Best Bachelor's in Elementary Education Programs in North Dakota

All 12 Elementary Education bachelor's-level programs in North Dakota, ranked overall on graduation rate, affordability, and more, from the IPEDS database.

A bachelor's in elementary education is the standard credential behind a North Dakota teaching license, and North Dakota has 12 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. Dickinson State University ranks first with a score of 69, on a 51 percent graduation rate.

Elementary school teachers in North Dakota earn a median of $60,030 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, North Dakota licensure, accreditation, online and accelerated formats, and career outlook, so you can compare elementary education programs in North Dakota on the factors that change your outcome rather than on marketing.

12Programs analyzed
$2,184 to $24,000/yrIn-state tuition
$60,030/yrMedian elementary school teacher pay in North Dakota
Dickinson State UniversityTop-ranked

← Best Bachelor's in Elementary Education nationally

Elementary Education bachelor's-level programs in North Dakota, compared by score
1Dickinson State University69
2University of Mary67
3University of North Dakota61
4Trinity Bible College and Graduate School61
5Turtle Mountain Community College53
6Valley City State University52
7Minot State University52
8Mayville State University41
9Sitting Bull College40
10University of Jamestown37
11United Tribes Technical College34
12Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College31
  1. 1

    Dickinson State University

    Dickinson, NDPublicOnline available

    69score
    • 51%Grad rate
    • $7,470/yrTuition (in or out of state)
    • 37%Admit rate
    • 1,339Undergrads
    • 30Grads/yr
    • Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
    About the program

    Dickinson State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education through its School of Education. The program leads to teacher licensure, with licensure concentrations available, and requires field experiences along with a student teaching component. The School of Education points to a 100-year legacy of preparing educators and recent national recognition for preparing elementary teachers in reading instruction. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in North Dakota.

    Why it ranks here

    The ranking rewards programs that graduate their students, stay at least somewhat selective, and keep tuition reasonable, so here is how this one measures up. Its strongest card is completion: a 51% graduation rate lands it in the top 27% of North Dakota programs, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. A 37% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $7,470 in state, above the North Dakota median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. Together, that is one of the strongest profiles on the page.

    Program page
  2. 2

    University of Mary

    Bismarck, NDPrivate nonprofit

    67score
    • 67%Grad rate
    • $19,940/yrTuition (in or out of state)
    • 75%Admit rate
    • 2,821Undergrads
    • 27Grads/yr
    • 1225SAT mid
    • Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Mary's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education prepares candidates for North Dakota licensure to teach grades one through eight. Teacher candidates engage in supervised teaching situations in local schools beginning in the sophomore year and continuing through graduation, culminating in student teaching. The university states its education programs are approved by the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board and that all CAEP national standards are fully met, though it does not claim CAEP program accreditation itself. Delivered on campus in Bismarck; a separate fully online version of the degree is also offered. Among North Dakota's 12 ranked bachelor's-level programs, this one posts the highest graduation rate at 67%. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in North Dakota.

    Why it ranks here

    Its place on the list comes down to outcomes, selectivity, and price, weighted in that order. Start with the outcome that matters most, 67% of students graduate, top 1% among North Dakota programs, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. A 75% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $19,940 in state, above the North Dakota median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. That combination is what puts it in the top handful here.

    Program page
  3. 3

    University of North Dakota

    Grand Forks, NDPublicOnline available

    61score
    • 60%Grad rate
    • $9,237/yrIn-state tuition
    • $13,856/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 77%Admit rate
    • 11,033Undergrads
    • 31Grads/yr
    • Bachelor of Science in Education
    About the program

    The University of North Dakota offers a Bachelor of Science in Education in elementary education through its College of Education, preparing students to teach grades 1 through 8 and leading to teacher licensure. UND, the state's oldest and largest university, offers more than 250 accredited degrees in on-campus and online formats. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of North Dakota's elementary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    The ranking rewards programs that graduate their students, stay at least somewhat selective, and keep tuition reasonable, so here is how this one measures up. Its strongest card is completion: a 60% graduation rate lands it in the top 9% of North Dakota programs, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. A 77% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $9,237 in state, above the North Dakota median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. Together, that is one of the strongest profiles on the page.

