Best Bachelor's in Elementary Education Programs in Indiana

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. Among Indiana's 33 ranked bachelor's-level programs, this one posts the highest graduation rate at 83%. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Indiana's elementary school teachers.

Indiana University Bloomington grounds its Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education in the full breadth of the elementary school day, preparing students for Indiana licensure across grades K-6. Delivered on campus through the CAEP accredited School of Education, the program pairs coursework spanning reading, writing, math, science, social studies, and the arts with required clinical experience and a culminating student teaching placement. Candidates who want a broader reach can pursue a dual major that joins elementary education with elementary special education, opening the door to teaching a wider range of learners. Because IU accounts for a significant share of Indiana's newly licensed teachers each year, students enter a program with deep roots in the state's classrooms. The result is a well-rounded, generalist preparation for elementary teaching. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Indiana.

Holy Cross College's Elementary Education program leans on immersion, leading to an Indiana K-6 teaching license and asking candidates to complete 675 hours of field and professional experience across the degree. Rather than a short final placement, student teaching keeps each candidate in a single classroom for a full year, so they see how a class grows from fall to spring. The Education Department also builds in room to specialize, letting students add an English as a New Language endorsement or pursue a standalone 12-credit ENL certification. Format flexes with the track: the traditional bachelor's runs on campus, while the non-traditional bachelor's, a 24-credit Transition to Teaching route, and the ENL certification are offered in hybrid form. The Cabrini Scholarship further supports underrepresented and first-generation candidates, reinforcing a program that aims to widen who gets into teaching. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in Indiana.

Taylor University in Upland, IN offers a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education that leads to an Elementary Generalist License, preparing graduates for teacher certification in grades K-6. The program, accredited through Taylor's CAEP-recognized Educator Preparation Program, places freshmen in local elementary classrooms right away and builds toward more than 500 hours of clinical field experience. Students complete a Junior Methods Practicum and a full semester of senior student teaching in two schools, with options to student teach domestically or abroad. Coursework includes 12 credit hours of reading instruction grounded in the Science of Reading. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in Indiana.

Fieldwork sits at the heart of Grace College's Elementary Education bachelor's, which prepares candidates for K-6 licensure and expects them to spend real time with young learners long before graduation. Students accumulate more than 165 hours in K-6 classrooms ahead of student teaching and over 200 classroom hours in all, then close the degree with a full semester alongside a mentor teacher and a college supervisor. Coursework, delivered on campus, builds reading skill through a three-course literacy sequence and gathers instructional methods into a dedicated block, giving the program a practical, classroom-ready feel. Candidates who want to reach a wider range of learners can look to the related Teaching All Learners track, which folds in special education licensure. The School of Education is CAEP accredited and an Indiana-approved Educator Preparation Provider, and it reports that every Grace completer has been rated effective or highly effective by Indiana principals. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Indiana.

The University of Indianapolis offers a BS in Elementary Education through its School of Education, leading to Indiana K-6 teaching certification. The program is CAEP accredited through Fall 2031 and embeds applied clinical experiences and student teaching throughout the curriculum. Students benefit from strong partnerships with central Indiana K-12 schools and a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Delivered on campus, the program was recognized as a College of Distinction for 2025-2026. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Indiana's elementary school teachers.

Saint Mary's College builds its Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education around real time in schools, leading to Indiana K-6 licensure through the Department of Education. The 65-credit major layers multiple field-based courses on top of coursework and closes with a substantial 12-credit student teaching capstone, and candidates document their growth in an Education Portfolio held to a Proficient level. Because Indiana asks elementary teachers to carry a second area, students add a licensure area or minor in subjects such as reading, special education with mild intervention, or early childhood, broadening what they can teach. Placements happen in nearby schools, keeping the learning close to practice. The Elementary Education program is approved by the Indiana Department of Education, and the Education Department's CAEP accreditation runs through June 30, 2032. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Indiana.

Oakland City University's Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education is an on-campus program in the School of Education that leads to Indiana teaching licensure. Students combine a foundational core, professional education coursework, and an approved subject-area concentration, or pair the major with special education mild intervention across all grades. Classroom observation begins in the first semester and continues through student teaching, giving candidates steady time in schools before they lead their own classrooms. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Huntington University's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education prepares candidates for K-6 licensure and keeps them in real classrooms throughout, with practicums that lead into student teaching and clinical work overseen by a dedicated Coordinator of Clinical Experiences. Students give the degree a focus by choosing a content concentration in a subject such as math, science, or language arts. For those who want to teach more than one population, the program offers dual licensure options that combine elementary education with special education, middle school grades 5-8, or teaching English learners in P-12 settings. Offered on campus through the Education Department, its Teacher Education Preparation Program holds accreditation from both the State of Indiana and CAEP, with the current cycle running through December 2027. The result is a flexible route into elementary teaching with real room to specialize. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in Indiana.

