Best Associate's in Elementary Education Programs in Oklahoma

All 9 Elementary Education associate's-level programs in Oklahoma, ranked overall on graduation rate, affordability, and more, from the IPEDS database.

An associate's in elementary education is a two-year transfer degree and the first step toward a bachelor's and an eventual Oklahoma teaching license, and Oklahoma has 9 accredited elementary education associate's programs to compare. This ranking scores every one on the outcomes that actually affect your return: graduation rate, in-state affordability, and selectivity, all pulled from the public federal IPEDS database. Carl Albert State College ranks first with a score of 93, on a 43 percent graduation rate.

Teaching assistants in Oklahoma earn a median of $27,920 a year according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, against a national median of $36,780. Each section below covers a specific decision point, cost and real ROI, Oklahoma licensure, accreditation, online and accelerated formats, and career outlook, so you can compare elementary education programs in Oklahoma on the factors that change your outcome rather than on marketing.

9Programs analyzed
$3,000 to $4,840/yrIn-state tuition
$27,920/yrMedian teaching assistant pay in Oklahoma
Carl Albert State CollegeTop-ranked

← Best Associate's in Elementary Education nationally

Elementary Education associate's-level programs in Oklahoma, compared by score
1Carl Albert State College93
2Seminole State College75
3Northern Oklahoma College72
4Oklahoma City Community College53
5Eastern Oklahoma State College36
6Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College35
7Rogers State University34
8Murray State College19
9Rose State College11
  1. 1

    Carl Albert State College

    Poteau, OKPublic

    93score
    • 43%Grad rate
    • $3,000/yrIn-state tuition
    • $7,478/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 1,851Undergrads
    • 10Grads/yr
    • Associate of Arts
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Carl Albert State College offers an Associate of Arts in Pre-Elementary Education, designed for those working with young children. This is a non-licensure transfer program, structured so students transfer to a four-year university to complete a bachelor's degree in elementary education. The college notes that students pursuing secondary education should major in their intended field of instruction and then major in secondary education for that field upon transferring. Coursework is delivered on campus in Poteau, Oklahoma. It carries the lowest in-state tuition among Oklahoma's 9 ranked associate's-level programs, at $3,000. Graduates of this elementary education program at the associate level often go on to work as teaching assistants.

    Why it ranks here

    Its rank is built from three numbers: graduation rate, admission rate, and in-state tuition, in that order of weight. Its strongest card is completion: a 43% graduation rate lands it in the top 13% of Oklahoma programs, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. Cost only helps its case: at $3,000 in state, tuition runs below the Oklahoma median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. That combination is what puts it in the top handful here.

    Program page
  2. 2

    Seminole State College

    Seminole, OKPublicOnline available

    75score
    • 40%Grad rate
    • $3,210/yrIn-state tuition
    • $9,540/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 1,488Undergrads
    • 10Grads/yr
    • Elementary Education Associate in Science (East Central University Option)
    • Online
    About the program

    Seminole State College's Elementary Education Associate in Science (East Central University Option) is a fully online transfer pathway offered through the Business and Education Division. Classes and labs are completely online, spanning 60 to 64 semester credit hours. The program's stated objective is to prepare students for transfer to a bachelor's degree-granting institution to major in elementary education, not to grant licensure itself. A statewide Oklahoma transfer agreement guarantees the associate degree satisfies all freshman and sophomore general education requirements at a public four-year university. Admission to teacher education requires a minimum 2.5 retention GPA, and students typically take the OGET during their sophomore year. As an associate degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as teaching assistants in Oklahoma.

    Why it ranks here

    Three things decide where a program lands on this list: how many students finish, how selective it is, and what it costs. Start with the outcome that matters most, 40% of students graduate, top 25% among Oklahoma programs, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. Cost only helps its case: at $3,210 in state, tuition runs below the Oklahoma median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. Strong on the measures that matter most, it earns a place near the top.

    Program page
  3. 3

    Northern Oklahoma College

    Tonkawa, OKPublic

    72score
    • 48%Grad rate
    • $3,681/yrIn-state tuition
    • $10,446/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 3,138Undergrads
    • 27Grads/yr
    • Associate in Arts in Education, Elementary Education Option
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Northern Oklahoma College offers a 60 credit hour Associate in Arts in Education with an Elementary Education Option, a two year transfer degree completing lower division general education alongside foundational education coursework. The degree sheet notes that Introduction to Education is required of all students seeking licensure in any teaching field. The associate itself does not confer a teaching license; it is a transfer pathway to a four year institution where students complete upper division teacher preparation and initial elementary licensure. The program is listed as an active Associate in Arts degree at NOC. Among Oklahoma's 9 ranked associate's-level programs, this one posts the highest graduation rate at 48%. Earning an associate degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Oklahoma's teaching assistants.

