Best Bachelor's in Elementary Education Programs in Hawaii

The University of Hawaii at Manoa designs its Bachelor of Education in Elementary Education to reach students across the islands, leading to a licensure recommendation through the Hawai'i Teachers Standards Board for grades K-6. Offered through the College of Education in Honolulu, the 54-credit program comes in two formats: a campus-based Oahu track with in-person classes, and a statewide hybrid track that combines online meetings with periodic weekend sessions so neighbor island students can stay in their communities. Classroom practice frames the experience from the start, opening with a 40-hour field requirement before admission and closing with a full-time student teaching semester in a local school. The College of Education's educator preparation programs hold national accreditation from AAQEP. Together these features make the degree unusually accessible for future teachers throughout Hawaii. Among Hawaii's 4 ranked bachelor's-level programs, this one posts the highest graduation rate at 64%. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Hawaii.

Brigham Young University-Hawaii's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, offered through the Faculty of Education and Social Work, is a 120 credit hour program that prepares well-rounded teachers for kindergarten through sixth grade in public or private schools. Because elementary teachers cover everything, the major reflects that breadth, with coursework across literacy, math, science, social studies, physical education, health, music, and art instruction. The program is aligned with the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board's performance expectations, keeping candidates focused on what the state asks of new teachers. It also asks students to complete two minors, adding useful range to their preparation. The experience builds toward a 14 credit hour student teaching capstone, with practicum time in local public schools that puts candidates in front of real learners. It carries the lowest in-state tuition among Hawaii's 4 ranked bachelor's-level programs, at $6,630. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Hawaii.

Chaminade University of Honolulu offers a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education that prepares students for teacher certification in kindergarten through sixth grade in Hawaii. The program builds toward a culminating student teaching placement, ED-494 Student Teaching: Elementary, preceded by extensive classroom observation and service learning partnerships with schools such as Palolo Elementary. Small class sizes give elementary education majors close faculty mentoring as they complete coursework rooted in the university's Marianist tradition. Chaminade is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation, and the program is based on its Honolulu, HI campus. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Hawaii Pacific University's Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education prepares candidates for K-6 teacher licensure through a degree that pairs a broad general education foundation with a focused elementary major. What sets the program apart is the sheer depth of its classroom time, with 450 hours of clinical practice spread across two semesters and mentored by working teachers in public, private, and charter schools. That range of settings gives future educators a genuine feel for the varied environments they might one day lead. Candidate growth is documented throughout in an electronic portfolio, so progress is tracked in a concrete, reflective way rather than by coursework alone. The School of Education holds full AAQEP accreditation through June 2028, and graduates qualify for licensure in Hawai'i and 49 other states, opening doors well beyond the islands. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Hawaii.