Teacher/Tutor Education Requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a teacher/tutor. Teacher/tutors usually study elementary education, english, or education. 67% of teacher/tutors hold a bachelor's degree, and 18% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 3,365 real teacher/tutor resumes to see exactly what teacher/tutor education sections show.

The most common colleges for teacher/tutors are the University of California - Davis and the University of California - Davis.

There are also many online teacher/tutor courses to help get the education required to be a teacher/tutor.

There are certain teacher/tutor certifications that you should consider. These teacher/tutor certifications include Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE) and Educational Certificate: K-12 (Ed:).

What education do you need to become a teacher/tutor?

What degree do you need to be a teacher/tutor?

The most common degree for teacher/tutors is bachelor's degree, with 67% of teacher/tutors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 18% and master's degree degree at 8%.
  • Bachelor's, 67%
  • Master's, 18%
  • Associate, 8%
  • High School Diploma, 4%
  • Other Degrees, 3%

What should I major in to become a teacher/tutor?

You should major in elementary education to become a teacher/tutor. 13% of teacher/tutors major in elementary education. Other common majors for a teacher/tutor include english and education.

Most common colleges for teacher/tutors

Teacher/tutors often get their degrees at University of California - Davis, University of Phoenix, and New York University. Here are the most common colleges for teacher/tutors in the US based on their resumes.
Teacher/Tutor Common College
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
University of California - Davis9.23%
University of Phoenix7.38%
New York University7.01%
California State University - San Bernardino6.64%
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill5.17%

Best majors for teacher/tutors

Rank
ascdesc
Major
ascdesc
Percentages
ascdesc
1Elementary Education13.1%
2English11.6%
3Education11.4%
4Psychology9.0%
5Business5.9%

Best colleges for teacher/tutors

The best colleges for teacher/tutors are Harvard University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

A teacher/tutor with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for teacher/tutors. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become teacher/tutors.

1. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-State Tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

Website

www.harvard.edu

Address

Massachusetts Hall, Cambridge, MA 02138

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,300 per year

Net Price: $15,561 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 4.73%
SAT Average - 1520
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Biology
History
Political Science

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-State Tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

Website

www.upenn.edu

Address

1 College Hall, Room 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,200 per year

Net Price: $25,033 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.41%
SAT Average - 1492
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Education
Biology
Business
History
English

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-State Tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

Website

www.northwestern.edu

Address

633 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60208

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $71,900 per year

Net Price: $24,840 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.47%
SAT Average - 1508
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Business
Liberal Arts
Psychology
Education

4. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-State Tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

Website

www.unc.edu

Address

103 South Bldg Campus Box 9100, Chapel Hill, NC 27599

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $49,900 per year

Net Price: $13,918 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 22.71%
SAT Average - 1398
ACT Average - 31
Most Popular Majors
Business
Biology
Psychology
Political Science
Education

5. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

Website

www.stanford.edu/

Address

450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305-2061

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $92,800 per year

Net Price: $12,265 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 4.36%
SAT Average - 1497
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Business
Biology
Education
Political Science
General Education, Specific Areas

20 best online courses for teacher/tutors

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Top 10 most affordable universities for teacher/tutors

The most affordable schools for teacher/tutors are Baruch College of the City University of New York, california state university - long beach, and usf sarasota-manatee.

If the best universities for teacher/tutors are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for teacher/tutors.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,262

Cost of Attendance

14,046

Website

www.baruch.cuny.edu

Address

One Bernard Baruch Way, New York, NY 10010

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $47,500 per year

Net Price: $2,981 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 39.29%
SAT Average - 1305
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Political Science
Mathematics
Liberal Arts

2. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-State Tuition

$6,798

Cost of Attendance

18,306

Website

www.csulb.edu

Address

1250 Bellflower Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90840-0115

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $40,000 per year

Net Price: $8,982 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 31.21%
SAT Average - 1146
ACT Average - 23
Most Popular Majors
Business
Psychology
Biology
Liberal Arts
Education
U

3. USF Sarasota-Manatee

Sarasota, FL • Private

In-State Tuition

$5,587

Cost of Attendance

13,043

Website

usfsm.edu/

Address

8350 N. Tamiani Trail, Sarasota, FL 34243

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,400 per year

Net Price: $4,595 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 32.43%
SAT Average - 1225
ACT Average - 26
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Psychology
Liberal Arts
Education
Business

4. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,240

Cost of Attendance

13,991

Website

www.brooklyn.cuny.edu

Address

2900 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11210-2889

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $36,900 per year

Net Price: $3,000 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 44.26%
SAT Average - 1150
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Psychology
Elementary Education
General Education, Specific Areas

5. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-State Tuition

$7,182

Cost of Attendance

13,998

Website

www.hunter.cuny.edu

Address

695 Park Ave, New York, NY 10021

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $39,300 per year

Net Price: $2,796 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 36.42%
SAT Average - 1240
Most Popular Majors
Education
Psychology
Special Education
General Education, Specific Areas
Biology

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for teacher/tutors

The hardest universities for teacher/tutors to get into are Harvard University, Northwestern University, and University of Pennsylvania.

