Elementary Education programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 1259 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for elementary education students pursuing a degree.
New York University tops our 2026 ranking of the best elementary education schools. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. New York University graduates 88% of students within six years. About 39 elementary education degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $63,357 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,455 to complete this degree.
See the full elementary education program report for New York University
University Of Pennsylvania is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in elementary education, ranking #2. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Pennsylvania graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 14 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $59,413 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete this degree.
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University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in elementary education, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 78 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Elementary Education graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $72,769 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,342 to complete this degree.
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California State University Fullerton is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in elementary education, ranking #4. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 48 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fullerton in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $66,012. Students borrow a median of $14,542 to complete this degree.
Read more about the elementary education program at California State University Fullerton
Students looking for a strong elementary education program will find one at University Of Miami, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 20 elementary education degrees were awarded at University Of Miami in the most recent year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $57,234 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,750.
More information about a degree in elementary education from University Of Miami
American University came in at #6 for elementary education this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 95 elementary education degrees were awarded at American University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from American University generally make around $63,886. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
See the full elementary education program report for American University
Cuny City College earned the #7 position for elementary education this year. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 17 elementary education degrees were awarded at Cuny City College in the most recent year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $75,423 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,916.
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Rutgers University New Brunswick ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best elementary education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of New Brunswick. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 30 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at Rutgers University New Brunswick in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $60,618. 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 Georgia earned the #9 position for elementary education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Athens. About 90% of students finish within six years. University Of Georgia awarded about 10 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $53,457. Students borrow a median of $18,229 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in elementary education from University Of Georgia
University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #10 among the best elementary education schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 103 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $70,256 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,750.
Read more about the elementary education program at University Of Illinois At Chicago
Concordia University Irvine landed the #11 spot for elementary education this year. Located in the city of Irvine, Concordia University Irvine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 elementary education degrees were awarded at Concordia University Irvine in the most recent year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $58,590 in their early career. Concordia University Irvine graduates carry a median of $26,085 in student loans.
More information about a degree in elementary education from Concordia University Irvine
Washington State University earned the #12 position for elementary education this year. Set in the town of Pullman, Washington State University is a very large public institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. Washington State University awarded about 21 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their elementary education degree from Washington State University earn around $62,589 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,960 to complete this degree.
Read more about the elementary education program at Washington State University
Cuny Brooklyn College came in at #13 for elementary education this year. This large public university is located in the city of Brooklyn. About 54% of students finish within six years. Cuny Brooklyn College awarded about 46 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their elementary education degree from Cuny Brooklyn College earn around $59,924 in the first couple years of their career. Cuny Brooklyn College graduates carry a median of $10,862 in student loans.
More information about a degree in elementary education from Cuny Brooklyn College
Azusa Pacific University earned the #14 position for elementary education this year. Azusa Pacific University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Azusa. Azusa Pacific University graduates 62% of students within six years. About 93 elementary education degrees were awarded at Azusa Pacific University in the most recent year. Students who receive their elementary education degree from Azusa Pacific University earn around $58,302 in the first couple years of their career. Azusa Pacific University graduates carry a median of $23,709 in student loans.
See the full elementary education program report for Azusa Pacific University
Quinnipiac University placed #15 among the best elementary education schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Hamden. About 76% of students finish within six years. About 39 elementary education degrees were awarded at Quinnipiac University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Quinnipiac University generally make around $51,985. Quinnipiac University graduates carry a median of $25,926 in student loans.
Read more about the elementary education program at Quinnipiac University
Chapman University placed #16 among the best elementary education schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Orange. About 82% of students finish within six years. Chapman University awarded about 21 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $59,689 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,657.
See the full elementary education program report for Chapman University
University Of Washington Tacoma Campus ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best elementary education schools. University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Tacoma. University Of Washington Tacoma Campus graduates 63% of students within six years. University Of Washington Tacoma Campus awarded about 16 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Elementary Education graduates of University Of Washington Tacoma Campus earn a median of $72,769 early in their careers. University Of Washington Tacoma Campus graduates carry a median of $16,151 in student loans.
Read more about the elementary education program at University Of Washington Tacoma Campus
Western Washington University landed the #18 spot for elementary education this year. Western Washington University is a large public school located in the city of Bellingham. About 65% of students finish within six years. Western Washington University awarded about 10 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $63,702 in their early career. Western Washington University graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in elementary education from Western Washington University
University Of Hawaii At Manoa came in at #19 for elementary education this year. University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public school located in the city of Honolulu. University Of Hawaii At Manoa graduates 64% of students within six years. University Of Hawaii At Manoa awarded about 60 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Elementary Education graduates of University Of Hawaii At Manoa earn a median of $59,881 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,548 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in elementary education from University Of Hawaii At Manoa
Boston College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best elementary education schools. Set in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 19 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at Boston College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Boston College generally make around $56,482. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete this degree.
See the full elementary education program report for Boston College
University Of La Verne landed the #21 spot for elementary education this year. University Of La Verne is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of La Verne. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of La Verne awarded about 64 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $35,364 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,314.
More information about a degree in elementary education from University Of La Verne
Cuny Hunter College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best elementary education schools. This very large public university is located in the city of New York. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 61 elementary education degrees were awarded at Cuny Hunter College in the most recent year. Students who receive their elementary education degree from Cuny Hunter College earn around $67,561 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,500.
More information about a degree in elementary education from Cuny Hunter College
Worcester State University landed the #23 spot for elementary education this year. Worcester State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Worcester. About 62% of students finish within six years. Worcester State University awarded about 12 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $42,313 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,971.
More information about a degree in elementary education from Worcester State University
Pacific Lutheran University placed #24 among the best elementary education schools. Pacific Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Tacoma. Pacific Lutheran University graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 22 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at Pacific Lutheran University in the most recent data year. Elementary Education graduates of Pacific Lutheran University earn a median of $74,828 early in their careers. Pacific Lutheran University graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
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Cuny Queens College landed the #25 spot for elementary education this year. Located in the city of Queens, Cuny Queens College is a very large public university. Cuny Queens College graduates 53% of students within six years. About 33 elementary education degrees were awarded at Cuny Queens College in the most recent year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $55,002 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,100 to complete this degree.
See the full elementary education program report for Cuny Queens College
Rest of the Top 50 Elementary Education Schools
These schools also placed among the best for elementary education this year:
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 1259 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).
