If you enjoy working with children, earning a bachelor’s degree in elementary education will help you get started. Discover the top elementary education programs here.
Online Colleges For Elementary Education Degree
We use reliable sources such as Peterson’s Data and the National Center for Education Statistics for provide the data for these schools.
1. University of Northern Iowa
- Cedar Falls, IA
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $350
Out-of-State | $350
Credits to Graduate: 120
UNI’s online bachelor’s elementary education degree is designed for working professionals with an associate degree and provides a personalized education. You can double major in elementary and middle school education with minors in reading, early childhood education, or social and emotional learning.
Over the course of two years, live streaming and asynchronous work curriculum prepares you to teach, including lessons on early literacy teaching strategies, classroom evaluation, and field excursions. You will learn alongside a consistent group of prospective instructors. Some courses allow for on-the-ground study. Admission requires an associate’s degree.
2. University of South Carolina-Columbia
- Columbia, SC
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: CAEP
Cost per Credit (part time):
In-State | $433
Out-of-State | $869
Credits to Graduate: 120
The bachelor’s degree in elementary teaching at the University of South Carolina trains teachers for grades 2–6 through field activities that give practice for certification in South Carolina. This 120-credit degree completion program takes two to three years, including a 12-month internship.
During that time, you will learn about classroom management, institutional approaches, literacy and reading instruction, and child development. The Office of Clinical Experiences manages all classroom placements.Choose from six start times. You will need at least 25 credits from an accredited school and a GPA of 2.5 or higher to get admitted into UofSC.
3. Campbell University
- Buies Creek, NC
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $450
Out-of-State | $450
Credits to Graduate: 124
Campbell University’s online B.S. in primary education program is an eight-week accelerated model. The curriculum offers a wide range of topics that are tailored to your interests. These include evaluation, data-driven teaching, educational technology foundations, special education, and adaptive technology.
The program’s major goal is to instill in you a love of children while also providing you with the skills and information you need to become a teacher. Curriculum development, assessment strategies, teaching practices, and meeting the different needs of students and families are all included in grades K-6 coursework.
4. Buena Vista University
- Storm Lake, IA
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $465
Out-of-State | $465
Credits to Graduate: 120
BVU’s online elementary education degree program provides a solid foundation in instructional technology, elementary literacy, teaching methodologies, and educational psychology. Students in this program acquire teacher preparation for teaching grades K-6. Online students can access tutors and a student lounge.
The Plus One Program allows you to complete an organizational leadership or English as a second language master’s degree in one year (for a total of five years at BVU), rather than the regular two years.
5. University of North Dakota
- Grand Forks, ND
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: CAEP, North Dakota Educational Standards and Practices Board
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $384
Out-of-State | $577
Credits to Graduate: 125
The UND bachelor’s degree in elementary education prepares you to teach grades 1-8 and offers a variety of minors. Consider minoring in early childhood education, English language learners and bilingual education, literary education, middle school education, or special education.
You will receive classroom instruction through various field experiences and learn how to teach reading, social studies, math, and science.
If you desire to pursue a graduate degree, you can enroll in the dual program and acquire a master’s degree in elementary education faster than if you applied to a master’s school after finishing your undergraduate degree.
6. Kansas State University
- Manhattan, KS
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: CAEP
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $394
Out-of-State | $394
Credits to Graduate: 120
K-State’s elementary education bachelor’s degree combines classroom experience with theory. The program’s 120 credits are divided into three blocks. Block A, which includes a lab, covers educational technology, psychology, and teaching skills. The following two blocks offer classroom experience through two field practicums.
You’ll also do a teaching internship, which includes observing an elementary classroom and teaching independently. The program encourages you to obtain a minor or certification.
Following graduation, you may apply for a first teaching license in Kansas.
7. University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- Charlotte, NC
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: CAEP
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $189
Out-of-State | $800
Credits to Graduate: 60
UNC Charlotte’s bachelor’s in elementary education is a degree completion program that prepares teacher assistants to become licensed teachers. The 60 needed core courses can be completed full-time or part-time using a combination of live lectures and deadline-driven projects. You’ll learn about instruction design and assessment, theories and strategies for equitable urban education, and diversity-informed instruction planning.
New students often attend over the summer with an associate’s degree and a minimum GPA of 2.7. Eligible candidates must also provide a recommendation letter from a school administration, have experience as a teacher assistant in North Carolina, and pass the Praxis exams.