    Why it ranks here

    We rank on the things that actually shape a teaching degree: whether students finish, how hard it is to get in, and the price of admission. Its strongest card is completion: a 48% graduation rate lands it in the top 1% of Oklahoma programs, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. The one drag is price, $3,681 in state, above the Oklahoma median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. Strong on the measures that matter most, it earns a place near the top.

    Program page
  4. 4

    Oklahoma City Community College

    Oklahoma City, OKPublicOnline available

    53score
    • 27%Grad rate
    • $3,025/yrIn-state tuition
    • $8,776/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 11,475Undergrads
    • 35Grads/yr
    • Pre-Education
    About the program

    Oklahoma City Community College offers a Pre-Education program that awards an Associate of Science and is housed in the Division of Arts, English and Humanities. Aligned with elementary education, it covers the early coursework students need before transferring to a four-year teaching degree. The associate pathway gives students a foundation for continuing toward teacher preparation at a bachelor's-granting institution. It awards more associate's-level elementary education degrees than any of Oklahoma's 9 ranked associate's-level programs, 35 in the most recent year. A associate-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among teaching assistants in Oklahoma.

    Why it ranks here

    Three things decide where a program lands on this list: how many students finish, how selective it is, and what it costs. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 27% the graduation rate trails the Oklahoma median, which caps how high it can climb. Cost only helps its case: at $3,025 in state, tuition runs below the Oklahoma median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. That combination is what puts it in the top handful here.

    Program page
  5. 5

    Eastern Oklahoma State College

    Wilburton, OKPublic

    36score
    • 27%Grad rate
    • $3,463/yrIn-state tuition
    • $7,079/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 1,285Undergrads
    • 2Grads/yr
    • Associate of Arts in Elementary Education (Pre-Elementary Education)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Eastern Oklahoma State College's Associate of Arts in Elementary Education is best understood as a launch pad rather than a destination, a two-year transfer pathway offered on campus through the Division of Language, Humanities and Education. It covers the freshman and sophomore years of teacher education coursework for students who intend to move on to a university and eventually earn certification to teach PreK through grade six. The transfer focus is baked into its structure, with requirements set by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and a specific articulation agreement with Southeastern Oklahoma State University. That agreement makes it a smooth, planned handoff into a bachelor's program rather than an uncertain leap. Students should know the associate degree itself is a transfer credential and does not carry licensure, which comes later at the four-year level. Graduates of this elementary education program at the associate level often go on to work as teaching assistants.

    Why it ranks here

    The ranking rewards programs that graduate their students, stay at least somewhat selective, and keep tuition reasonable, so here is how this one measures up. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 27% the graduation rate trails the Oklahoma median, which caps how high it can climb. Tuition is middle of the road for Oklahoma programs at $3,463 in state, so cost neither helps nor hurts its standing. Strong on the measures that matter most, it earns a place near the top.

    Program page
  6. 6

    Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College

    Miami, OKPublicOnline available

    35score
    • 26%Grad rate
    • $3,270/yrIn-state tuition
    • $9,420/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 1,962Undergrads
    • 2Grads/yr
    About the program

    Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College offers an online associate-level program in elementary education. Based in Miami, Oklahoma, the two-year degree provides introductory coursework for students interested in teaching at the elementary level. The associate program does not by itself lead to teacher licensure, serving instead as an early step for students who plan to continue their studies. This associate-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as teaching assistants in Oklahoma.

    Why it ranks here

    Where it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 26% the graduation rate trails the Oklahoma median, which caps how high it can climb. Cost only helps its case: at $3,270 in state, tuition runs below the Oklahoma median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. No single weakness drags it down, and that consistency lands it in the upper tier.