    Program page
  4. 4

    Trinity Bible College and Graduate School

    Ellendale, NDPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    61score
    • 46%Grad rate
    • $16,870/yrTuition (in or out of state)
    • 26%Admit rate
    • 160Undergrads
    • 2Grads/yr
    • Bachelor of Arts in Teacher Education, Elementary Education concentration
    • Online
    About the program

    Trinity Bible College and Graduate School offers a Bachelor of Arts in Teacher Education with an Elementary Education concentration through its Teacher Education Program, requiring 124 credits over four years. The concentration is the only one of the program's three tracks, alongside K-12 Physical Education and Secondary English, offered fully online. Completion leads to eligibility to apply for a teaching license from the state of North Dakota. The program maintains an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in North Dakota.

    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 North Dakota programs at 46%, solid without being a standout. Admissions are competitive, a 26% acceptance rate, which nudges it further up. The one drag is price, $16,870 in state, above the North Dakota median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. Together, that is one of the strongest profiles on the page.

    Program page
  5. 5

    Turtle Mountain Community College

    Belcourt, NDPrivate nonprofit

    53score
    • 43%Grad rate
    • $2,184/yrTuition (in or out of state)
    • 840Undergrads
    • 6Grads/yr
    • Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Turtle Mountain Community College offers a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education through its Teacher Education Department, delivered on campus in a cohort model that spans about four years. Candidates move through a sequence of clinical experiences and practicums, culminating in a full student teaching placement and seminar in the final semester. The curriculum emphasizes culturally responsive teaching for Indigenous communities on the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa reservation. The program leads to teacher licensure. It carries the lowest in-state tuition among North Dakota's 12 ranked bachelor's-level programs, at $2,184. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    The ranking rewards programs that graduate their students, stay at least somewhat selective, and keep tuition reasonable, so here is how this one measures up. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among North Dakota programs at 43%, solid without being a standout. Cost only helps its case: at $2,184 in state, tuition runs below the North Dakota 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
  6. 6

    Valley City State University

    Valley City, NDPublicOnline available

    52score
    • 53%Grad rate
    • $6,619/yrIn-state tuition
    • $11,583/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 99%Admit rate
    • 1,651Undergrads
    • 92Grads/yr
    • 950SAT mid
    • Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Valley City State University's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education prepares candidates to teach grades 1-8 and is unusually flexible about how students get there, offered both on campus and fully online through its Education Department. The 120-to-135-credit program pairs its professional education sequence with a required second major, minor, or content option, letting students add real depth in areas such as reading, special education, English learners, middle school, or STEM education. Classroom experience is substantial, with more than 150 hours of field work leading into a twelve-week student teaching placement, and candidates can even earn pay while substitute teaching along the way. That practical, earn-while-you-learn dimension makes the path more accessible. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, NCATE, and CAEP, it is well suited to a student who wants a customizable elementary degree with strong in-school preparation. It awards more bachelor's-level elementary education degrees than any of North Dakota's 12 ranked bachelor's-level programs, 92 in the most recent year. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in North Dakota.

    Why it ranks here

    Where it lands is a story about completion first, then selectivity, then cost. Start with the outcome that matters most, 53% of students graduate, top 18% among North Dakota programs, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. Admission is close to open access at 99%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. Tuition is middle of the road for North Dakota programs at $6,619 in state, so cost neither helps nor hurts its standing. On balance it is a well-rounded pick, which is what earns it a spot this high.

    Program page
  7. 7

    Minot State University

    Minot, NDPublic

    52score
    • 45%Grad rate
    • $7,168/yrTuition (in or out of state)
    • 65%Admit rate
    • 2,499Undergrads
    • 18Grads/yr
    • 1035SAT mid
    • Elementary Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Minot State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education through its Teacher Education Unit, a 120 credit-hour, four-year program leading to licensure. It is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and approved by the Education Standards and Practices Board. Clinical field experience is integrated from the first semester, placing students in real classrooms each year and culminating in student teaching. Students can add a Kindergarten or Reading concentration. The program uses a child-centered preschool classroom on campus for hands-on training. Delivery is on-campus. Faculty emphasize active learning through discussions, projects, and simulations. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in North Dakota.

    Why it ranks here

    The ranking rewards programs that graduate their students, stay at least somewhat selective, and keep tuition reasonable, so here is how this one measures up. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among North Dakota programs at 45%, solid without being a standout. A 65% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Tuition is middle of the road for North Dakota programs at $7,168 in state, so cost neither helps nor hurts its standing. On balance it is a well-rounded pick, which is what earns it a spot this high.

