Best Bachelor's in Elementary Education Programs in Nevada

All 4 Elementary Education bachelor's-level programs in Nevada, ranked overall on graduation rate, affordability, and more, from the IPEDS database.

A bachelor's in elementary education is the standard credential behind a Nevada teaching license, and Nevada has 4 accredited elementary education bachelor'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. University of Nevada-Reno ranks first with a score of 87, on a 61 percent graduation rate.

Elementary school teachers in Nevada earn a median of $65,040 a year according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, against a national median of $63,970. Each section below covers a specific decision point, cost and real ROI, Nevada licensure, accreditation, online and accelerated formats, and career outlook, so you can compare elementary education programs in Nevada on the factors that change your outcome rather than on marketing.

4Programs analyzed
$3,758 to $8,909/yrIn-state tuition
$65,040/yrMedian elementary school teacher pay in Nevada
University of Nevada-RenoTop-ranked

← Best Bachelor's in Elementary Education nationally

Elementary Education bachelor's-level programs in Nevada, compared by score
1University of Nevada-Reno87
2Great Basin College52
3University of Nevada-Las Vegas33
4Nevada State University28
  1. 1

    University of Nevada-Reno

    Reno, NVPublic

    87score
    • 61%Grad rate
    • $8,430/yrIn-state tuition
    • $26,572/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 74%Admit rate
    • 19,117Undergrads
    • 38Grads/yr
    • 1175SAT mid
    • Bachelor of Science in Education, Integrated Elementary Teaching
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The Integrated Elementary Teaching B.S. in Education prepares students to become Nevada state-certified elementary teachers for grades K-8. The program totals 120 units and requires a portfolio demonstrating mastery of InTASC Model Core Teaching Standards before students advance to supervised internships. Candidates choose one of three emphasis areas that carry an additional license or endorsement: Early Childhood Education (33 units), Special Education (37 units), or English Language Acquisition and Development (30 units). Each emphasis includes a supervised teaching internship. The design emphasizes dual certification so graduates can teach English learners and students with disabilities. Among Nevada's 4 ranked bachelor's-level programs, this one posts the highest graduation rate at 61%. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Nevada's elementary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    Its rank is built from three numbers: graduation rate, admission rate, and in-state tuition, in that order of weight. Its strongest card is completion: a 61% graduation rate lands it in the top 1% of Nevada programs, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. A 74% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $8,430 in state, above the Nevada median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. That combination is what puts it in the top handful here.

    Program page
  2. 2

    Great Basin College

    Elko, NVPublicOnline available

    52score
    • 41%Grad rate
    • $3,758/yrIn-state tuition
    • $11,816/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 3,320Undergrads
    • 17Grads/yr
    • Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education
    About the program

    Great Basin College designs its Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education for the realities of rural Nevada, and that focus shapes nearly everything about the program. Delivered through the Teacher Education Department, it relies on distance education technology to reach students across the region and places clinical and field experiences with nearby rural school districts and early childhood programs. Those placements start early and run deep, so candidates spend substantial time in real classrooms well before they finish. Students can add endorsement options in subjects such as Mathematics, Science, Special Education, and Teaching English as a Second Language, broadening the settings where they can teach. The program prepares candidates for K-8 certification in Nevada and leads to teacher licensure. It carries the lowest in-state tuition among Nevada's 4 ranked bachelor's-level programs, at $3,758. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    Where it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among Nevada programs at 41%, solid without being a standout. Cost only helps its case: at $3,758 in state, tuition runs below the Nevada 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.

    Program page
  3. 3

    University of Nevada-Las Vegas

    Las Vegas, NVPublic

    33score
    • 51%Grad rate
    • $8,909/yrIn-state tuition
    • $26,572/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 96%Admit rate
    • 27,132Undergrads
    • 170Grads/yr
    • 1125SAT mid
    • Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (BSEd)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Nevada, Las Vegas offers a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education through the Department of Teaching and Learning, preparing candidates to teach in K-8 classrooms and leading to a Nevada teaching license. Students move through professional education coursework and finish with a student teaching placement in an elementary school. UNLV also runs a Paraprofessional Pathway Project track, which supports working paraprofessionals as they complete the degree. It awards more bachelor's-level elementary education degrees than any of Nevada's 4 ranked bachelor's-level programs, 170 in the most recent year. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Nevada.

    Why it ranks here

    We 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 51% graduation rate lands it in the top 33% of Nevada programs, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. Admission is close to open access at 96%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. The one drag is price, $8,909 in state, above the Nevada median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. Strong on the measures that matter most, it earns a place near the top.

