Best Bachelor's in Elementary Education Programs in Minnesota

The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities frames its Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, Foundations as the first half of a two-part route into teaching, an undergraduate major in the College of Education and Human Development that does not by itself grant a license. What it does offer is a strong grounding in practice, sending students into three field experiences in Twin Cities elementary schools focused on elementary teaching, reading foundations, and special education foundations. Along the way candidates write and teach lessons and support students working under IEPs. By graduation they have cleared every prerequisite and can apply directly to the one-year M.Ed. and initial licensure program, which is where the K-6 Minnesota teaching license is actually earned. Instruction is delivered on campus. Among Minnesota's 27 ranked bachelor's-level programs, this one posts the highest graduation rate at 85%. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Minnesota.

Martin Luther College, a WELS synod college, offers an Elementary Education major leading to a Bachelor of Science in Education. Candidates complete Early Field Experience I and II, each 40 or more hours, followed by student teaching across two placements totaling 16 credits over 16 weeks in Lutheran elementary and middle school classrooms. Graduates who finish the major and licensure requirements are eligible for a WELS teaching call for grades K-8 and Minnesota state licensure for grades K-6. The curriculum also includes music courses so graduates can serve as organists or choir directors in WELS congregations. An MLC Portfolio is required for graduation and licensure. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Minnesota's elementary school teachers.

The University of St. Thomas offers a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education that leads to Minnesota K-6 generalist teaching licensure. Field experience begins in the first education course and continues throughout the program, culminating in a fourth-year full-year supervised clinical placement in a single classroom. Coursework spans literacy, mathematics, technology, and psychology, and a STEM concentration or minor is recommended. The program is delivered on campus. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in Minnesota.

The Elementary Education Bachelor of Arts at the University of Minnesota-Morris moves students toward Minnesota K-6 licensure with an unusually deliberate emphasis on getting into real classrooms. Offered through the Division of Education and accredited by AAQEP, the program embeds field experiences in every education course and spreads them across rural, suburban, and urban settings, including one required cross-cultural placement in urban Chicago or a tribal school. Candidates ease into teaching with a three-week term in the fall before a longer 10-to-12-week placement in spring. Because students advance together as a cohort, the experience is collaborative rather than solitary, and many add endorsements in pre-primary or middle-level subjects. Admission asks for a 2.50 overall GPA and a 2.75 in the major, keeping standards clear from the outset. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Minnesota.

The Elementary Inclusive Education major prepares candidates to teach kindergarten through sixth grade and leads to a Minnesota teaching license at graduation. The program emphasizes meeting the needs of all learners and requires more than 200 hours of in-classroom practicum experience; online students are placed in schools within their own community for field requirements. It is offered both on campus and fully online. The Nibbe School of Teaching and Learning is accredited by CAEP, and its undergraduate curriculum spans elementary education. Candidates complete licensure-related testing such as the MTLE. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Winona State University's Elementary Education (K-6) major is built around real classroom time, immersing future teachers in schools long before their final semester. Housed in the Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education, the 120 credit degree devotes 77 credits to the major and 43 to general education, and it draws its field placements from more than 90 partner districts. Students even work with children on campus at the WSU Children's Center, which serves roughly 200 kids from six weeks through Grade 4, before capping the program with a full student teaching semester. Those who want to specialize can add minors such as Reading Instruction, Bilingual and Bicultural Education, Coaching, or a middle-level subject. State approved by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, the program qualifies graduates for Minnesota elementary licensure. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in Minnesota.

Concordia College at Moorhead builds its Elementary Education major around time spent in real classrooms, preparing candidates for K-6 licensure through the Education Department. Rather than saving practice for the end, students move through at least four field experiences spanning both primary and intermediate grades before stepping into a student teaching assignment of at least twelve weeks, usually in the Fargo-Moorhead area. The curriculum also leaves room to specialize, with endorsements available in World Language and Culture (K-8) in French, German, or Spanish, or in core content areas for grades 5-8 such as mathematics, science, or social studies. Approved by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, the program keeps education classes small, averaging around seventeen students, so candidates work closely with faculty throughout. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Minnesota.