    Program page
  8. 8

    Mayville State University

    Mayville, NDPublic

    41score
    • 41%Grad rate
    • $6,517/yrIn-state tuition
    • $9,775/yrOut-of-state tuition
    • 1,067Undergrads
    • 30Grads/yr
    • Elementary Education B.S.Ed.
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Mayville State University's Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary Education is a 120-credit, on-campus program that prepares students to lead their own elementary classrooms and earn teacher licensure. Beyond the core preparation, it gives future teachers room to specialize, with concentrations available in reading, special education, or early childhood, and the option to add a kindergarten endorsement through the state's standards and practices board. Classroom experience is built up in stages, moving through two practicum courses and a pre-student-teaching seminar before a 10-credit student teaching placement pulls it all together. Academic expectations are clear, with core and block courses requiring at least a C and the introductory education course requiring a B, signaling a program that takes readiness seriously. It suits a student who wants a focused, well-structured route into elementary teaching with a chance to tailor their strengths. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in North Dakota.

    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 41% the graduation rate trails the North Dakota median, which caps how high it can climb. Cost only helps its case: at $6,517 in state, tuition runs below the North Dakota median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. No single weakness drags it down, and that consistency lands it in the upper tier.

    Program page
  9. 9

    Sitting Bull College

    Fort Yates, NDPublic

    40score
    • 22%Grad rate
    • $3,600/yrTuition (in or out of state)
    • 280Undergrads
    • 2Grads/yr
    • Elementary Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Sitting Bull College offers a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education through its Division of Education, taught on campus at Fort Yates and the Mobridge site. The program includes a four-year Elementary and Special Education pathway alongside a two-year Teacher Education track, and it grounds instruction in Oceti Sakowin history, language, and values with participation from North and South Dakota community educators. Graduates qualify for North Dakota licensure to teach grades 1 through 8. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of North Dakota's elementary school teachers.

    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. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 22% the graduation rate trails the North Dakota median, which caps how high it can climb. Cost only helps its case: at $3,600 in state, tuition runs below the North Dakota median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. On balance it is a well-rounded pick, which is what earns it a spot this high.

    Program page
  10. 10

    University of Jamestown

    Jamestown, NDPrivate nonprofit

    37score
    • 49%Grad rate
    • $24,000/yrTuition (in or out of state)
    • 88%Admit rate
    • 1,049Undergrads
    • 9Grads/yr
    • Elementary Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    University of Jamestown's Elementary Education bachelor's degree, housed in the Teacher Education Department, prepares candidates for grades 1-8 licensure through a 79-credit major. Candidates complete at least 110 hours of field experience before a semester-long student teaching placement in an accredited classroom in their licensure area, plus a 1-credit Student Teaching Seminar. Formal admission to the Teacher Education Program is required before most education coursework. The program is approved by the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board, and students use a project-based SmartLab to develop technology-integrated teaching methods. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in North Dakota.

    Why it ranks here

    The ranking rewards programs that graduate their students, stay at least somewhat selective, and keep tuition reasonable, so here is how this one measures up. Its strongest card is completion: a 49% graduation rate lands it in the top 36% of North Dakota programs, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. Admission is close to open access at 88%, so this is a program that bets on teaching students well rather than screening them out. The one drag is price, $24,000 in state, above the North Dakota median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. No single weakness drags it down, and that consistency lands it in the upper tier.

    Program page
  11. 11

    United Tribes Technical College

    Bismarck, NDPrivate nonprofit

    34score
    • 21%Grad rate
    • $4,200/yrTuition (in or out of state)
    • 576Undergrads
    • 5Grads/yr
    • Elementary Education
    About the program

    United Tribes Technical College, a tribal college in Bismarck, offers a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education through its Teacher Education Department. The program integrates Indigenous perspectives into its preparation of future elementary teachers, and most courses carry a field experience component so candidates spend time in classrooms before completing a full student teaching placement. It leads to teacher licensure for those preparing to teach across the elementary grades. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in North Dakota.

    Why it ranks here

    Three things decide where a program lands on this list: how many students finish, how selective it is, and what it costs. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 21% the graduation rate trails the North Dakota median, which caps how high it can climb. Cost only helps its case: at $4,200 in state, tuition runs below the North Dakota median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. No single weakness drags it down, and that consistency lands it in the upper tier.

