Best Bachelor's in Elementary Education Programs in Washington, D.C.
All 4 Elementary Education bachelor's-level programs in Washington, D.C., ranked overall on graduation rate, affordability, and more, from the IPEDS database.
A bachelor's in elementary education is the standard credential behind a Washington, D.C. teaching license, and Washington, D.C. 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. Howard University ranks first with a score of 60, on a 70 percent graduation rate.
Elementary school teachers in Washington, D.C. earn a median of $96,580 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, Washington, D.C. licensure, accreditation, online and accelerated formats, and career outlook, so you can compare elementary education programs in Washington, D.C. on the factors that change your outcome rather than on marketing.
- 1
Howard University
60score- 70%Grad rate
- $35,344/yrTuition (in or out of state)
- 41%Admit rate
- 11,519Undergrads
- 19Grads/yr
- 1205SAT mid
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Elementary Education
- CAEP-accredited
- On-campus
About the programHoward University offers a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education through its School of Education in Washington, DC. Coursework is grounded in human development and STEM pedagogy, and candidates complete a full time teaching internship in the final year. The CAEP accredited program prepares graduates for teacher certification in grades 1 through 6 and emphasizes asset focused teaching methods for underrepresented students in urban communities. As a bachelor's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Washington, D.C..
Why it ranks hereProgram pageWe 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. On completion, the heaviest factor, it lands mid-pack among Washington, D.C. programs at 70%, solid without being a standout. A 41% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. Cost only helps its case: at $35,344 in state, tuition runs below the Washington, D.C. median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. That combination is what puts it in the top handful here.
- 2
The Catholic University of America
57score- 79%Grad rate
- $56,930/yrTuition (in or out of state)
- 83%Admit rate
- 3,177Undergrads
- 4Grads/yr
- Elementary Education (B.A.)
- CAEP-accredited
- On-campus
About the programThe Catholic University of America's Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education prepares candidates to teach grades 1 through 6 in the largely self-contained classrooms typical of those years, uniting general education requirements, professional coursework, and a teaching specialization in one degree. Experience accrues in layers, from early observations, site visits, and tutoring through two practica and a culminating full-time student teaching placement, so classroom skill grows step by step. The Washington, DC program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, with its educator preparation provider reviewed in December 2021 and accredited through spring 2029. It is also recognized by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education for Washington, DC. Together these approvals signal a program that meets both professional and local standards. Among Washington, D.C.'s 4 ranked bachelor's-level programs, this one posts the highest graduation rate at 79%. A bachelor's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in Washington, D.C..
Why it ranks hereProgram pageIts place on the list comes down to outcomes, selectivity, and price, weighted in that order. Start with the outcome that matters most, 79% of students graduate, top 1% among Washington, D.C. programs, which is the biggest reason it sits where it does. A 83% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $56,930 in state, above the Washington, D.C. median, so it earns its rank on outcomes rather than affordability. That combination is what puts it in the top handful here.
- 3
American University
48score- 75%Grad rate
- $57,952/yrTuition (in or out of state)
- 62%Admit rate
- 7,476Undergrads
- 19Grads/yr
- 1370SAT mid
- BA in Elementary Education
- CAEP-accredited
- On-campus
About the programAmerican University makes the most of its Washington, DC setting in its BA in Elementary Education, which leads to certification for grades 1-6 and DC licensure that carries reciprocity in 47 states. Coursework in the School of Education centers on high leverage teaching practices, then puts those methods to work through practicum and student teaching placements in DC, Maryland, and Virginia schools, strengthened by a partnership with DC Public Schools. In their final semester, candidates assemble an edTPA performance portfolio, and those who want to sharpen their equity practice can add a four-course antiracist teaching certificate. The program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. For students drawn to urban education, it offers both a national credential and immersion in a metropolitan school system. Graduates of this elementary education program at the bachelor's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageWe 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 75% graduation rate lands it in the top 33% of Washington, D.C. programs, and since finishing counts for the most, that does much of the work. A 62% admission rate makes it moderately selective, neither a gatekeeper nor open enrollment. The one drag is price, $57,952 in state, above the Washington, D.C. 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.