The Elementary Education major at the College of Saint Benedict is taught on campus through an education department shared with Saint John's University, and it points candidates squarely toward Minnesota K-6 teaching licensure. Students accumulate classroom field experiences along the way before the program culminates in a full semester of student teaching, paired with a seminar, during the senior year. One of its strengths is flexibility, since candidates can layer on optional licenses in grades 5-8 subject areas, K-8 Spanish, or K-12 English as a Second Language, tailoring the degree to the classrooms they hope to lead. That range makes graduates more versatile in a hiring market that values added endorsements. The program holds approval from Minnesota's professional educator licensing board. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in Minnesota.

Bethany Lutheran College's Elementary Education major is taught through its Education Department from a Christ-centered perspective, preparing candidates who see themselves teaching in public, private, or Lutheran schools. The curriculum is flexible about grade level, and depending on the coursework a student completes, it can lead to Minnesota licensure spanning K-6, 5-8, and K-12 teaching. Classroom practice runs throughout, and one distinctive feature is a three-week clinical in which candidates teach children with special needs under the guidance of a special education teacher, giving them early exposure to inclusive classrooms. That mix of education coursework and hands-on placements keeps the program grounded in real schools. Graduates finish ready for Minnesota teacher licensure. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Minnesota's elementary school teachers.

Saint John's University's Elementary Education major leads to a Bachelor of Arts and prepares candidates to teach grades K-6, drawing on the shared Education Department of the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University. The program keeps classroom practice central, weaving field experiences throughout the coursework and culminating in a student teaching placement paired with a seminar so candidates leave with real teaching under their belts. Students who want to expand their credentials can add licenses in grades 5-8 subjects, K-8 Spanish, or K-12 ESL, tailoring the degree toward the roles they hope to fill. Offered on campus, all of its licensure tracks are approved by Minnesota's Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, giving graduates a clear route into state classrooms. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Minnesota's elementary school teachers.

Bemidji State University's Elementary Education B.S. leads to K-6 teacher licensure and builds toward the classroom through steady field experience and a capstone student teaching placement, all coordinated by the Office of Teacher Education. What makes it flexible is the choice of two paths: a traditional on-campus program of about two years, or DLiTE, an online cohort model created for rural and urban students who cannot attend full time on campus. DLiTE runs across six semesters in cohorts capped at 35, and students enter with an associate degree or the completed Minnesota Transfer Curriculum. Candidates can broaden their reach with endorsements such as PrePrimary and Middle Level options in areas including mathematics and social studies. The program is AAQEP accredited. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Minnesota's elementary school teachers.

Walden University's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education is built for students who want to earn a teaching credential largely online while still meeting real classroom requirements. The coursework is delivered online, then paired with required field experiences that include 100 hours of classroom-based observation and 12 weeks of full-time demonstration teaching to satisfy Minnesota's licensure standards. Graduates who complete the program are prepared for a Minnesota Tier 3 license in Elementary Education covering grades K-6. The degree comes through the Richard W. Riley College of Education and Human Sciences, which holds CAEP accreditation. For working adults and place-bound learners, it offers a flexible route into elementary teaching without giving up the hands-on practice a classroom demands. It awards more bachelor's-level elementary education degrees than any of Minnesota's 27 ranked bachelor's-level programs, 128 in the most recent year. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Minnesota's elementary school teachers.

Bethel University's Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, taught on campus in Saint Paul through its Department of Education, prepares candidates for Minnesota K-6 licensure and holds approval from the state's Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board. What stands out is how early and how varied the classroom time is: field experience begins in the first year and culminates in a fourteen-week full-time student teaching placement, with candidates rotating through settings such as public, charter, STEM, immersion, and IB schools. Students can widen their options by adding a Middle-Level Endorsement for grades 5-8 or pursuing an integrated major that combines K-6 elementary with K-12 special education. That flexibility lets future teachers tailor the degree to the classrooms they hope to lead. Licensure is completed by passing the MTLE exams and the edTPA assessment. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Minnesota's elementary school teachers.

