Best Associate's in Elementary Education Programs in Texas
All 5 Elementary Education associate's-level programs in Texas, 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 Texas teaching license, and Texas has 5 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. Brazosport College ranks first with a score of 75, on a 56 percent graduation rate.
Teaching assistants in Texas earn a median of $29,850 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, Texas licensure, accreditation, online and accelerated formats, and career outlook, so you can compare elementary education programs in Texas on the factors that change your outcome rather than on marketing.
- 1
Brazosport College
75score- 56%Grad rate
- $2,613/yrIn-state tuition
- $4,038/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 3,812Undergrads
- 2Grads/yr
- Associate of Arts in Teaching (A.A.T.)
About the programBrazosport College's Associate of Arts in Teaching is a state-approved 60-semester-hour degree that transfers to Texas public universities. It is designed for students aiming toward initial teacher certification in Early Childhood through Grade 6 (as well as tracks for grades 4-8, EC-12 special education, and 8-12 subject-specific fields). The degree is a transfer pathway covering the first two years of a bachelor's program and does not by itself confer a Texas teaching certificate; students complete the bachelor's and an educator preparation program at a four-year university to earn certification. Earning an associate degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Texas's teaching assistants.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageWe 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 56% graduation rate lands it in the top 25% of Texas programs, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. Cost only helps its case: at $2,613 in state, tuition runs below the Texas 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.
- 2
Galveston College
59score- 33%Grad rate
- $2,400/yrIn-state tuition
- $5,130/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 2,405Undergrads
- 3Grads/yr
- Associate of Science in Education
About the programGalveston College's Associate of Science in Education is a transfer pathway rather than a licensure credential, designed for students who plan to finish a bachelor's degree in education elsewhere. Offered through the Education Department, it lays the academic foundation a four-year program builds on and lets students aim early by choosing among tracks such as Generalist EC-6, Mathematics 4-8, and Mathematics 8-12. Practical experience is part of the design, since two core education courses each require at least sixteen contact hours of observation in P-12 classrooms, and one focuses that placement on working with special populations. That early exposure helps students confirm the grade level and subjects that suit them. Along the way, the degree also qualifies graduates to work as paraprofessionals or substitute teachers. It carries the lowest in-state tuition among Texas's 5 ranked associate's-level programs, at $2,400. Graduates of this elementary education program at the associate level often go on to work as teaching assistants.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageIts place on the list comes down to outcomes, selectivity, and price, weighted in that order. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 33% the graduation rate trails the Texas median, which caps how high it can climb. Cost only helps its case: at $2,400 in state, tuition runs below the Texas median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. Together, that is one of the strongest profiles on the page.
- 3
LeTourneau University
55score- 59%Grad rate
- $36,340/yrTuition (in or out of state)
- 38%Admit rate
- 3,187Undergrads
- 13Grads/yr
- 1160SAT mid
About the programLeTourneau University offers an Associate degree in Elementary Education through its School of Education. The program serves as an entry point into elementary teacher preparation at the associate level, introducing students to the foundations of teaching in elementary classrooms as they begin working toward a career in the field. Among Texas's 5 ranked associate's-level programs, this one posts the highest graduation rate at 59%. This associate-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as teaching assistants in Texas.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageThe ranking rewards programs that graduate their students, stay at least somewhat selective, and keep tuition reasonable, so here is how this one measures up. Its strongest card is completion: a 59% graduation rate lands it in the top 1% of Texas programs, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. A 38% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $36,340 in state, above the Texas median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. Together, that is one of the strongest profiles on the page.
- 4
Western Texas College
50score- 53%Grad rate
- $3,570/yrIn-state tuition
- $4,830/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 1,385Undergrads
- 3Grads/yr
- Associate of Arts in Teaching
About the programWestern Texas College offers an Associate of Arts in Teaching, one of the college's four two-year degrees alongside the Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, and Associate of Applied Science. The A.A.T. is a transfer-oriented pathway for students preparing to enter teacher education at a four-year institution. Coursework is available online. This associate-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as teaching assistants in Texas.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageThree things decide where a program lands on this list: how many students finish, how selective it is, and what it costs. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among Texas programs at 53%, solid without being a standout. Tuition is middle of the road for Texas programs at $3,570 in state, so cost neither helps nor hurts its standing. That combination is what puts it in the top handful here.