Some great schools for teacher/tutors are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for teacher/tutors based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions Rate

5%

SAT Average

1,520

Website

www.harvard.edu

Address

Massachusetts Hall, Cambridge, MA 02138

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,300 per year

Net Price: $15,561 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 4.73%
SAT Average - 1520
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Biology
History
Political Science

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,508

Website

www.northwestern.edu

Address

633 Clark St, Evanston, IL 60208

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $71,900 per year

Net Price: $24,840 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.47%
SAT Average - 1508
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Biology
Business
Liberal Arts
Psychology
Education

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

8%

SAT Average

1,492

Website

www.upenn.edu

Address

1 College Hall, Room 100, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6303

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $91,200 per year

Net Price: $25,033 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 8.41%
SAT Average - 1492
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Education
Biology
Business
History
English

4. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions Rate

10%

SAT Average

1,514

Website

www.vanderbilt.edu

Address

2101 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37240

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $61,900 per year

Net Price: $20,253 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 9.61%
SAT Average - 1514
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Education
Biology
Business
Special Education
Elementary Education

5. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions Rate

11%

SAT Average

1,513

Website

www.jhu.edu

Address

3400 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21218-2688

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $68,000 per year

Net Price: $30,701 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 11.48%
SAT Average - 1513
ACT Average - 34
Most Popular Majors
Education
Biology
Business
Liberal Arts
Special Education

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for teacher/tutors

The easiest schools for teacher/tutors to get into are Barry University, gwynedd mercy university, and the university of texas permian basin.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a teacher/tutor without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for teacher/tutors.

1. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions Rate

91%

SAT Average

1,006

Website

www.barry.edu

Address

11300 NE 2nd Ave, Miami Shores, FL 33161-6695

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $43,700 per year

Net Price: $17,937 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 91.25%
SAT Average - 1006
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Business
Biology
Education
Liberal Arts
Psychology

2. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions Rate

92%

SAT Average

1,031

Website

https://www.gmercyu.edu/

Address

1325 Sumneytown Pike, P. O. Box 901, Gwynedd Valley, PA 19437-0901

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $48,000 per year

Net Price: $23,213 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 92.00%
SAT Average - 1031
ACT Average - 21
Most Popular Majors
Education
Business
Elementary Education
General Education, Specific Areas
Special Education

3. The University of Texas Permian Basin

Odessa, TX • Private

Admissions Rate

91%

SAT Average

1,046

Website

www.utpb.edu

Address

4901 E University, Odessa, TX 79762-0001

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $44,800 per year

Net Price: $9,632 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 90.50%
SAT Average - 1046
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Business
Education
Psychology
Special Education
Biology

4. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions Rate

84%

SAT Average

1,031

Website

https://www.msmu.edu

Address

12001 Chalon Road, Los Angeles, CA 90049

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $57,700 per year

Net Price: $29,267 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 83.82%
SAT Average - 1031
ACT Average - 20
Most Popular Majors
Education
Liberal Arts
Business
Biology
Special Education

5. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions Rate

81%

SAT Average

999

Website

www.felician.edu

Address

262 S Main St, Lodi, NJ 07644

Median Earnings 6 years after Graduation: $47,800 per year

Net Price: $17,362 per year

Admissions
Acceptance Rate - 80.55%
SAT Average - 999
ACT Average - 19
Most Popular Majors
Business
Biology
Education
Psychology
Elementary Education

Average teacher/tutor salary by education level

According to our data, teacher/tutors with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $53,207 annually. Teacher/tutors with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $49,222.
Teacher/Tutor education level
ascdesc
Teacher/Tutor salary
ascdesc
Master's Degree$49,222
High School Diploma or Less$39,155
Bachelor's Degree$44,681
Doctorate Degree$53,207
Some College/ Associate Degree$42,667

Teacher/Tutor Education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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