. The 2019-29 job outlook for this type of position is +6%, which is 2% faster than average. This position may require a very particular set of skills, such as incorporating educational technology into your instructional materials, and utilizing blended learning models. It may be helpful to search for job openings you are interested in and make a list of all the skills you will be required to obtain during your graduate program. Not only will this keep you focused on gaining the right skills for the job you want, but it will also help you decide which program to apply to.
What Other Kinds of ESL Degrees Are There?
There are many different degrees and approaches to continuing your education in ESL. Some places will accept a two year associate's degree, but your job options will be limited. A bachelor's, master's, doctoral degree offer progressively more opportunities in a career (as well as higher salaries). A variety of certificates are also available. Though some may be more common than others, there is no right or wrong way to get your degree in ESL, and considering each carefully will help you to decide what the right path is for you.
Associate Degrees in ESL
Associate's degrees traditionally take two years to complete, but be aware that not all countries will let you teach without a four-year degree. The United States, for example, requires a bachelor's degree at minimum. However, some countries such as Costa Rica, Bolivia, and Argentina, to name a few, will accept associate degree holders, but may also want you to obtain an ESL certificate such as a TEFL, TESL or TESOL certificate, all of which will be discussed in greater detail below.
Master's Degrees in ESL
Once you have completed your bachelor's degree in ESL, you may decide to work as a teacher for a while in order to get some experience, or go directly on to your master's degree. This degree may take around two additional years, and you can complete it in either a traditional in-person classroom, or through an Online ESL Master's.
A master's degree is necessary if you wish to teach at the university level. It can also set you ahead of other applicants when the job market is more competitive, for example if you are applying for jobs in an English-speaking country or the Middle-East.
Doctoral Degrees in ESL
A doctoral degree, like a master's degree, is not necessary to teach at the public school level, but can help you to achieve other goals that may be more competitive or specialized.
As mentioned, one alternative to teaching is to work in the curriculum development/design field. To work in a specialized field such as this, you may benefit from obtaining a doctoral degree, such as a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, with an emphasis on ESL. This degree could help prepare you to become a faculty researcher at a well respected, research-heavy university.
Certificates in ESL
A certificate might be the right choice for you if you have a four-year degree in a discipline other than teaching or education. Perhaps you have a bachelor's in English literature and would now like to teach ESL. While you may choose to obtain another bachelor's in education, in order to get a job it may only be necessary to become ESL certified. This, in conjunction with your prior bachelor's degree, may be enough to land that first teaching job in the eyes of many employers.
When you begin to research the type of certificates available to you, you will most likely encounter the following:
- TEFL: Teaching English as a Foreign Language - this certificate focuses on teaching in countries where English isn't the native language (therefore you are teaching it as a foreign language). In places like China, South Korea, and Japan, the demand for teachers with this certification is high, so finding a job should be doable with this type of qualification.
- TESOL: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages - focuses on teaching English in countries where English is the native language. (Formally called TESL, Teaching English as a Second Language.)
Financial Aid & Scholarship Information for Bachelor's in ESL Degrees
When looking for financial help it is always a good idea to contact your university's Financial Aid directly office to find out if they have any scholarships or aid that you may qualify for.
You should also apply for FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The application is completely free and if you qualify, you will be offered federal loans in order to fund your bachelor's degree in ESL.
Another type of federal aid aimed specifically at education majors is Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant (TEACH), which offers $4,000 of financial aid a year to students who commit to teaching at an approved, low-income school for at least four years. Grants are highly desirable, as you do not have to pay the amount back.