    Program page
  7. 7

    Rogers State University

    Claremore, OKPublic

    34score
    • 29%Grad rate
    • $4,840/yrIn-state tuition
    • $13,500/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 3,135Undergrads
    • 23Grads/yr
    • Elementary Education, A.A.
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Rogers State University's Elementary Education A.A. is a 65 credit hour transfer degree offered through Teacher Education, meant to be a first step rather than a finish line. Instead of granting licensure on its own, it covers the first two years of general and foundational coursework that transfer toward a four-year elementary education degree, so students are advised that general education and major requirements cannot count twice. The program suits learners who want flexibility in how they study, with classes available on the ground at the Claremore campus and fully online. A collaborative agreement with Cameron University extends the path further, letting students complete bachelor's-completion coursework right on the RSU Claremore campus. For future teachers who want to start close to home before finishing a licensure degree, it offers a clear on-ramp. A associate-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among teaching assistants in Oklahoma.

    Why it ranks here

    We rank on the things that actually shape a teaching degree: whether students finish, how hard it is to get in, and the price of admission. Its strongest card is completion: a 29% graduation rate lands it in the top 38% of Oklahoma programs, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. The one drag is price, $4,840 in state, above the Oklahoma median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. No single weakness drags it down, and that consistency lands it in the upper tier.

    Program page
  8. 8

    Murray State College

    Tishomingo, OKPublicOnline available

    19score
    • 27%Grad rate
    • $4,830/yrIn-state tuition
    • $9,030/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 2,949Undergrads
    • 13Grads/yr
    • Elementary Education, A.S.
    • Online
    About the program

    Murray State College offers the Elementary Education, A.S. through its School of Arts, Education, and Social Sciences, available both in-person and fully online so it can be completed from anywhere with wifi. The degree provides foundational coursework equivalent to the initial two years of a bachelor's degree and is designed for transfer to a four-year institution if desired. The program chair is listed as Anna-Lisa Little. This associate-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as teaching assistants in Oklahoma.

    Why it ranks here

    Three things decide where a program lands on this list: how many students finish, how selective it is, and what it costs. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 27% the graduation rate trails the Oklahoma median, which caps how high it can climb. The one drag is price, $4,830 in state, above the Oklahoma median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. No single weakness drags it down, and that consistency lands it in the upper tier.

    Program page
  9. 9

    Rose State College

    Midwest City, OKPublic

    11score
    • 20%Grad rate
    • $3,778/yrIn-state tuition
    • $10,155/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 7,758Undergrads
    • 11Grads/yr
    • Pre-Education, A.A. (Elementary Education transfer track)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Rose State College's Pre-Education Associate of Arts is built as a transfer springboard, giving future elementary teachers a solid, affordable foundation before they move on to a four-year program. The 61 to 65 credit Elementary Education track balances general education with focused study across four core subjects, devoting a block of hours each to English, social studies, science, and math so students build breadth in the areas they will one day teach. Beyond coursework, the program readies students for the Oklahoma General Education Test, the exam required for admission to a teacher education program at the state's universities. It is one of five transfer tracks the college offers, part of a clear on-ramp toward a bachelor's in education. For cost-conscious students, it makes a practical first move toward the classroom. A associate-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among teaching assistants in Oklahoma.

    Why it ranks here

    The ranking rewards programs that graduate their students, stay at least somewhat selective, and keep tuition reasonable, so here is how this one measures up. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 20% the graduation rate trails the Oklahoma median, which caps how high it can climb. The one drag is price, $3,778 in state, above the Oklahoma median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. On balance it is a well-rounded pick, which is what earns it a spot this high.

    Program page

Key facts about a associate's in Elementary Education in Oklahoma

  • Oklahoma has 9 accredited associate's in elementary education programs in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from federal IPEDS data.
  • Carl Albert State College ranks first among elementary education associate's programs in Oklahoma with a score of 93, on a 43 percent graduation rate.
  • Carl Albert State College is the most affordable associate's in elementary education in Oklahoma, at $3,000 a year in-state tuition.
  • Northern Oklahoma College posts the highest graduation rate among elementary education programs in Oklahoma, at 48 percent.
  • Teaching assistants in Oklahoma earn a median of $27,920 a year (BLS), ranking Oklahoma 47 of 51 states and territories for the occupation.
  • 4 of the associate's in elementary education programs in Oklahoma offer an online or hybrid option.
  • Oklahoma requires the CEOE/OSAT licensure exam, administered through Oklahoma State Department of Education, Office of Teacher Certification, to earn a teaching license.

