National Council on Teacher Quality Names WGU’s Teachers College a ‘Best Value’

Online, competency-based university’s Teachers College tops NCTQ’s list of 1,100 colleges and programs

LAS VEGAS/RENO- (October 5, 2015) The Teachers College of Western Governors University’s (WGU) – parent university of WGU Nevada— has again earned top honors in the nation, this time for being named the “best value” in teacher education by the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ). WGU’s Teachers College scored highest, out of 1,100 education schools and programs reviewed nationally, on a combination of factors including quality, affordability, and how well the school prepares future teachers for the realities of the classroom.

The list is the first of its kind by a national education policy organization. The ranking analyzed undergraduate and graduate programs that specialize in elementary or secondary teacher preparation. WGU received an “A” grade for its secondary programs.

The NCTQ has ranked WGU’s secondary teacher preparation program as the top program in the nation in terms of quality from a list of 2,400 programs, and WGU was one of only 10 institutions named to the top lists for both elementary and secondary teacher education.

 “We are pleased to empower future teachers so they can focus on student growth rather than worry about gaps in their own training or if they’ll be able to pay back a mountain of debt,” said Kate Walsh, NCTQ president.

WGU’s Teachers College, the largest single provider of STEM educators in the U.S., now has 14,000 students and 17,000 graduates. Because WGU develops its curriculum in collaboration with educational leaders across the country, WGU graduates are well prepared to teach in today’s classrooms. Graduates of WGU’s teacher preparation programs can be licensed in all 50 states, and last year, 100% of WGU graduates who applied for teaching licenses were successful.

In addition to their high quality, WGU’s Teachers College programs are affordable. Tuition is $3,000 per term, charged at a flat rate, regardless of the number of courses completed, and has not increased since 2008. WGU’s competency-based learning model allows students to study and learn at their own pace, moving quickly through what they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn. This allows many students to accelerate their studies, finishing faster, which saves not only time, but money.

For more information about WGU’s teacher education programs, go to nevada.wgu.edu/education.    

About WGU Nevada

WGU Nevada is an online, nonprofit, competency-based university established to expand Nevadans’ access to higher education throughout the state. Formed through a partnership between the state of Nevada and nationally recognized Western Governors University, WGU Nevada is open to all qualified Nevada residents. The university offers more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the high-demand career fields of business, K-12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing.

Degrees are granted under the accreditation of Western Governors University, which is accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Teachers College programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)*.

In addition to WGU Nevada, there are five other WGU state-based, state-endorsed universities: WGU Indiana, established in June 2010; WGU Washington, established in April 2011; WGU Texas, established in August 2011; WGU Missouri, established in February 2013; and WGU Tennessee, established in July 2013. For more information, visit the WGU Nevada website, nevada.wgu.edu, or call 877-214-7005.

*Western Governors University offers nursing programs that are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 5380, Washington, DC 20036, 202-877-6791).

About the National Council on Teacher QualityThe National Council on Teacher Quality is a non-partisan research and policy group committed to restructuring the teaching profession based on the belief that all children deserve effective teachers. We recognize that it is not teachers who bear responsibility for their profession's many challenges, but the institutions with the greatest authority and influence over teachers. To that end we work to achieve fundamental changes in the policy and practices of teacher preparation programs, school districts, state governments, and teachers unions. Our Board of Directors and Advisory Board come from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives, and they all believe that policy changes are overdue in the recruitment and retention of teachers. More information about NCTQ can be found on the NCTQ website, www.nctq.org.