Top 25 Online Master's in Elementary Education for 2019

An online master's degree in elementary education is aimed toward teachers who wish to improve their pedagogical efficacy or individuals who wish to transition into elementary education from another field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of elementary school teachers is projected to grow at the average rate of 7% between 2016 and 2026. This indicates that the need for educators at the elementary level has expanded and is expected to continue to do so for the next decade. If you are passionate about education and enjoy being around young children, getting an elementary education master's online can help turn that passion into a career.

What are the Best Online Master's in Elementary Education Programs?

Top 25 Online Masters in Elementary Education for 2019

1. Nova Southeastern University — Fort Lauderdale, FL

Admissions Rate

59%

Graduation Rate

44%

Online Enrollment

39%

Retention Rate

80%

Default Rate

4%

The master of science in education (elementary education with ESOL endorsement) at Nova Southeastern University is designed for those with a bachelor's degree in a field other than education who wish to teach at elementary school level. The 60-credit program culminates in at least three months of a full-time internship at a school. This internship gives the student experience in classroom responsibility and lesson planning. Courses cover method and theory in teaching reading, science, and other elementary school subjects. Applicants should have minimum quantitative and verbal GRE scores of 1000, or pass grades in CLAST, General Knowledge Test, or PRAXIS I.

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2. East Carolina University — Greenville, NC

3. Liberty University — Lynchburg, VA

4. Samford University — Birmingham, AL

5. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania — Slippery Rock, PA

6. Ball State University — Muncie, IN

7. The University of Alabama — Tuscaloosa, AL

8. University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, AL

9. University of North Dakota — Grand Forks, ND

10. William Carey University — Hattiesburg, MS

11. Southwestern Assemblies of God University — Waxahachie, TX

12. California University of Pennsylvania — California, PA

13. University of Northern Iowa — Cedar Falls, IA

14. University of North Carolina at Charlotte — Charlotte, NC

15. Southeastern University — Lakeland, FL

16. Northern Arizona University — Flagstaff, AZ

17. Meredith College — Raleigh, NC

18. University of West Georgia — Carrollton, GA

19. Mercy College — Dobbs Ferry, NY

20. University of South Alabama — Mobile, AL

21. University of Mobile — Mobile, AL

22. Eastern Kentucky University — Richmond, KY

23. University of North Alabama — Florence, AL

24. Western Illinois University — Macomb, IL

25. Arkansas State University — Jonesboro, AR

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How to Choose an Online Master's in Elementary Education Program

Deciding where to get your elementary education master's online is a difficult decision. It requires the evaluation of several different programs based on the length, format, curriculum, and cost that works best for you. An online master's degree in elementary education is typically 30 to 36 credit hours and can be completed in a year. Foundational courses focus on the elementary school curriculum and instruction practices effective for younger learners. Some programs may offer areas of specialization within the degree, such as reading and literacy instruction or early childhood education. Other programs may require teaching practicums.

In addition, verify that your program of choice is either regionally or nationally accredited. Generally, regional accreditation is considered more prestigious by employers. Regional accreditation gives you more flexibility to transfer credits from one school to another. National accreditation is more focused on vocational applicability. Either way, ensure that the accrediting agency is recognized by the US Department of Education.

Careers for Graduates of Master's in Elementary Education Programs

While an online master's in elementary education may seem applicable only to the occupation of elementary school teacher, this is not the case. There are many other career trajectories you could undertake after graduating with this degree. For instance, education administrators facilitate the day-to-day operations of an elementary school. Instructional coordinators or curriculum designers may also work for the school district in revamping the elementary curriculum. There are several jobs available to those who complete an elementary education master's online but do not necessarily want to become a teacher.

The following table presents the descriptions of five possible career trajectories in elementary education and their respective median salaries.

Job Outlook and Salary for Graduates of Elementary Education Master's Degrees

The education sector has been expanding and with it, the demand for elementary school teachers, administrators, and curriculum coordinators. The table below illustrates the projected increase in employment opportunities between 2016 and 2026. As you can see, employment prospects are generally positive. However, salaries may still vary depending on whether you're employed at the school or district level, whether you work at a public or private school, what subject you teach, and where you are located. For example, superintendents employed by the district will generally make more than a school administrator at any particular school.

Salary Growth by Experience for Graduates of Elementary Education Master's Programs

Regardless of specific position or location, your salary will increase as you gain experience in the elementary education field. However, positions may differ in starting salary and salary growth rate. For instance, an education administrator's starting salary is, on average, $12,000 higher than an elementary school teacher's starting salary. The table below also illustrates that an education administrator's salary increases by roughly the same increment every five to ten years while an elementary school teacher's salary increases by slightly higher increments every five to ten years (although still not surpassing an administrator's salary).

The table below presents the average median salaries of three occupations in elementary education based on experience.

To determine the best online master's in elementary education programs, we looked at the most important factors prospective students, mainly common predictors of future success and a school's commitment to online programs. This boils down to admissions rate, student loan default rate, retention rate, graduation rate, and the percent of students enrolled in online classes. All data points are taken from information provided by colleges and universities to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Each factor is weighted evenly in order to give an objective view and determine the best online master's in elementary education programs. To calculate our rankings, we looked at a school's ranking when organized by a single factor, and then averaged each category's ranking to find an overall score: Admissions Rate (20%) + Default Rate (20%) + Retention Rate (20%) + Graduation Rate (20%) + Percent of Students Enrolled in Online Classes (20%) = Final score.