What a associate's in elementary education costs in Oklahoma (2026)

Published in-state tuition for a associate's in elementary education in Oklahoma runs from $3,000 to $4,840 a year across the 9 programs we rank, with a median of $3,463. The most affordable is Carl Albert State College at $3,000 a year. These are published sticker rates from IPEDS; most future teachers bring the net figure down with the Pell Grant, the federal TEACH Grant, and state teacher-preparation aid, so weigh net price, not the sticker.

Cost only means something next to completion. The elementary education programs ranked here average a 32 percent graduation rate, and a lower-priced program where fewer students finish is not necessarily the cheaper path to a degree. Compare tuition and graduation rate together above.

Sources: IPEDS tuition data

What teaching assistants earn in Oklahoma

Teaching assistants in Oklahoma earn a median of $27,920 a year, per BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), compared with a national median of $36,780. That ranks Oklahoma 47 of 51 states and territories for teaching assistants pay. Nationally, pay for this occupation spans roughly $27,150 at the 10th percentile to $50,040 at the 90th, with a master's degree, years in the classroom, and the local district salary schedule driving the climb.

The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects 1 percent decline in teaching assistants employment nationally from 2024 to 2034, with about 170,400 openings a year as teachers retire or change careers. A associate's in elementary education in Oklahoma is the entry point to that market, not the ceiling.

Sources: BLS OEWS wages, BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook

How to get an Oklahoma teaching license

An associate's in elementary education does not by itself qualify you for an Oklahoma teaching license. It is a two-year foundation that transfers into a bachelor's, which, with a supervised student-teaching placement and CEOE/OSAT (Certification Examinations for Oklahoma Educators), leads to the Standard Certificate issued by Oklahoma State Department of Education, Office of Teacher Certification. Associate's graduates also qualify for teaching-assistant and paraprofessional roles in Oklahoma schools while they finish the bachelor's.

The Oklahoma Subject Area Tests are part of the CEOE program, administered by Pearson, not Praxis. Confirm your program is currently state-approved before you enroll.

Sources: Oklahoma educator certification, CEOE/OSAT exam

Choosing an accredited elementary education program in Oklahoma

Pick a associate's in elementary education in Oklahoma that is regionally accredited and whose educator-preparation program is approved by the Oklahoma Department of Education, ideally with CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) accreditation. State approval is what lets the degree count toward an Oklahoma teaching license, and CAEP is the national standard for program quality, so confirm both before enrolling in any elementary education program in Oklahoma.

Sources: CAEP accreditation

Online and hybrid elementary education programs in Oklahoma

4 of the associate's in elementary education programs in Oklahoma offer an online or hybrid option. Online teacher-preparation still requires in-person student teaching, so these formats suit working adults and career changers who can complete supervised classroom hours locally while taking coursework online. An online associate's in elementary education from a state-approved, CAEP-accredited program leads to the same Oklahoma teaching license as an on-campus degree; the diploma does not distinguish the format.

Frequently asked questions about a associate's in Elementary Education in Oklahoma

How many associate's in elementary education programs are in Oklahoma?

There are 9 accredited associate's in elementary education programs in Oklahoma in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from the federal IPEDS database.

What is the most affordable associate's in elementary education in Oklahoma?

Carl Albert State College is the most affordable associate's in elementary education in Oklahoma, at $3,000 a year in in-state tuition.

How much do teaching assistants make in Oklahoma?

Teaching assistants in Oklahoma earn a median of $27,920 a year, according to <a href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes259045.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics</a>, versus $36,780 nationally.

What exam do you need to teach in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma requires the CEOE/OSAT (Certification Examinations for Oklahoma Educators) licensure exam, administered for Oklahoma State Department of Education, Office of Teacher Certification. See the <a href="https://www.ceoe.nesinc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">official exam page</a> for current test requirements.

Is a associate's in elementary education worth it in Oklahoma?

For most future teachers, yes. A associate's in elementary education in Oklahoma is the standard credential for an Oklahoma teaching license, and it leads to a median teaching assistants salary of $27,920 a year in Oklahoma. Compare graduation rate and net price above to find the best value in 2026.

These are the best associate's in elementary education programs in Oklahoma for 2026, ranked on the outcomes that matter. Compare all 9 associate's in elementary education in Oklahoma above by graduation rate, tuition, and selectivity, then open each program page to take the next step toward transferring into a bachelor's and a classroom career in Oklahoma.

Sources

Elementary Education in other states