- 5
Wayland Baptist University
11score- 19%Grad rate
- $22,054/yrTuition (in or out of state)
- 56%Admit rate
- 2,087Undergrads
- 1Grads/yr
- On-campus
About the programWayland Baptist University houses its education programs in the Don A. Williams School of Education in Plainview, Texas. At the associate level, the university offers a general Associate of Arts. Elementary education is available at the bachelor's level through a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with an Elementary Education Core Subjects EC-6 track, and at the master's level through a Master of Education in Elementary Education Certification. Coursework is delivered on campus. Earning an associate degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Texas's teaching assistants.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageWe 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. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 19% the graduation rate trails the Texas median, which caps how high it can climb. A 56% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $22,054 in state, above the Texas median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. That combination is what puts it in the top handful here.
Key facts about a associate's in Elementary Education in Texas
- Texas has 5 accredited associate's in elementary education programs in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from federal IPEDS data.
- Brazosport College ranks first among elementary education associate's programs in Texas with a score of 75, on a 56 percent graduation rate.
- Galveston College is the most affordable associate's in elementary education in Texas, at $2,400 a year in-state tuition.
- LeTourneau University posts the highest graduation rate among elementary education programs in Texas, at 59 percent.
- Teaching assistants in Texas earn a median of $29,850 a year (BLS), ranking Texas 39 of 51 states and territories for the occupation.
- 1 of the associate's in elementary education programs in Texas offer an online or hybrid option.
- Texas requires the TExES licensure exam, administered through Texas Education Agency and State Board for Educator Certification, to earn a teaching license.
What a associate's in elementary education costs in Texas (2026)
Published in-state tuition for a associate's in elementary education in Texas runs from $2,400 to $36,340 a year across the 5 programs we rank, with a median of $3,570. The most affordable is Galveston College at $2,400 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 44 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 Texas
Teaching assistants in Texas earn a median of $29,850 a year, per BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), compared with a national median of $36,780. That ranks Texas 39 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 Texas is the entry point to that market, not the ceiling.
How to get a Texas teaching license
An associate's in elementary education does not by itself qualify you for a Texas teaching license. It is a two-year foundation that transfers into a bachelor's, which, with a supervised student-teaching placement and TExES (Texas Examinations of Educator Standards), leads to the Standard Certificate issued by Texas Education Agency and State Board for Educator Certification. Associate's graduates also qualify for teaching-assistant and paraprofessional roles in Texas schools while they finish the bachelor's.
TExES exams are administered by Pearson under the Texas Educator Certification Examination Program, not Praxis. Confirm your program is currently state-approved before you enroll.
Sources: Texas educator certification, TExES exam
Choosing an accredited elementary education program in Texas
Pick a associate's in elementary education in Texas that is regionally accredited and whose educator-preparation program is approved by the Texas Department of Education, ideally with CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) accreditation. State approval is what lets the degree count toward a Texas teaching license, and CAEP is the national standard for program quality, so confirm both before enrolling in any elementary education program in Texas.
Sources: CAEP accreditation
Online and hybrid elementary education programs in Texas
1 of the associate's in elementary education programs in Texas 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 Texas 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 Texas
How many associate's in elementary education programs are in Texas?
There are 5 accredited associate's in elementary education programs in Texas in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from the federal IPEDS database.
What is the most affordable associate's in elementary education in Texas?
Galveston College is the most affordable associate's in elementary education in Texas, at $2,400 a year in in-state tuition.
How much do teaching assistants make in Texas?
Teaching assistants in Texas earn a median of $29,850 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 Texas?
Texas requires the TExES (Texas Examinations of Educator Standards) licensure exam, administered for Texas Education Agency and State Board for Educator Certification. See the <a href="https://www.tx.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 Texas?
For most future teachers, yes. A associate's in elementary education in Texas is the standard credential for a Texas teaching license, and it leads to a median teaching assistants salary of $29,850 a year in Texas. 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 Texas for 2026, ranked on the outcomes that matter. Compare all 5 associate's in elementary education in Texas 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 Texas.