- 4
University of the District of Columbia
35score- 33%Grad rate
- $5,292/yrIn-state tuition
- $12,144/yrOut-of-state tuition
- 3,610Undergrads
- 2Grads/yr
- Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education
- On-campus
About the programThe University of the District of Columbia's Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education prepares candidates to teach grades K-5, with a deliberate emphasis on urban classrooms and the students who fill them. Delivered on campus through the School of Education and Learning Sciences, the 123-credit program folds a practicum and student teaching into its graduation requirements so candidates learn by doing. Admission is a two-step commitment, since students apply internally to the Education Division during their sophomore year to become formally recognized teacher candidates. Dual accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education stands behind the degree. Completers finish ready for licensure. It carries the lowest in-state tuition among Washington, D.C.'s 4 ranked bachelor's-level programs, at $5,292. This bachelor's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Washington, D.C..
Why it ranks hereProgram pageThree 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 33% the graduation rate trails the Washington, D.C. median, which caps how high it can climb. Cost only helps its case: at $5,292 in state, tuition runs below the Washington, D.C. median, so students are not paying a premium for those results. That combination is what puts it in the top handful here.
Key facts about a bachelor's in Elementary Education in Washington, D.C.
- Washington, D.C. has 4 accredited bachelor's in elementary education programs in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from federal IPEDS data.
- Howard University ranks first among elementary education bachelor's programs in Washington, D.C. with a score of 60, on a 70 percent graduation rate.
- University of the District of Columbia is the most affordable bachelor's in elementary education in Washington, D.C., at $5,292 a year in-state tuition.
- The Catholic University of America posts the highest graduation rate among elementary education programs in Washington, D.C., at 79 percent.
- Elementary school teachers in Washington, D.C. earn a median of $96,580 a year (BLS), ranking Washington, D.C. 3 of 51 states and territories for the occupation.
- Washington, D.C. requires the Praxis licensure exam, administered through Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Division of Teaching and Learning, to earn a teaching license.
What a bachelor's in elementary education costs in Washington, D.C. (2026)
Published in-state tuition for a bachelor's in elementary education in Washington, D.C. runs from $5,292 to $57,952 a year across the 4 programs we rank, with a median of $35,344. The most affordable is University of the District of Columbia at $5,292 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 64 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 Washington, D.C.
Elementary school teachers in Washington, D.C. earn a median of $96,580 a year, per BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), compared with a national median of $63,970. That ranks Washington, D.C. 3 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 Washington, D.C. is the entry point to that market, not the ceiling.
How to get a Washington, D.C. teaching license
To teach in Washington, D.C. you need a bachelor's in elementary education (or a bachelor's plus an approved preparation program), a supervised student-teaching placement, and a Washington, D.C. teaching license issued by Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Division of Teaching and Learning. Washington, D.C. calls the initial credential the Standard Teaching Credential, and earning it means passing Praxis (The Praxis Series) plus a background check.
Initial candidates must submit passing Praxis Core scores or demonstrate basic skills via a 3.0-plus GPA. Confirm your program is currently state-approved before you enroll.
Sources: Washington, D.C. educator certification, Praxis exam
Choosing an accredited elementary education program in Washington, D.C.
Pick a bachelor's in elementary education in Washington, D.C. that is regionally accredited and whose educator-preparation program is approved by the Washington, D.C. Department of Education, ideally with CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) accreditation. State approval is what lets the degree count toward a Washington, D.C. teaching license, and CAEP is the national standard for program quality, so confirm both before enrolling in any elementary education program in Washington, D.C..
Sources: CAEP accreditation
Frequently asked questions about a bachelor's in Elementary Education in Washington, D.C.
How many bachelor's in elementary education programs are in Washington, D.C.?
There are 4 accredited bachelor's in elementary education programs in Washington, D.C. in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from the federal IPEDS database.
What is the most affordable bachelor's in elementary education in Washington, D.C.?
University of the District of Columbia is the most affordable bachelor's in elementary education in Washington, D.C., at $5,292 a year in in-state tuition.
How much do elementary school teachers make in Washington, D.C.?
Elementary school teachers in Washington, D.C. earn a median of $96,580 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 Washington, D.C.?
Washington, D.C. requires the Praxis (The Praxis Series) licensure exam, administered for Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Division of Teaching and Learning. See the <a href="https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/dc-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 Washington, D.C.?
For most future teachers, yes. A bachelor's in elementary education in Washington, D.C. is the standard credential for a Washington, D.C. teaching license, and it leads to a median elementary school teachers salary of $96,580 a year in Washington, D.C.. 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 Washington, D.C. for 2026, ranked on the outcomes that matter. Compare all 4 bachelor's in elementary education in Washington, D.C. 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 Washington, D.C..