TopUniversitiesUSA

164 Best Public Professional TESL Universities in the USA

Compare 278 programs at 164 universities in the USA — graduates, earnings, debt and costs from the federal record on every listing.

164 universities · ranked best first

how we rank
1
MS Michigan State University logo

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan · Public University · Est. 1855

US #2 QS World #158 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$19,680/yr
Admission rate
85%
Earnings (10yr)
$67,253
Students
40,922
2
IS Iowa State University logo

Iowa State University

Ames, Iowa · Public University · Est. 1858

US #17 QS World #481 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$18,589/yr
Admission rate
89%
Earnings (10yr)
$63,386
Students
25,367
3
UT The University of Tennessee-Knoxville logo

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

Knoxville, Tennessee · Public University · Est. 1794

US #19 QS World #501 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$18,976/yr
Admission rate
42%
Earnings (10yr)
$60,249
Students
30,418
4
UA University at Buffalo logo

University at Buffalo

Buffalo, New York · Public University · Est. 1846

US #21 QS World #521 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$20,995/yr
Admission rate
74%
Earnings (10yr)
$70,814
Students
20,112
5
UM University of Missouri-Columbia logo

University of Missouri-Columbia

Columbia, Missouri · Public University · Est. 1839

US #22 QS World #541 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$20,268/yr
Admission rate
78%
Earnings (10yr)
$63,403
Students
23,929
6
UK University of Kentucky logo

University of Kentucky

Lexington, Kentucky · Public University · Est. 1865

US #24 QS World #601 ROI C Admissions open
Net price
$18,851/yr
Admission rate
93%
Earnings (10yr)
$59,025
Students
24,763
7
CS Colorado State University-Fort Collins logo

Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Fort Collins, Colorado · Public University · Est. 1870

US #31 QS World #621 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$21,279/yr
Admission rate
89%
Earnings (10yr)
$60,543
Students
25,538
8
TU Temple University logo

Temple University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Public University · Est. 1884

US #32 QS World #631 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$28,198/yr
Admission rate
80%
Earnings (10yr)
$63,727
Students
20,970
9
UN University of Nebraska-Lincoln logo

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lincoln, Nebraska · Public University · Est. 1869

US #33 QS World #651 ROI C Admissions open
Net price
$17,747/yr
Admission rate
87%
Earnings (10yr)
$56,887
Students
19,178
10
UA University of Arizona logo

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona · Public University · Est. 1885

US #39 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$16,674/yr
Admission rate
86%
Earnings (10yr)
$59,979
Students
42,537
11
PS Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus logo

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

University Park, Pennsylvania · Public University · Est. 1855

US #40 ROI C Admissions open
Net price
$32,875/yr
Admission rate
61%
Earnings (10yr)
$63,435
Students
42,284
12
UC University of Cincinnati-Main Campus logo

University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

Cincinnati, Ohio · Public University · Est. 1819

US #42 ROI C Admissions open
Net price
$25,648/yr
Admission rate
85%
Earnings (10yr)
$54,810
Students
29,882
13
UW University of Wisconsin-Madison logo

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, Wisconsin · Public University · Est. 1848

US #44 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$17,354/yr
Admission rate
45%
Earnings (10yr)
$73,792
Students
36,902
14
UP University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus logo

University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · Public University · Est. 1787

US #45 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$30,434/yr
Admission rate
58%
Earnings (10yr)
$66,125
Students
20,370
15
UG University of Georgia logo

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia · Public University · Est. 1785

US #49 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$13,936/yr
Admission rate
38%
Earnings (10yr)
$68,726
Students
32,137
16
UK University of Kansas logo

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas · Public University · Est. 1864

US #50 ROI B Admissions open
Net price
$18,059/yr
Admission rate
93%
Earnings (10yr)
$61,945
Students
21,217
17
UN University of Nevada-Las Vegas logo

University of Nevada-Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada · Public University · Est. 1957

US #52 ROI C Admissions open
Net price
$10,359/yr
Admission rate
96%
Earnings (10yr)
$55,037
Students
24,622
18
UU University of Utah logo

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah · Public University · Est. 1850

US #54 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$16,200/yr
Admission rate
86%
Earnings (10yr)
$67,170
Students
27,264
19
OU Ohio University-Main Campus logo

Ohio University-Main Campus

Athens, Ohio · Public University · Est. 1804

US #59 ROI C Admissions open
Net price
$21,637/yr
Admission rate
85%
Earnings (10yr)
$52,581
Students
19,633
20
US Utah State University logo

Utah State University

Logan, Utah · Public University · Est. 1888

US #62 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$14,936/yr
Admission rate
92%
Earnings (10yr)
$54,022
Students
20,272
21
UV University of Virginia-Main Campus logo

University of Virginia-Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia · Public University · Est. 1819

US #63 ROI A Admissions open
Net price
$21,565/yr
Admission rate
17%
Earnings (10yr)
$86,863
Students
17,597
22
KS Kent State University at Kent logo

Kent State University at Kent

Kent, Ohio · Public University · Est. 1910

US #67 ROI F Admissions open
Net price
$20,787/yr
Admission rate
86%
Earnings (10yr)
$45,388
Students
19,320
23
IS Idaho State University logo

Idaho State University

Pocatello, Idaho · Public University · Est. 1901

US #70 ROI F Admissions open
Net price
$12,193/yr
Earnings (10yr)
$45,608
Students
7,583
24
KS Kansas State University logo

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas · Public University · Est. 1863

US #72 ROI C Admissions open
Net price
$19,406/yr
Admission rate
82%
Earnings (10yr)
$57,262
Students
15,142

What this subject pays

Graduates of TESL programmes report a median $47,553 two years after finishing, across 61 programmes that publish the figure .

TESL pay by degree level →

By university type

Frequently asked questions

Which are the best universities for public Professional TESL universities in the USA?

By our composite ranking, the top choices include Michigan State University, Iowa State University, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville. The full ranked list above shows each one's national rank, costs and admission data.

How much does it cost to study public Professional TESL universities in the USA?

Costs vary widely by university: public institutions charge in-state residents far less than out-of-state and international students, and private universities set one price for everyone. Every listing above shows the published tuition and net price we hold from the federal College Scorecard, so you can compare like with like.

Can international students work while studying public Professional TESL universities in the USA?

Yes, within the rules of the F-1 student visa: on-campus work during term, Curricular Practical Training tied to the program, and Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduating — with a longer extension for eligible STEM degrees.

About public Professional TESL universities in the USA

This page lists public Professional TESL universities in the USA held in our database, ordered by a composite score that combines QS World positions, our editorial star rating, academic breadth, internationalisation and student support — never paid placement. Program and cost figures come from the US Department of Education's College Scorecard. Use the filters to narrow by subject, level, university type or location; every combination has its own address you can bookmark or share.

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