Minnesota State University, Mankato offers its Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education through the Department of Elementary and Literacy Education, part of a College of Education that holds CAEP accreditation. The program is built on repeated time in elementary classrooms, moving through multiple field experiences before a year-long student teaching placement, delivered in 16-week blocks in the online version. That fully online track runs over two years, blending synchronous Zoom sessions with asynchronous coursework, and it is shaped with transfer students, paraprofessionals, and career-changers in mind. Students who want an added focus can pursue an optional STEM Certificate. Graduates are recommended for K-6 licensure in Minnesota. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

The Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education at the College of Saint Scholastica gets future teachers into classrooms remarkably early, with placements beginning in a student's very first semester and above-average fieldwork hours accumulating before student teaching. Offered through the Education department, the program leads to Minnesota K-6 licensure and asks students to clear a background check as they enroll. What makes it feel like a long-term home is the ladder of options beyond the bachelor's, since graduates can continue into graduate Special Education licensure, a Master of Education, or a Doctor of Educational Leadership. The teacher education program is accredited by AAQEP through July 2026, and instruction is delivered on campus and face-to-face. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Minnesota.

The University of Northwestern-St Paul's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education prepares candidates for K-6 licensure through its School of Education and Behavioral Sciences, giving future teachers a steady climb toward the classroom. The degree, which runs 127 to 144 credits, is structured around four levels of practicum that build real teaching experience before students reach full-time student teaching in their licensure field. Candidates can widen their options by adding endorsements in subjects such as mathematics, communication arts and literature, or social studies for grades 5-8, along with a preprimary endorsement for ages 3-5. That flexibility helps graduates fit a range of school needs. Approved by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, the on-campus program aligns its coursework with INTASC standards and Minnesota's Standards of Effective Practice. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in Minnesota.

Southwest Minnesota State University's BS in Elementary Teacher Education is designed for aspiring K-6 teachers who need the flexibility of online study but understand that real teaching has to be learned in a real classroom. All 120 credits, including the 77 to 78 in the major delivered across 25 online courses, can be completed from anywhere with an internet connection. The pivotal exception is student teaching, an entirely in-person, full-time placement of 12 to 16 weeks in a Minnesota K-6 public school, guided by a Minnesota-licensed cooperating teacher and usually scheduled in the final year. That structure lets students keep their footing at home through most of the program before stepping fully into the classroom at the end. Offered through the School of Education and approved by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, the degree leads to Minnesota K-6 licensure. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Minnesota.

Crown College's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, offered through its Teacher Education program, is structured so that no graduate leaves with just a general license. Every student pairs K-6 elementary licensure with a required area of emphasis, choosing among options such as Middle School Communication Arts and Literature, Math, Science, or Social Studies, or a Preprimary certificate for ages 3-5. That built-in specialization widens where a new teacher can work. The program leans hard into practice through a clinical-based learning model of observations, clinicals, and student teaching, and it states that it provides significantly more field experience than accreditation requires. With a cited faculty-to-student ratio of 17:1, the on-campus experience stays close-knit, and graduates meet Minnesota PELSB requirements for K-6 licensure. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

North Central University's Bachelor of Science in Education: Elementary prepares candidates to teach grades K-6, and it grounds that work in a Christian community in the heart of downtown Minneapolis. The 124-credit on-campus program leans heavily on real classroom time, opening with 175 hours of experience before a full semester of student teaching guided by a cooperating teacher and a faculty supervisor. What stands out is the sheer variety of settings, since placements span public, private, charter, alternative, and faith-based schools across suburban and inner-city neighborhoods, giving future teachers a genuinely wide view of the classroom. Students can further tailor the degree through concentrations in areas such as Global Studies and Special Education. The licensure program is approved by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, and graduates may be recommended for a Minnesota K-6 teaching license. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Minnesota.

