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2023 Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region

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Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Elementary Education is the 17th most popular major in the country with 43,003 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

Across the Plains States region, there were 6,429 elementary education graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region” ranking, we looked at 180 colleges that offer a degree in elementary education. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their elementary education program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Elementary Education Schools

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region”.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Elementary Education in the Plains States Region

1
MLC crest
Martin Luther College
New Ulm, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Martin Luther College. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region. MLC is a small school located in New Ulm, Minnesota that handed out 60 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Martin Luther College Elementary Education Report

2
Valley City State University crest
Valley City State University
Valley City, North Dakota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Valley City State University. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region. Valley City State University is a small school located in Valley City, North Dakota that handed out 103 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Elementary Education at Valley City State University

3
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Mayville State University
Mayville, North Dakota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Mayville State University. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region. Mayville State University is a small school located in Mayville, North Dakota that handed out 48 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Elementary Education at Mayville State University

4
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Sinte Gleska University
Mission, South Dakota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Sinte Gleska University. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region. This small school is located in Mission, South Dakota, and it awarded 1 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Elementary Education at Sinte Gleska University

5
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Buena Vista University
Storm Lake, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Buena Vista University. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region. BVU is located in Storm Lake, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 72 ’s elementary teaching degrees to qualified students.

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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Elementary Education at Buena Vista University

6

Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies ranked #6 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region list. Fayette, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s elementary teaching degrees to 93 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Elementary Education at Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies

7

Hannibal - LaGrange University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in Hannibal, Missouri, and it awarded 23 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.

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 Hannibal - LaGrange University Elementary Education Report

8
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Dordt University
Sioux Center, Iowa

With a ranking of #8, Dordt University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region list. Dordt University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Sioux Center, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 50 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Dordt Elementary Education Report

9
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University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa

University of Northern Iowa landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, this medium-sized public school handed out 304 degrees to qualified ’s elementary teaching students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Northern Iowa Elementary Education Report

10
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Northern State University
Aberdeen, South Dakota

Northern State University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and it awarded 38 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Elementary Education at NSU

11
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Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg, Kansas

Pittsburg State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Pittsburg, Kansas, this medium-sized public school handed out 174 diplomas to qualified ’s elementary teaching students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Elementary Education at Pittsburg State University

12
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Black Hills State University
Spearfish, South Dakota

Black Hills State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Spearfish, South Dakota, this small public school handed out 53 diplomas to qualified ’s elementary teaching students in 2020-2021.

Full BHSU Elementary Education Report

13

With a ranking of #13, Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region list. Located in Springfield, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 39 diplomas to qualified ’s elementary teaching students in 2020-2021.

Full Drury University - CCPS Elementary Education Report

14
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Newman University
Wichita, Kansas

Newman University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Newman University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Wichita, Kansas. It awarded 44 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Elementary Education at Newman University

15
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College of Saint Benedict
Saint Joseph, Minnesota

College of Saint Benedict ranked #15 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region list. CSB is a small school located in Saint Joseph, Minnesota that handed out 43 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Elementary Education at College of Saint Benedict

16
William Penn University crest
William Penn University
Oskaloosa, Iowa

With a ranking of #16, William Penn University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, and it awarded 22 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.

Full William Penn University Elementary Education Report

17
Baptist Bible College crest
Baptist Bible College
Springfield, Missouri

With a ranking of #17, Baptist Bible College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region list. Springfield, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s elementary teaching degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Elementary Education at Baptist Bible College

18

University of Nebraska at Kearney did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #18. Kearney, Nebraska is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s elementary teaching degrees to 118 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Elementary Education at University of Nebraska at Kearney

19
Chadron State College crest
Chadron State College
Chadron, Nebraska

Chadron State College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in Chadron, Nebraska, and it awarded 37 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Chadron State College Elementary Education Report

20
Winona State crest
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota

Winona State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #20. Winona State University is located in Winona, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 138 ’s elementary teaching degrees to qualified students.

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%.

Read full report on Elementary Education at Winona State University

21
Hastings crest
Hastings College
Hastings, Nebraska

With a ranking of #21, Hastings College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region list. Hastings College is a small school located in Hastings, Nebraska that handed out 21 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.

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%.

Full Hastings College Elementary Education Report

22
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Dickinson State University
Dickinson, North Dakota

Dickinson State University ranked #22 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region list. Dickinson State University is a public institution located in Dickinson, North Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 26 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Elementary Education at Dickinson State University

23
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Northwestern College
Orange City, Iowa

Northwestern College landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region ranking. NWC is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Orange City, Iowa. It awarded 27 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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 full report on Elementary Education at Northwestern College

24
WSU crest
Wichita State University
Wichita, Kansas

Wichita State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Wichita, Kansas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s elementary teaching degrees to 261 students in 2020-2021.

Full Wichita State University Elementary Education Report

25
Wartburg crest
Wartburg College
Waverly, Iowa

Wartburg College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #25. Wartburg College is a small school located in Waverly, Iowa that handed out 21 ’s elementary teaching degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Elementary Education at Wartburg College

Rest of the Best 28 in Schools Highly Focused on Elementary Teaching Major in the Plains States Region

Not only did these schools make the top 28 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
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Wayne State College
Wayne, Nebraska
27
United Tribes Technical College crest
United Tribes Technical College
Bismarck, North Dakota
28
North Central University crest
North Central University
Minneapolis, Minnesota

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