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2023 Best Value Colleges for Elementary Education (Income $0-$30k) in California

13 Ranked Colleges
780 Degrees Awarded
$24,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 43,003 people earned their degree in elementary education, making the major the 17th most popular in the United States.

Across California, there were 780 elementary education graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 13 colleges that offer a degree in elementary education. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality elementary education programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the elementary education program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Elementary Education Schools

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The elementary teaching school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 13 Best Value Colleges for Elementary Education (Income $0-$30k) in California

1
Stanford crest
Stanford University
Stanford, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Stanford University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k. Stanford is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Stanford, California. It awarded 16 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our california elementary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k list, Stanford has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Elementary Education Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Stanford University is $1,233 for California Elementary Teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full Stanford Elementary Education Report

2
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Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Fresno Pacific University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Fresno, California, and it awarded 50 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.

Fresno Pacific not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Elementary Education Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Fresno Pacific is $17,544 for california elementary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Fresno Pacific University Elementary Education Report

3
Brandman crest
Brandman University
Irvine, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brandman University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k. Irvine, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s elementary teaching degrees to 191 students in 2020-2021.

Brandman did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Elementary Education Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Brandman University is $27,866 for california elementary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Elementary Education at Brandman University

4
SCU crest
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, California

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Santa Clara University landed the #4 spot on the list. Santa Clara University is located in Santa Clara, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 57 ’s elementary teaching degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california elementary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k list, SCU has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Elementary Education Schools in California” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Santa Clara University is $26,428 for California Elementary Teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full SCU Elementary Education Report

5
William Jessup University crest
William Jessup University
Rocklin, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend William Jessup University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. William Jessup University is located in Rocklin, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 28 ’s elementary teaching degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california elementary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k list, William Jessup University has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Elementary Education Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $22,245 for california elementary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend William Jessup University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Elementary Education at William Jessup University

6

Saint Mary’s College of California came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Moraga, California, and it awarded 124 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SMC, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Elementary Education Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SMC is $28,783 for california elementary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Elementary Education at SMC

7
Pacific crest
University of the Pacific
Stockton, California

University of the Pacific came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of the Pacific is a private not-for-profit institution located in Stockton, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 20 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Pacific not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Elementary Education Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Pacific is $22,792 for california elementary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Elementary Education at University of the Pacific

8

Concordia University, Irvine came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Concordia University, Irvine is a small school located in Irvine, California that handed out 10 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.

Concordia University, Irvine not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Elementary Education Schools in California” list. The yearly cost to attend Concordia University, Irvine is $23,512 for california elementary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Elementary Education at Concordia University, Irvine

9
ULV crest
University of La Verne
La Verne, California

University of La Verne ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of La Verne is a private not-for-profit institution located in La Verne, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 58 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

ULV also took the #13 spot in our “Best Elementary Education Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for ULV is $28,256 for california elementary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Elementary Education at ULV

10
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Point Loma Nazarene University
San Diego, California

Point Loma Nazarene University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. San Diego, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s elementary teaching degrees to 50 students in 2020-2021.

PLNU also took the #10 spot in our “Best Elementary Education Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Point Loma Nazarene University is $24,604 for california elementary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Point Loma Nazarene University Elementary Education Report

11
Biola crest
Biola University
La Mirada, California

Biola University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in La Mirada, California, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 27 degrees to qualified ’s elementary teaching students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Biola, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Elementary Education Schools in California” ranking. It costs about $27,024 for california elementary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Biola University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Biola University Elementary Education Report

12
Loyola Marymount crest
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, California

With a ranking of #12, Loyola Marymount University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Loyola Marymount is a fairly large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 29 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.

Loyola Marymount did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Elementary Education Schools in California” list. The estimated yearly cost for Loyola Marymount is $32,730 for california elementary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Loyola Marymount University Elementary Education Report

13
Chapman crest
Chapman University
Orange, California

With a ranking of #13, Chapman University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Elementary Teaching Schools in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Orange, California, and it awarded 21 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.

Chapman also took the #8 spot in our “Best Elementary Education Schools in California” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Chapman is $34,946 for california elementary teaching students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Chapman Elementary Education Report

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