Concordia University-Saint Paul's Elementary Education major prepares candidates to teach grades K-6 and leads to a Bachelor of Arts, with the 55-credit major nested inside a degree of at least 120 credits. The heart of the program is its extended clinical work: students finish with a 15-credit stretch of student teaching, adding further placement credits for each endorsement they pursue. Those optional endorsements let candidates broaden their reach into areas such as middle school mathematics, social studies, communication arts and literature for grades 5-8, or pre-primary teaching. The program is tailored specifically to Minnesota licensure and is not approved by other states' boards, so it best fits students planning to teach in Minnesota. Notably, it has held continuous national accreditation since 1969, currently through PELSB and NCATE. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Minnesota.

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota offers the Elementary Education, B.S., through its School of Education, preparing candidates to teach grades K-6. The program is endorsed by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB), state program approval that helps graduates meet licensure requirements. Students can customize the degree with optional endorsements in Communication Arts and Literature, General Science, Mathematics, or World Language and Culture: Spanish. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Minnesota.

St. Catherine University offers a bachelor's degree in elementary education aimed at K-6 teacher licensure in Minnesota. The program prepares candidates to lead elementary classrooms, and the university pairs it with an early childhood licensure track covering birth through grade 8 for students who also want to teach younger learners. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in Minnesota.

The University of Minnesota-Crookston offers a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education through the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Education Department, preparing students to teach kindergarten through grade six. The program leads to Minnesota licensure and its Teacher Education Unit is approved by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB), with requirements aligned to state rules 8710.3200 and 8710.2000. Students complete hands-on experiences in local elementary classrooms and must pass the Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA). An on-campus Early Childhood Development Center serves as a teacher training laboratory, and the degree may be combined with a dual major in Early Childhood Education. Delivered on campus. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Minnesota's elementary school teachers.

Augsburg University's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, offered through the Education Department, leads to Minnesota initial licensure for grades K-6. Candidates can expand the license with middle-level endorsements in math, science, social studies, or language arts. The program moves through structured transition points and culminates in a student teaching placement paired with a teacher performance assessment and seminar. Augsburg also offers a Disability Advocacy Scholars Fellowship for education students. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Minnesota.

Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College offers a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education through its Anishinaabeg Gikendaasowinan program, notable as the first two-year tribal college in Minnesota approved to award a bachelor's degree. The on-campus, four-year curriculum weaves together general education, teacher-education coursework, and classroom experiences, closing with a long-term student teaching placement across local schools. Setting it apart, coursework is built around Anishinaabe knowledge, values, and traditions, so cultural grounding runs through the preparation rather than sitting beside it. The Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board has approved the program for K-6 teacher licensure. It also holds accreditation from the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium. It carries the lowest in-state tuition among Minnesota's 27 ranked bachelor's-level programs, at $5,418. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Minnesota.

Metropolitan State University's Urban Elementary Education B.S. prepares candidates for Minnesota K-6 licensure through its School of Urban Education, with a mission clearly centered on the classrooms of city schools. The 120-plus credit program, approved by the state's Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, moves through four course cores before student teaching and grounds candidates in real settings, requiring at least 120 hours across PreK-Kindergarten, grades 1-3, and grades 4-6, followed by 12 weeks of full-time student teaching. Classes run in person, online with live meetings, and in hybrid form, giving students room to fit the degree around their lives. Options such as a Pre-Primary endorsement and an ESL minor add reach. The program actively works to recruit teachers of color, multilingual, low-income, and first-generation candidates. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Minnesota.

Saint Cloud State University's Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, offered through the Teacher Development department, prepares candidates for Minnesota K-6 licensure and is approved by the state's Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board. What distinguishes it is the sheer depth of classroom time, since students log 250 hours across three field courses before adding another 500 during a 16-week full-time student teaching placement, reaching roughly 750 hours in real schools. A hybrid design blends in-person sessions with online learning, giving candidates some flexibility around that heavy fieldwork. The methods courses reflect the diversity of today's classrooms, embedding strategies for English language learners and students with dyslexia while placing candidates in global, urban, and rural settings. The program also accepts transfer credit aligned to a two-year pathway, easing the way for students arriving from a community college. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Minnesota.