Elementary Education degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 707 schools to find the best for elementary education students.
The school you choose for elementary education can shape your career. That is why we built our Best Elementary Education Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Elementary Education Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for Elementary Education in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the elementary education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in elementary education. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 23 elementary education degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent year. Elementary Education graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $60,004 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,393.
See the full elementary education program report for Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
New York University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best elementary education schools. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 47 elementary education degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $54,901 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,455 to complete this degree.
Read more about the elementary education program at New York University
Students looking for a strong elementary education program will find one at University Of Maryland College Park, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 45 elementary education degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Elementary Education graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $53,054 early in their careers. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in elementary education from University Of Maryland College Park
A rank of #4 makes University Of Virginia Main Campus one of the top schools for elementary education. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. About 22 elementary education degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their elementary education degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $54,106 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,627 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in elementary education from University Of Virginia Main Campus
A rank of #5 makes University Of Pennsylvania one of the top schools for elementary education. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent data year. Students who receive their elementary education degree from University Of Pennsylvania earn around $59,413 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans.
More information about a degree in elementary education from University Of Pennsylvania
James Madison University came in at #6 for elementary education this year. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public university. James Madison University graduates 80% of students within six years. About 163 elementary education degrees were awarded at James Madison University in the most recent year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $52,997 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,218.
Get the full elementary education details for James Madison University
University Of Colorado Boulder came in at #7 for elementary education this year. Located in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public university. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 58 elementary education degrees were awarded at University Of Colorado Boulder in the most recent year. Elementary Education graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $55,861 early in their careers. University Of Colorado Boulder graduates carry a median of $20,373 in student loans.
More information about a degree in elementary education from University Of Colorado Boulder
California State University Northridge ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best elementary education schools. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. California State University Northridge graduates 57% of students within six years. About 101 elementary education degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $74,192. Typical student debt for the program is $16,202.
More information about a degree in elementary education from California State University Northridge
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #9 among the best elementary education schools. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 107 elementary education degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Elementary Education graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $45,906 early in their careers. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans.
See the full elementary education program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of Delaware earned the #10 position for elementary education this year. Located in the suburb of Newark, University Of Delaware is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. About 194 elementary education degrees were awarded at University Of Delaware in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from University Of Delaware generally make around $48,587. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
More information about a degree in elementary education from University Of Delaware
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #11 position for elementary education this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 84 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Students who receive their elementary education degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $50,601 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
Get the full elementary education details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Purdue University Main Campus earned the #12 position for elementary education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of West Lafayette. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 105 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $45,459 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,646.
Get the full elementary education details for Purdue University Main Campus
College Of William And Mary ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best elementary education schools. College Of William And Mary is a large public school located in the suburb of Williamsburg. College Of William And Mary graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at College Of William And Mary in the most recent data year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $53,338 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,935.
See the full elementary education program report for College Of William And Mary
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #14 among the best elementary education schools. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. About 20 elementary education degrees were awarded at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $45,522 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,335.
Read more about the elementary education program at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
University Of Connecticut earned the #15 position for elementary education this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Storrs. University Of Connecticut graduates 83% of students within six years. University Of Connecticut awarded about 38 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their elementary education degree from University Of Connecticut earn around $58,784 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Connecticut graduates carry a median of $25,081 in student loans.
Read more about the elementary education program at University Of Connecticut
Vanderbilt University earned the #16 position for elementary education this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their elementary education degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $50,383 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,975.
More information about a degree in elementary education from Vanderbilt University
University Of Miami earned the #17 position for elementary education this year. University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Miami in the most recent data year. Students who receive their elementary education degree from University Of Miami earn around $57,234 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Miami graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans.
Read more about the elementary education program at University Of Miami
Wake Forest University earned the #18 position for elementary education this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 89% of students finish within six years. Wake Forest University awarded about 11 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $67,369. Typical student debt for the program is $21,577.
More information about a degree in elementary education from Wake Forest University
Rutgers University New Brunswick ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best elementary education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of New Brunswick. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates 84% of students within six years. Rutgers University New Brunswick awarded about 35 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their elementary education degree from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn around $60,618 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,120 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in elementary education from Rutgers University New Brunswick
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #20 position for elementary education this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. About 62% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 93 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Elementary Education graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $65,587 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,750 to complete this degree.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #21 spot for elementary education this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 87 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $53,957. Students borrow a median of $17,342 to complete this degree.
Read more about the elementary education program at University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Florida State University came in at #22 for elementary education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Tallahassee. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 73 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at Florida State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $45,696. Florida State University graduates carry a median of $19,349 in student loans.
More information about a degree in elementary education from Florida State University
Ramapo College Of New Jersey ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best elementary education schools. Set in the suburb of Mahwah, Ramapo College Of New Jersey is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 54 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at Ramapo College Of New Jersey in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Ramapo College Of New Jersey generally make around $48,545. Typical student debt for the program is $24,014.
More information about a degree in elementary education from Ramapo College Of New Jersey
University Of Rhode Island ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best elementary education schools. University Of Rhode Island is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kingston. About 72% of students finish within six years. University Of Rhode Island awarded about 78 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $44,363 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,026.
Get the full elementary education details for University Of Rhode Island
Indiana University Bloomington placed #25 among the best elementary education schools. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 110 elementary education degrees were awarded at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $49,947. Typical student debt for the program is $23,741.
See the full elementary education program report for Indiana University Bloomington
Rest of the Top 50 Elementary Education Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s elementary education ranking:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 707 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).