Franklin College's Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education prepares candidates for the initial Indiana Generalist K-6 teaching license and adds an Early Literacy Endorsement, reflecting a clear emphasis on reading. Offered through the college's Education Department, the program is notably hands-on, asking students to complete six distinct clinical experiences before they ever reach student teaching. Those placements blend real classroom time with virtual practice using Teach Live simulation software, so candidates build confidence in varied situations. The program's literacy focus has drawn outside recognition, including an A-plus grade from the National Council for Teacher Quality for its Science of Reading instruction, and its educator preparation holds Indiana Department of Education approval. Taught in a traditional on-campus format, it offers a grounded, practice-rich route into elementary teaching. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Indiana's elementary school teachers.

Butler University in Indianapolis, IN offers a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education that prepares graduates for teacher licensure in grades K-6. The CAEP accredited program builds clinical experience from the first year onward and culminates in a full year of senior student teaching, giving candidates more than 1,500 hours in the classroom before graduation. Every student also completes an embedded diverse learners minor, and candidates can add a second licensure area in special education or English as a new language during their student teaching year. Coursework takes place on Butler's Indianapolis campus, including sessions at partner elementary schools. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Indiana.

Purdue University Northwest's Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education prepares students for teacher licensure through a program grounded in extensive classroom time. Offered on campus through the School of Education and Counseling and accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, the full-time degree lets candidates shape their focus through concentrations in Special Education for dual licensure, Early Childhood Special Education, or Reading. Field placements reach across urban, suburban, and rural schools, and students spend three days a week in classrooms during their seventh semester before moving into full-time student teaching. That progression gives future teachers a realistic feel for varied school settings before they lead their own rooms. The program has also drawn recognition from the National Council on Teacher Quality for how it prepares candidates to teach reading. It carries the lowest in-state tuition among Indiana's 33 ranked bachelor's-level programs, at $7,536. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Indiana.

Indiana University-Indianapolis offers a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education through its School of Education. The program leads to teacher licensure and emphasizes an urban education focus, placing candidates in Indianapolis schools for field experience early and often throughout the degree. The School of Education ranks among the top five producers of teachers in Indiana. Courses are delivered on campus, with online options available for some programs. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Indiana University East's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, offered through the School of Education, prepares candidates to teach grades K-6 and to pursue Indiana state licensure. The path is heavily practice-based, giving students extensive field placements and then a full-time student teaching internship before they graduate. A distinctive requirement is a minor in a complementary area, chosen from options such as reading, math, physical education, or K-12 mild intervention, which lets candidates add depth in a subject they care about. The program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, last accredited in 2017 with its next review scheduled for 2027. Together these elements make for a focused, classroom-ready route into elementary teaching. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in Indiana.

Ball State University's Elementary Education major, offered through Teachers College, leads to a BA or BS and K-6 Indiana licensure, and it is unusually rich in classroom time. Fieldwork starts early and builds toward a full semester of student teaching arranged through the university's Professional Development Schools partnership. Students who want to stretch further can choose an Urban Experience in Indianapolis-area schools or student teach elsewhere in the country or abroad. The 120-credit major also lets candidates shape their focus through a dozen concentration options, including a Teacher of Reading track that adds a second license, and it supports a dual major with Special Education. In 2025 the program earned full initial-level CAEP accreditation, a recent marker of its standing. It awards more bachelor's-level elementary education degrees than any of Indiana's 33 ranked bachelor's-level programs, 140 in the most recent year. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

At Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion, the Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education comes through the School of Teacher Education and carries a faith-integrated, Christ-centered approach that runs through the curriculum. Candidates apply for admission to student teaching a full year ahead, then complete supervised student teaching in an elementary school alongside a companion seminar, with K-4 classroom experience part of that clinical grounding. What sets the finish apart is a demanding set of culminating assessments, including a standards-based portfolio, a Teacher Work Sample, and an interview before a defense committee of supervising teachers, faculty, and practicing P-12 educators. Those final checkpoints ask students to demonstrate, not just describe, what they can do. Delivered on campus, the program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Indiana.

