Best Bachelor's in Elementary Education Programs in Utah

BYU's Elementary Education (BS) is a 65 to 68 credit major preparing candidates to teach grades K-6 in public schools. The program culminates in 12 credit hours completed through Elementary Student Teaching or an Academic Internship. Per the catalog, it meets the educational requirements leading to an occupationally required professional license in Utah, and students must complete Utah State Office of Education licensing requirements. Completion leads to a Utah K-6 teaching license. Delivered on campus in Provo. Among Utah's 9 ranked bachelor's-level programs, this one posts the highest graduation rate at 81%. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Utah's elementary school teachers.

Westminster University's Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, offered through the School of Education, prepares candidates for a Utah Professional Educator License covering grades K-6. The Educator Preparation Program is accredited by AAQEP and approved by the Utah State Board of Education, and it adopted the Utah Effective Teaching Standards in Fall 2024, keeping its preparation current. What stands out is how early and how often students are in classrooms, since each methods course calls for 10 to 30 hours of observation that includes teaching self-designed lessons, all leading to individualized student teaching placements in the final semester. Students also complete a required minor, with a TESOL minor recommended for endorsement eligibility. Strong district relationships support job placement, including on-campus interviews that begin in March. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Utah.

Southern Utah University's Bachelor of Arts or Science in Elementary Education prepares candidates for a Utah teaching license covering grades K-6 or 1-8, with an optional middle school math endorsement pathway for grades 7-8. Candidates must pass a criminal background check and meet Professional Learning Plan requirements to be recommended for licensure. The program is offered in both on-campus and online formats, with structured online coursework for scheduling flexibility. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

The University of Utah offers a B.A. or B.S. in Elementary Education with two emphases. The Elementary Licensure K-8 emphasis is a closed track students apply to after completing about 60 credits, and it leads the College of Education to recommend candidates for a Utah Professional Educator License for grades K-8 after required exit exams. A separate Teaching for Educational Innovation, Community Impact, and International Engagement emphasis is a non-licensure option. Licensure candidates complete field-based courses and student teaching, which require background checks. Optional ESL endorsement and TESOL certificate coursework are available. The educator preparation program is accredited by CAEP. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Utah.

Weber State University's Elementary and Special Education Bachelor's Degree is built for online learners, delivered primarily asynchronously through the Division of Continuing Education so students can fit coursework around their lives. Its real draw is the dual outcome, since graduates are eligible for recommendation for both an Elementary K-8 license and a Special Education Mild/Moderate K-12 license, valid in Utah. Even at a distance, the program keeps preparation grounded, asking students to complete 480 hours of in-person student teaching at a school near where they live, with just one math course requiring a fixed meeting time and an ESL or Math emphasis to choose from. Nonresident students who study fully online pay in-state tuition rates. Weber State points to Utah State Board of Education data showing stronger five-year retention among the teachers it trains. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Utah.

Utah Valley University's Elementary Education, B.S. is based in the School of Education and prepares candidates for the Utah Professional Educator License in grades K-8. The degree includes four clinical courses set in elementary learning environments and a K-6 student teaching placement, and its coursework addresses instruction for multilingual learners. The program is taught on campus and holds AAQEP accreditation. Earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Utah's elementary school teachers.

Utah Tech University's Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education is built for teachers who expect to work with a wide age range and a diverse group of learners. Covering kindergarten through eighth grade, the degree folds an ESL Endorsement directly into the program rather than treating it as an add-on, and students can also pursue a separate Elementary STEM Endorsement if science and math are a focus. Offered through the Department of Teacher Education, it moves candidates through practicum seminars and into a full-time student teaching placement, so coursework and classroom practice reinforce each other. As a USBE-approved educator preparation program, Utah Tech can recommend graduates for a Utah Level I license covering K-8. Classes are held on campus. It carries the lowest in-state tuition among Utah's 9 ranked bachelor's-level programs, at $5,434. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

Utah State University's Elementary Education program, offered through the School of Teacher Education and Leadership, is notable for putting students in front of children early and often. Available as a B.S. or B.A., with the BA adding foreign language proficiency, it leads to a Professional License from the Utah State Board of Education for grades K-6. True to its Bridge to Professional Practice branding, students begin classroom placements in their very first year rather than waiting until junior year, and by graduation they have logged more than 400 hours working in classrooms or with children. A Middle School Math Endorsement extends their reach, letting graduates teach math through eighth grade. The program runs at the Logan campus and at numerous statewide campuses. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Utah.

Western Governors University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education through its Teachers College, a mostly online program combined with required in-person classroom clinical experiences and student teaching. The standard path spans 37 courses (38 for Washington residents), with a dual licensure option adding elementary plus special education across 45 to 46 courses. Candidates complete at least 75 hours of classroom observation and 12 to 20 weeks of full-time supervised student teaching. The curriculum integrates the Science of Learning and Science of Reading, uses virtual simulations progressing to in-person work, and includes a microcredential in Innovative Technology for Inclusive P-12 Classrooms. The Teachers College holds CAEP advanced-level accreditation effective Fall 2025 to Winter 2032; grade levels vary by state. It awards more bachelor's-level elementary education degrees than any of Utah's 9 ranked bachelor's-level programs, 1,612 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.