Aerial view of a city
University of Northern Colorado

University of Northern Colorado

About

The University of Northern Colorado (UNC), a public university founded in 1889, has a long history in teacher preparation. We are proud of our heritage and it shows in many ways. Our faculty advocate a teacher-scholar model in which the art and science of teaching are regarded as critical in how we work with all students, including teacher candidates.

Our faculty model high-quality teaching and we place priority on engaging our students in real-world issues in the schools and in the community. We prepare the largest number of teachers and educators across the largest array of program areas, so our teacher candidates gain from interactions with a broad range of future school personnel. Because of our size and program quality we partner with schools across Colorado and the world.

Learn more about how UNC is recruiting the next generation of teachers here.

  • College or University
  • Greeley

Institution Links

  • Admissions
  • Financial Aid Office
  • Online Application
Aly Eschler

Taking over a classroom as a UNC student really helped prepare me for the challenges I face as a classroom teacher now.

Aly Eschler

University of Northern Colorado

Programs

Master’s & licensure

Master of Arts: Elementary or Secondary Education with Licensure

Start Checklist

  • From 16 to 24 months

    Program Duration

  • Hybrid

    Program Format

  • Pre-Test Required

    No

Relevant Links

Program

Program Info

When you graduate with a master’s degree in Elementary Education from UNC, you gain a significant advantage in the job market for teaching. It’s not only because we’re designated as the primary institution for teacher education in Colorado, nor is it only because we’re nationally recognized for excellence in teacher education. It’s also the quality of your learning experience, and the people learning along with you. We have a focus on hands-on learning, including 160 hours of practicum fieldwork, plus a full-time, 16-week student teaching experience in an elementary classroom. Equally important is the unique level of personal involvement and mentorship your professors provide—they directly supervise teacher candidates in the field. As a program designed for both American and international students, a wealth of diverse perspectives will enrich your education and career.

Upcoming Deadlines

  • Deadlines

    Program Start

  • Dec. 01, 2025

    Summer

  • May 01, 2026

    Summer

  • Aug. 01, 2026

    Fall

Get Deadline Reminders

Ways to Lower Your Costs

Students at University of Northern Colorado have reduced the cost of their program using these methods. Check with University of Northern Colorado to see if you can, too!

Amount
Description

Tuition

Earn your Teacher Licensure in 1 year and the MAT in 15 months- total tuition for the program is :

  • Elementary MAT: $26,312
  • Secondary Pedagogy MAT: $20,592

Grants, Stipends, Scholarships

UNC Universal Scholarship

Loan Forgiveness

Rural Teaching Fellowship

For more information visit:Financial Aid Office

Licensure Areas

American Sign Language K-12
Elementary Education K-6
English Language Arts 7-12
Mathematics 7-12
Science 7-12
Social Studies 7-12
TESOL K-12

Stats

Gender

  • Male

  • Female

    14%

    86%

Ethnicity

  • American Indian or Alaskan Native

  • Asian

  • Black

  • Hispanic/Latino

  • Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander

  • White

  • Two or more races

    0%

    3%

    1%

    10%

    0%

    82%

    2%

Get Started

Dig deeper. Visit University of Northern Colorado's website to learn more and apply.