Valparaiso University's Elementary Education program leads to a Bachelor of Science in Education and a K-6 teaching license through its Department of Education and Social Work. The program gets students into classrooms right away, with field experiences beginning in the first semester and two immersive practicums adding six weeks of full-day teaching before a full semester of student teaching worth 12 credits. Alongside the major, students complete two areas of concentration, so they graduate with added teaching range rather than a single narrow focus. A cohort model carries candidates through the degree together, building in steady support along the way. Valpo reports that 98 percent of graduates are teaching within three months, a sign of how closely the preparation tracks with real classrooms. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Hanover College offers a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education through its Education Department, preparing candidates for K-6 licensure. Students spend at least 100 hours actively engaged in public school classrooms starting as early as the first year, and student teaching adds an average of 490 hours of supervised clinical experience across 14 weeks of full-time placement (EDU 456). Urban student teaching placements are available in Indianapolis, Louisville, and Denver, and a Special Education Dual License (P-12) is available through additional coursework. The program is accredited by CAEP and reports a 100% job placement rate for graduates seeking employment in education. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in Indiana.

The University of Evansville's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, which includes kindergarten, leads to K-6 teacher licensure and keeps students in real classrooms almost from the beginning. Offered through the School of Education, the program starts field experience in the freshman year and continues it nearly every semester, culminating in two full junior-year placements and a supervised senior-year teaching term. Majors also choose a content-area concentration in a subject such as science, mathematics, or language arts, and every candidate earns a Science of Reading minor that reflects the program's strong literacy emphasis. That commitment to reading instruction is more than internal, since Evansville was the fifth institution nationally, and the first in Indiana, to earn ILA National Recognition for meeting International Literacy Association standards. The result is a hands-on, classroom-focused path into elementary teaching. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Indiana's elementary school teachers.

Manchester University's Bachelor's in Elementary Education is housed in the Harry H. Henney '35 & Jeanette Henney Department of Education and leads to teacher licensure. The program is accredited by CAEP, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. The department earned A+ ratings from the National Council on Teacher Quality and received Lilly Endowment grants totaling $575,000, an initial $75,000 followed by $500,000, to build the science of reading into its curriculum. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Indiana's elementary school teachers.

Known as the Teaching All Learners initiative, Indiana University Northwest's Bachelor of Science in Elementary/Special Education is built for candidates who want to serve every child in a classroom, not just some of them. Offered through the School of Education in Gary, the degree folds two licensure areas into a single credential, combining the Early and Middle Childhood Generalist for grades K-6 with Exceptional Needs Mild Interventions. That dual design means graduates leave qualified to teach both general and special education across K-6 settings. Student teaching is central to the experience, placing candidates directly with young learners in self-contained and special education classrooms. Over the years those placements have reached across 71 urban, suburban, and rural districts throughout Indiana and into parts of Illinois. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Trine University's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education is a practice-heavy, 120-credit path to K-6 licensure run through its Franks School of Education. What stands out is the sheer time in classrooms: candidates log more than 1,000 clinical hours before graduation, starting in the first year and reaching across 18 or more school districts in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. Coursework leans into current teaching methods such as project-based learning, STEM initiatives, and educational technology, and students can earn Google Classroom and Project Lead the Way certifications along the way. Those willing to stretch can add dual special education licensure in mild intervention, PreK-12, and still finish within four years. The program is based on the Angola, Indiana campus, keeping a hands-on, classroom-first approach at its center. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Indiana's elementary school teachers.

Marian University's Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, offered through the Fred S. Klipsch Educators College on the Indianapolis campus, leads to K-6 licensure and puts students in front of real classrooms from their first year forward. That early and continuing field experience is paired with coursework spanning educational theory, psychology, curriculum development, assessment, and the legal and ethical questions teachers face. Students who want to keep going can follow combined pathways that pair the bachelor's with a Master of Arts in Teaching or a master's in special education. It earned initial-licensure and advanced-level accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation on April 26, 2021. The overall effect is a grounded, well-supported preparation for elementary teaching. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Indiana.

Anderson University offers the Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education through its Department of Teacher Education, a traditional four-year on-campus program leading to K-6 licensure. Students complete structured classroom observations, guided field experiences in local schools, and a full semester of student teaching. Every elementary education major selects a minor, with options that include Reading and Special Education - Mild Intervention. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in Indiana.

Indiana State University's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, housed in the Department of Teaching and Learning, prepares candidates for K-6 licensure and expects them to earn a place in its Becoming a Complete Professional program along the way. The clinical sequence is steady and varied, moving through two semesters of early field experience into a semester-long internship and a full semester of student teaching completed in rural, suburban, or urban elementary schools. Students can shape the degree toward their interests by adding coursework for endorsements in areas such as early childhood, reading, or special education. Resources like an on-campus Early Childhood Education Center and Professional Development School partnerships give that preparation extra grounding. The program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Indiana's elementary school teachers.

