Best Bachelor's in Elementary Education Programs in 2026

The University of Florida in Gainesville offers a Bachelor of Arts in Education in Elementary Education through UF Online, leading to Florida teacher certification for grades K-6. The competency-based program blends job-embedded coursework with practicum placements and full-time internships in Florida public schools, and graduates can add English for Speakers of Other Languages and Reading endorsements. Florida residency is required so students can complete practicum and internship hours in a Florida public school, and a Level II background check is required before the upper-division program. UF's educator preparation programs, including elementary education, hold CAEP accreditation. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL offers a BS in Elementary Education built into a combined bachelor's and master's pathway leading to an MS in Curriculum and Instruction. The program prepares candidates for the Florida Professional Educator's Certificate in Elementary Education, grades K-6, with endorsements in ESOL and Reading. Students complete field experiences woven throughout coursework and finish with a semester-long student teaching placement before earning teacher certification. FSU delivers this elementary education program only through in-person instruction on its main campus, with no online or distance learning option. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

North Carolina State University at Raleigh gives its Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education a distinctive STEM identity, preparing candidates for K-6 licensure through the Teacher Education and Learning Sciences department. Rather than treating math and science as afterthoughts, the program requires at least 27 credit hours of STEM-focused content and pairs it with literacy, language arts, engineering methods, special education, and social studies, so future teachers are strong across the elementary curriculum. Time in real classrooms starts early, with field placements beginning in the sophomore year and building toward a full year-long senior student teaching experience. Because professional courses run during regular school hours in the junior and senior years, students spend those years living the daily rhythm of a working teacher. Candidates advance by meeting Admission to Teacher Candidacy requirements, and the degree is delivered on campus in Raleigh. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Based in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, this 120-credit Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education at UW-Madison leads to a Wisconsin teaching license covering kindergarten through grade 9. The professional sequence is immersive and tightly paced, running four consecutive semesters and pairing two practicum experiences of roughly 120 hours each across different grade levels with a culminating full-time student teaching placement in Madison-area schools. Students who want to widen their credential can add Early Childhood or English as a Second Language certifications. Before earning the license, candidates must pass the Wisconsin Foundations of Reading Test and satisfy the requirements of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. The on-campus format keeps candidates close to the schools and cooperating teachers they work alongside. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

The University of Maryland's College of Education offers a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, a 115-credit program in the Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership department that prepares candidates to teach grades 1 through 6. Field experiences begin in the sophomore year, culminating in a year-long internship in a Professional Development School (TLPL489), with 9 credits in fall and 2 in spring. Graduates meet requirements for Maryland certification and reciprocity states through MSDE. The catalog states the College's educational programs are accredited/approved by AAQEP and MSDE. Delivered as a traditional on-campus program. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Maryland.

UVA's School of Education and Human Development offers a 120-credit Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed.) in Elementary Education leading to initial Virginia licensure with an Elementary PreK-6 endorsement. The applied program pairs coursework with two clinical placements: Internship I (EDIS 4861, 6 credits), a mentored classroom placement three days per week in the fall, and Internship II (EDIS 4881, 12 credits), full-time daily student teaching from January through April. Students transfer into the program as first- or second-year UVA students or from another institution. Delivered on Grounds. The School holds a seven-year CAEP accreditation term covering its initial teacher education programs. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Virginia's elementary school teachers.

The Marsal Family School of Education anchors this Bachelor of Arts or Science in elementary teaching, a cohort-based program that leads to recommendation for Michigan certification. Its professional sequence stretches across four terms of steadily heavy coursework, moving students together through literacy, PK-6 mathematics, science, social studies, and the teaching of students with exceptionalities. Fieldwork is present from the start at one full day a week, then swells into full-time directed teaching five days a week as the sequence closes. Students who want to broaden their credentials can add an English as a Second Language endorsement and a Trauma-Informed Practice certificate. Delivered on campus in Ann Arbor, it offers a tightly structured, community-minded route into the elementary classroom. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Michigan.

Clemson University's Elementary Education, B.A. prepares candidates for South Carolina certification in grades 2-6, and its defining feature is how early and how steadily it puts students in front of real learners. Clinical experience builds across all four years, opening with tutoring in the freshman year, deepening through field observations in the sophomore and junior years, and culminating in a full student teaching practicum. That gradual on-ramp means candidates are never learning to teach in the abstract. Feedback is built in as well, with candidates formally evaluated at least seven times against the South Carolina Teaching Standards rubric during their placements. Those placements happen in partner classrooms, schools, and districts, and the program is delivered on campus, keeping candidates connected to a network of cooperating schools throughout their preparation. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

William & Mary's School of Education offers a four-year BAEd in Elementary Education, a 42-credit program that students typically enter by applying in the spring of their sophomore year. Those who want to broaden their reach can layer on optional specializations in ESL and bilingual education or special education, which expand the credit load but open additional classrooms to teach in. Clinical field experience is a defining thread, beginning early and requiring at least 70 hours across the junior and senior years before candidates take on a 15-week full-time student teaching placement in the spring of senior year. Because required licensure tests are built directly into the degree as graduation requirements, students finish ready for Virginia PK-6 initial licensure without loose ends. The program is campus based. It fits students who value a structured, clinically rich route into elementary teaching with room to specialize. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Virginia's elementary school teachers.

This Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education prepares candidates for an Indiana teaching license covering grades K-6 in all subjects, with interstate reciprocity for licensure in other states. The program combines theoretical and practical coursework with immersive clinical practice, offering student teaching placements near West Lafayette, in the Indianapolis Public Schools urban experience, elsewhere in the U.S., or abroad. It is delivered full-time on campus. The admissions page states the program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and approved by the Indiana Department of Education. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Indiana's elementary school teachers.

Auburn University offers a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education through its College of Education in Auburn, AL. The on campus program prepares students for Alabama teacher certification in grades K-6 and includes clinical field experiences that give candidates hands on classroom practice before graduation. Auburn's educator preparation programs hold CAEP accreditation, reflecting a curriculum reviewed against national standards for teacher licensure. Graduates leave ready to pursue elementary teaching positions with a state approved credential. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in Alabama.

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education for students seeking teacher certification in Champaign, IL. The on-campus program requires at least 120 credit hours and leads to Illinois teacher licensure for grades one through six. Students complete extensive field-based coursework, including School and Community Experiences across two semesters and a 12 credit hour elementary practicum, before student teaching. This elementary education program is approved by the Illinois State Board of Education for teacher licensure. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in Illinois.

BYU's Elementary Education (BS) is a 65 to 68 credit major preparing candidates to teach grades K-6 in public schools. The program culminates in 12 credit hours completed through Elementary Student Teaching or an Academic Internship. Per the catalog, it meets the educational requirements leading to an occupationally required professional license in Utah, and students must complete Utah State Office of Education licensing requirements. Completion leads to a Utah K-6 teaching license. Delivered on campus in Provo. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Utah's elementary school teachers.

Ohio State University's Primary Education (P-5) Bachelor of Science in Education prepares candidates to teach pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, and its real strength is how deliberately it stages time in schools. Students begin with the First Education Experience Program, a service-learning course, then move through pre-education and introductory placements, an advanced experience that puts them in front of students two days a week, and finally a full-time student teaching practicum in Columbus-area schools. That gradual buildup means candidates take on classroom responsibility in steps rather than all at once. On completing the on-campus program, they are recommended to the Ohio Department of Education for a pre-K to grade 5 license. The College of Education and Human Ecology's educator preparation programs are CAEP accredited. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Ohio.

Students who want to graduate with both an undergraduate degree and a teaching qualification in hand will find that structure at the University of Connecticut, where the Integrated Bachelor's/Master's in Elementary Education layers a Bachelor of Science in Education with a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction. Built at the Neag School of Education on the Storrs campus, the program points toward Connecticut certification for grades PK-6 and treats classroom time as central, asking candidates to complete nine credits of directed student teaching. Alongside that fieldwork, students deepen a chosen subject concentration in an area such as English, mathematics, or science. What gives the program its character is a steady emphasis on multicultural education and equity, so content knowledge and inclusive practice grow together. Its teacher preparation carries CAEP accreditation. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Connecticut's elementary school teachers.

UNC Wilmington's Watson College of Education offers the Elementary Education B.A., which leads to North Carolina teacher licensure for grades K-6. Students complete more than 500 hours in classroom settings across phases: one-on-one tutoring in the on-campus Education Lab, classroom field placements at PDS partnership and regional districts across southeastern North Carolina, and a full-time semester-long internship in the senior year. Students apply to Watson College in their second year, begin education coursework in the junior year, and pass licensing tests before applying for licensure. The program is offered both on-campus and as a fully online option for students in the southeastern North Carolina region. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in North Carolina.

The College of New Jersey builds real subject depth into elementary teaching by requiring a dual major, pairing its Elementary Education BS with an approved content area such as English, mathematics, biology, history, or integrative STEM education. Alongside that content focus and the College Core, the curriculum knits together liberal arts study, education theory, and extensive fieldwork so candidates develop as both scholars and teachers. That fieldwork culminates in a full semester of supervised student teaching, arranged through the Professional Development School Network, with an optional global student teaching experience for those who want to teach abroad. Graduates qualify for New Jersey certification in grades K-6. The program is delivered on campus. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in New Jersey.