    Program page
  12. 12

    Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College

    New Town, NDPublic

    31score
    • 7%Grad rate
    • $3,600/yrTuition (in or out of state)
    • 233Undergrads
    • 1Grads/yr
    • Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education carries a name in Hidatsa, Mada Maagarishtauo Awa Hee Aadsa Maa Aru Maa Giguckiigash, meaning the ones that teach our children how everything on this earth works, a phrase that captures the program's rootedness in community. Guided by the Education Department, the degree prepares students to teach grades one through eight, with optional endorsements in middle school science and math for those who want to broaden their reach. The on-campus model runs as a cohort, bringing juniors and seniors together in a weekly teacher education seminar before student teaching closes out the program. Students first complete an associate's degree in elementary education, then move into the Teacher Education Program for the upper-level work. That staged, close-knit structure gives the program a distinctly supportive character and points graduates toward teacher licensure. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in North Dakota.

    Why it ranks here

    Its rank is built from three numbers: graduation rate, admission rate, and in-state tuition, in that order of weight. The sticking point is completion, the factor we weigh most heavily: at 7% the graduation rate trails the North Dakota median, which caps how high it can climb. Cost only helps its case: at $3,600 in state, tuition runs below the North Dakota median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. On balance it is a well-rounded pick, which is what earns it a spot this high.

    Program page

Key facts about a bachelor's in Elementary Education in North Dakota

  • North Dakota has 12 accredited bachelor's in elementary education programs in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from federal IPEDS data.
  • Dickinson State University ranks first among elementary education bachelor's programs in North Dakota with a score of 69, on a 51 percent graduation rate.
  • Turtle Mountain Community College is the most affordable bachelor's in elementary education in North Dakota, at $2,184 a year in-state tuition.
  • University of Mary posts the highest graduation rate among elementary education programs in North Dakota, at 67 percent.
  • Elementary school teachers in North Dakota earn a median of $60,030 a year (BLS), ranking North Dakota 37 of 51 states and territories for the occupation.
  • 4 of the bachelor's in elementary education programs in North Dakota offer an online or hybrid option.
  • North Dakota requires the Praxis licensure exam, administered through North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board, to earn a teaching license.

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

Published in-state tuition for a bachelor's in elementary education in North Dakota runs from $2,184 to $24,000 a year across the 12 programs we rank, with a median of $6,619. The most affordable is Turtle Mountain Community College at $2,184 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 42 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 North Dakota

Elementary school teachers in North Dakota earn a median of $60,030 a year, per BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), compared with a national median of $63,970. That ranks North Dakota 37 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 North Dakota is the entry point to that market, not the ceiling.

Sources: BLS OEWS wages, BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook

How to get a North Dakota teaching license

To teach in North Dakota you need a bachelor's in elementary education (or a bachelor's plus an approved preparation program), a supervised student-teaching placement, and a North Dakota teaching license issued by North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board. North Dakota calls the initial credential the Educator's Professional License, and earning it means passing Praxis (The Praxis Series) plus a background check.

Beginning teachers must pass all three Praxis Core tests plus the appropriate Praxis Subject Assessments. Confirm your program is currently state-approved before you enroll.

Sources: North Dakota educator certification, Praxis exam

Choosing an accredited elementary education program in North Dakota

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

Sources: CAEP accreditation

Online and hybrid elementary education programs in North Dakota

4 of the bachelor's in elementary education programs in North Dakota 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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota

How many bachelor's in elementary education programs are in North Dakota?

There are 12 accredited bachelor's in elementary education programs in North Dakota in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from the federal IPEDS database.

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

Turtle Mountain Community College is the most affordable bachelor's in elementary education in North Dakota, at $2,184 a year in in-state tuition.

How much do elementary school teachers make in North Dakota?

Elementary school teachers in North Dakota earn a median of $60,030 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 North Dakota?

North Dakota requires the Praxis (The Praxis Series) licensure exam, administered for North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board. See the <a href="https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/northdakota-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 North Dakota?

For most future teachers, yes. A bachelor's in elementary education in North Dakota is the standard credential for a North Dakota teaching license, and it leads to a median elementary school teachers salary of $60,030 a year in North Dakota. 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 North Dakota for 2026, ranked on the outcomes that matter. Compare all 12 bachelor's in elementary education in North Dakota 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 North Dakota.

Sources

Elementary Education in other states