Indiana University Kokomo builds its Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education around a cohort model, so students move through the on-campus program together from their very first semester and graduate as a tight-knit group. The degree runs at least 120 credit hours through the Division of Education and leads to an Elementary Generalist license for grades K-6. Classroom time is substantial and starts well before the final year, with roughly 200 hours of field experience arranged through the Center for Educational Partnerships ahead of student teaching. Every major also completes a required minor, choosing from areas such as Special Education, Early Childhood, English as a New Language, Music Education, or STEM. Several of those minors open the door to dual licensure, letting graduates leave qualified for more than one teaching role. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Indiana.

Indiana University South Bend's Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education is a 120 credit hour program that treats fieldwork as a gradual climb rather than a single leap. Housed in the Department of Teacher Education, it scaffolds classroom time through introductory, intermediate, and advanced laboratory placements before candidates reach a capstone of student teaching and seminar. The degree leads to a K-6 Indiana teaching license, and students can tailor their focus through concentrations in subjects such as English, mathematics, history, and Special Education. Optional endorsements extend that reach further, covering Early Childhood, English Language Learners, and Special Education at the K-6 level. The program is accredited by CAEP and nationally recognized by ACEI, signaling preparation that meets established standards for elementary teaching. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Indiana's elementary school teachers.

The University of Southern Indiana's Elementary Education degree is a Bachelor of Science offered through the Teacher Education Department in the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education. It leads to educator licensure and includes clinical field experience placements arranged by the department. The teacher education provider offers licensure programs across 20 areas and uses a teaching simulation tool in clinical preparation. It is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Indiana's elementary school teachers.

Indiana University Southeast puts hands-on experience at the heart of its Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, with practicum placements and student teaching arranged early through partnerships with area schools. Offered through the College of Education, Arts, and Human Services, the degree leads to an Indiana teaching license for grades K-6, and its location near the state line gives graduates a second option, since they can also apply for Kentucky licensure after meeting that state's testing requirements. Students can sharpen their preparation with content focus areas in subjects such as language arts, mathematics, and science, along with English as a new language. Those who want to broaden their credential can add an ENL endorsement or pursue dual certification in Elementary and Special Education. The program is accredited by CAEP. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in Indiana.

The University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne shapes its Bachelor of Science in Education for future elementary teachers, preparing candidates to teach grades K-6 and to sit for Indiana licensure exams. What sets the program apart is how early and how often it puts students in real classrooms, building in more than 300 hours of field experience from the very first semester across public, private, charter, and religious schools before a culminating student-teaching term guided by a professional mentor. Candidates also round out the degree with a required minor in an area such as science, English, or math, deepening the subject knowledge they bring to young learners. Those who want to widen their reach can add a special education concentration for an additional license. The Department of Education anchors the coursework, and the program holds CAEP accreditation. Together these pieces make for a hands-on, classroom-centered path into teaching. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in Indiana.

Purdue University Fort Wayne's Elementary Education B.S.Ed. runs through the School of Education and points squarely toward the elementary classroom. Student teaching anchors the experience, and placements are not limited to the immediate area, with opportunities that reach beyond northeast Indiana. Candidates who meet the program's requirements become eligible for Indiana's elementary education teaching license, and because Indiana holds reciprocal licensing agreements with other states, that credential can open doors elsewhere. The School of Education is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, and the program itself is nationally recognized as a high-quality offering through the Association for Childhood Education International. Together these features make for a well-credentialed, licensure-focused route into elementary teaching. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Indiana.

Calumet College of Saint Joseph's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education readies candidates for the K-6 license across a 120-credit, four-year program rooted in a Catholic vision of social justice. Rather than saving classroom time for the end, the degree threads field and clinical experiences throughout, placing candidates with school professionals across Northwest Indiana before a final student teaching capstone. Students also shape a 12-hour academic focus area under Indiana guidelines, choosing among subjects such as Mathematics, English, Science, and History to deepen their command of what they will teach. The program is authorized by the Indiana Department of Education to prepare elementary teachers and is delivered on campus. It suits students who want their training and their values to move together. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Bethel University's Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, housed in the Education Department, prepares candidates for K-6 licensure and is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Students begin classroom work as freshmen and complete a 12- to 15-week student teaching experience along with time in a full-day kindergarten classroom through a partnership with the School City of Mishawaka. Field placements also draw on local districts including Penn-Harris-Madison. The four-year program maintains a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and complementary minors such as TESOL, Music, and Art Education are available. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Indiana.