The University of South Carolina's Elementary Education B.A. is designed for candidates who want extensive time in front of children before they graduate, and its structure reflects that. Across 120 credits, students study the foundations of learning, instructional methods, assessment, and teaching in diverse classrooms, then apply it all through three progressively demanding internships worth 21 credits. Those placements move from an introductory experience to planning-focused work and finally a culminating elementary internship, averaging more than 700 hours across urban, suburban, and rural schools. The degree prepares candidates to teach grades 2 through 6 and leads to South Carolina elementary certification. Instruction is delivered on the Columbia campus, with an online degree-completion option available through Palmetto College for students who need added flexibility. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in South Carolina.

Spelman College offers a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education on its Atlanta, Georgia campus, a CAEP accredited program approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. Students study curriculum design, reading diagnosis, and urban education, then complete a student teaching capstone supported by seminar courses. The program prepares graduates for teacher certification in grades PreK-5 and emphasizes preparing teachers as change agents in urban Atlanta schools. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Georgia.

This undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood & Childhood Education at SUNY New Paltz prepares candidates for New York State dual certification in Early Childhood Education (Birth to grade 2) and Childhood Education (grades 1 to 6). The program combines educational studies coursework with a 30-credit academic concentration in a liberal arts discipline. Candidates complete sequenced fieldwork placements followed by a full-semester student teaching capstone divided between primary and intermediate settings. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in New York.

Emmaus Bible College weaves faith and pedagogy together in a four-year Bachelor of Science that combines Bible and Theology with Elementary Education. The degree calls for at least 128.5 credit hours, with a minimum of 60 earned at Emmaus, and its professional sequence keeps candidates moving into schools through a series of field studies courses and two teaching practica before a culminating student teaching placement paired with seminar. That steady build gives future teachers repeated, structured exposure to real classrooms rather than a single burst at the end. The coursework certifies elementary teaching for grades K-6 and folds in some K-8 methods, broadening where graduates can serve. Candidates who satisfy all program and state requirements are recommended for an initial teaching license through the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners. Instruction takes place on campus in Dubuque, Iowa. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in Iowa.

At SUNY Geneseo, the Bachelor of Science in Education in Early Childhood and Childhood Education leads to New York State initial certification in two bands at once, Early Childhood Education for birth through grade 2 and Childhood Education for grades 1 through 6. The program builds practice directly into its coursework, embedding 150 hours of field experience before candidates reach a two-course student teaching capstone in EDUC 431 and EDUC 432. That arrangement keeps theory and classroom time closely linked throughout. Instruction is delivered on campus. The Ella Cline Shear School of Education, which houses this and every other education program, earned initial AAQEP accreditation in June 2025. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in New York.

Washington University in St. Louis offers an Elementary Teacher Education major, a Bachelor of Arts that prepares candidates to teach grades 1-6 in the public schools. Based in the Department of Education within the College of Arts and Sciences, the program combines a liberal arts foundation with professional preparation, so future teachers grow as scholars and as practitioners. The department is direct that completing its teacher education program qualifies a student for certification, leading to a Missouri State Department of Education teaching certificate. Students can enter the pathway as rising sophomores or as upperclassmen finishing their degrees, which leaves room to decide on teaching after arriving. Field and clinical experience runs through the program and culminates in student teaching, and all study takes place on campus. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Missouri.

Vanderbilt's Peabody College offers a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education through its Department of Teaching and Learning, leading to Tennessee licensure for kindergarten through fifth grade. The curriculum is fieldwork-intensive and substantial, asking for at least 120 semester hours spread across a liberal education core, a professional core, and an area of specialization, and it stands out for requiring students to complete a second, non-education major alongside their teaching preparation. That structure reflects the program's emphasis on understanding how children think and develop across both school and non-school settings, not just how to run a classroom. On completion and faculty recommendation, graduates are recommended for a Tennessee license, with reciprocity available in other states. Peabody's initial programs hold CAEP accreditation for the 2024-2031 term. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Middlebury College approaches teacher preparation through Education Studies, structured as a joint major so students pair it with another discipline while its licensure track leads to initial Vermont certification for grades K-6. The coursework blends methods in literacy, social studies, science, math, and the arts with grounding in educational psychology and inclusive education, giving future elementary teachers both subject breadth and an understanding of how children learn. Everything builds toward a full-time Professional Semester of student teaching in a nearby Vermont school, where candidates work closely with a mentor teacher and a college supervisor. That capstone turns theory into daily practice in a real classroom before graduation. The resulting Vermont license is recognized by fellow NASDTEC member states, so mobility is built in. Taught entirely on campus, the program suits students who want a liberal arts foundation woven together with a clear path into the classroom. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Vermont.