by our College Data Analytics TeamElementary Education was the 17th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 43,003 degrees in this year alone. This is a difference of 2,381 over the prior year, a growth of 5.5%.
This year's Best Elementary Education Schools ranking compares 689 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom elementary teaching rankings further below.
Elementary Education majors are found most commonly in careers in which talking to others to convey information effectively is important. Required skills include teaching others how to do something and selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
elementary education degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Once you obtain your degree, additional elementary teaching certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
Elementary Teaching degree levels vary. You can spend many years getting as high as a in elementary education to something that takes less time like a . Different elementary education degrees vary in how long they take.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to elementary teaching, with approximately 73.4% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for elementary teaching workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 74.2% |
| Master’s Degree | 11.2% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 11.2% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 1.5% |
| Some College Courses | 1.1% |
Most workers in elementary teaching have at least a associate degree. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in elementary education have received.
This of course varies depending on which elementary teaching career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your elementary teaching degree? Elementary Education careers are expected to grow 7.4% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to elementary education.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers | 1,514,900 | 7.4% |
As you might expect, salaries for elementary teaching graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for elementary education graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers elementary teaching grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers | $62,200 |
With over 1,865 different elementary teaching degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased elementary teaching school rankings to help you with this.
Elementary Education is one of 12 different types of Teacher Education Grade Specific programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Early Childhood Education | 32,920 |
| Secondary Education | 10,547 |
| Teacher Education | 9,949 |
| Teacher Development & Methodology | 6,165 |
| Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education & Teaching | 3,517 |