    Program page
  4. 4

    Nevada State University

    Henderson, NVPublic

    28score
    • 34%Grad rate
    • $6,090/yrIn-state tuition
    • $21,158/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 87%Admit rate
    • 7,464Undergrads
    • 43Grads/yr
    • Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Nevada State University's Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education is a 120-credit, in-person program that gets teacher candidates into real classrooms from the very beginning. Rather than saving practice for the final year, the School of Education weaves elementary classroom experience throughout the degree, so students test research-based methods such as guided reading, thinking maps, and story theater as they learn them. That steady immersion builds confidence and leads to teacher licensure. Candidates who want a broader reach can choose related variants that pair elementary preparation with special education or bilingual education, tailoring the degree to the learners they most want to serve. The program positions itself as a leader in teacher preparation, and its hands-on structure reflects that ambition throughout. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    Where it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 34% the graduation rate trails the Nevada median, which caps how high it can climb. Admission is close to open access at 87%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. Cost only helps its case: at $6,090 in state, tuition runs below the Nevada 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.

    Program page

Key facts about a bachelor's in Elementary Education in Nevada

  • Nevada has 4 accredited bachelor's in elementary education programs in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from federal IPEDS data.
  • University of Nevada-Reno ranks first among elementary education bachelor's programs in Nevada with a score of 87, on a 61 percent graduation rate.
  • Great Basin College is the most affordable bachelor's in elementary education in Nevada, at $3,758 a year in-state tuition.
  • Elementary school teachers in Nevada earn a median of $65,040 a year (BLS), ranking Nevada 24 of 51 states and territories for the occupation.
  • 1 of the bachelor's in elementary education programs in Nevada offer an online or hybrid option.
  • Nevada requires the Praxis licensure exam, administered through Nevada Department of Education, Office of Educator Licensure, to earn a teaching license.

What a bachelor's in elementary education costs in Nevada (2026)

Published in-state tuition for a bachelor's in elementary education in Nevada runs from $3,758 to $8,909 a year across the 4 programs we rank, with a median of $6,090. The most affordable is Great Basin College at $3,758 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 47 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 elementary school teachers earn in Nevada

Elementary school teachers in Nevada earn a median of $65,040 a year, per BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), compared with a national median of $63,970. That ranks Nevada 24 of 51 states and territories for elementary school teachers pay. Nationally, pay for this occupation spans roughly $47,960 at the 10th percentile to $104,340 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 2 percent decline in elementary school teachers employment nationally from 2024 to 2034, with about 103,800 openings a year as teachers retire or change careers. A bachelor's in elementary education in Nevada is the entry point to that market, not the ceiling.

Sources: BLS OEWS wages, BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook

How to get a Nevada teaching license

To teach in Nevada you need a bachelor's in elementary education (or a bachelor's plus an approved preparation program), a supervised student-teaching placement, and a Nevada teaching license issued by Nevada Department of Education, Office of Educator Licensure. Nevada calls the initial credential the Standard Teaching License, and earning it means passing Praxis (The Praxis Series) plus a background check.

Nevada requires Praxis Core Academic Skills, a Principles of Learning and Teaching test, and subject content tests. Confirm your program is currently state-approved before you enroll.

Sources: Nevada educator certification, Praxis exam

Choosing an accredited elementary education program in Nevada

Pick a bachelor's in elementary education in Nevada that is regionally accredited and whose educator-preparation program is approved by the Nevada Department of Education, ideally with CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) accreditation. State approval is what lets the degree count toward a Nevada teaching license, and CAEP is the national standard for program quality, so confirm both before enrolling in any elementary education program in Nevada.

Sources: CAEP accreditation

Online and hybrid elementary education programs in Nevada

1 of the bachelor's in elementary education programs in Nevada 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 bachelor's in elementary education from a state-approved, CAEP-accredited program leads to the same Nevada teaching license as an on-campus degree; the diploma does not distinguish the format.

Frequently asked questions about a bachelor's in Elementary Education in Nevada

How many bachelor's in elementary education programs are in Nevada?

There are 4 accredited bachelor's in elementary education programs in Nevada in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from the federal IPEDS database.

What is the most affordable bachelor's in elementary education in Nevada?

Great Basin College is the most affordable bachelor's in elementary education in Nevada, at $3,758 a year in in-state tuition.

How much do elementary school teachers make in Nevada?

Elementary school teachers in Nevada earn a median of $65,040 a year, according to <a href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes252021.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics</a>, versus $63,970 nationally.

What exam do you need to teach in Nevada?

Nevada requires the Praxis (The Praxis Series) licensure exam, administered for Nevada Department of Education, Office of Educator Licensure. See the <a href="https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/nevada-overview.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">official exam page</a> for current test requirements.

Is a bachelor's in elementary education worth it in Nevada?

For most future teachers, yes. A bachelor's in elementary education in Nevada is the standard credential for a Nevada teaching license, and it leads to a median elementary school teachers salary of $65,040 a year in Nevada. Compare graduation rate and net price above to find the best value in 2026.

These are the best bachelor's in elementary education programs in Nevada for 2026, ranked on the outcomes that matter. Compare all 4 bachelor's in elementary education in Nevada above by graduation rate, tuition, and selectivity, then open each program page to take the next step toward teaching in an elementary school classroom in Nevada.

Sources

Elementary Education in other states