Best Master's in Elementary Education Programs in Arizona

All 6 Elementary Education master's-level programs in Arizona, ranked overall on graduation rate, affordability, and more, from the IPEDS database.

A master's in elementary education can lead to initial Arizona licensure or advance a licensed teacher's career, and Arizona has 6 accredited elementary education master'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. Arizona State University Digital Immersion ranks first with a score of 67.

Elementary school teachers in Arizona earn a median of $56,590 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, Arizona licensure, accreditation, online and accelerated formats, and career outlook, so you can compare elementary education programs in Arizona on the factors that change your outcome rather than on marketing.

6Programs analyzed
$27,720 to $29,375/yrIn-state tuition
$56,590/yrMedian elementary school teacher pay in Arizona
Arizona State University Digital ImmersionTop-ranked

← Best Master's in Elementary Education nationally

Elementary Education master's-level programs in Arizona, compared by score
1Arizona State University Digital Immersion67
2Northern Arizona University61
3Grand Canyon University60
4Arizona State University Campus Immersion57
5University of Phoenix-Arizona54
6Prescott College16
  1. 1

    Arizona State University Digital Immersion

    Scottsdale, AZPublicOnline available

    67score
    • 70Master's/yr
    • $59,180Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education (MEd) in Elementary Education (Teacher Certification)
    • Online
    About the program

    This fully online MEd lets applicants with a bachelor's degree in any field earn a graduate degree from ASU's Mary Lou Fulton College and qualify for Arizona initial teacher certification to teach grades K to 8. The program totals 33 credit hours across 17 classes, each running about 15 weeks, and concludes with a required applied project course, EED 593. It is delivered through ASU Online with the same tuition for residents and nonresidents. Coursework builds elementary content pedagogy and classroom practice leading toward certification. Earning a master's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Arizona's elementary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 70 master's degrees a year, one of the larger cohorts in the specialty. Its graduates step into Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ, where elementary teachers earn a median $59,180, roughly $57,281 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market. Institutional standing and accreditation fill out the rest of the score.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    Program page
  2. 2

    Northern Arizona University

    Flagstaff, AZPublic

    61score
    • 74Master's/yr
    • $53,900Metro teacher pay
    • Elementary Education, Master of Education
    • CAEP, K-6 Elementary Teacher Preparation Standards-accredited
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Northern Arizona University offers a Master of Education in Elementary Education in Flagstaff, delivered through online and blended coursework for educators who already hold a teaching certificate. Students choose one of four emphasis areas, including Elementary National Board Preparation, Multiage Education, and Positive Behavior Support, and complete work aligned with CAEP K-6 Elementary Teacher Preparation Standards. The program is built for practicing teachers advancing their credentials, not for candidates seeking initial teacher certification. This master's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Arizona.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 74 master's degrees a year, one of the larger cohorts in the specialty. Its graduates step into Flagstaff, AZ, where elementary teachers earn a median $53,900, roughly $53,725 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market. Institutional standing and accreditation fill out the rest of the score.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    Program page
  3. 3

    Grand Canyon University

    Phoenix, AZPrivate for-profitOnline available

    60score
    • $29,375Est. tuition (excl. fees)
    • 568Master's/yr
    • $59,180Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education (MEd) in Elementary Education (Leads to Initial Teacher Licensure)
    • AAQEP-accredited
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ offers a Master of Education in Elementary Education designed for career changers pursuing initial teacher licensure. The 47 credit hour program combines online coursework with required in person clinical field experience, including a dedicated student teaching practicum for elementary teacher candidates and roughly 92 hours of embedded practicum work. Graduates are prepared for teacher certification in grades 1-8, and the program carries accreditation from the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation. GCU's institutional accreditation comes from the Higher Learning Commission. It awards more master's-level elementary education degrees than any of Arizona's 6 ranked master's-level programs, 568 in the most recent year. A master's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in Arizona.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 568 master's degrees a year, one of the larger cohorts in the specialty. Its graduates step into Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ, where elementary teachers earn a median $59,180, roughly $57,281 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market. Institutional standing and accreditation fill out the rest of the score.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    Program page
  4. 4

    Arizona State University Campus Immersion

    Tempe, AZPublic

    57score
    • $27,720In-state tuition
    • $46,350Out-of-state tuition
    • 29Master's/yr
    • $59,180Metro teacher pay
    • Elementary Education, MEd
    • Online
    About the program

    Arizona State University's Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation offers the Elementary Education, MEd, a roughly 29 to 30 credit hour graduate program for students preparing to work with children in grades K-8. Coursework covers instructional design, assessment and educational research, and the degree culminates in an applied action research project. Delivered fully online with multiple enrollment sessions each year, this elementary education program does not lead to Arizona teacher certification and instead suits graduates pursuing noncertified educator roles in charter or private schools. Applicants need a bachelor's degree in any field to enroll. Graduates of this elementary education program at the master's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 29 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ, where elementary teachers earn a median $59,180, roughly $57,281 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market. Institutional standing and accreditation fill out the rest of the score.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    Program page
  5. 5

    University of Phoenix-Arizona

    Phoenix, AZPrivate for-profitOnline available

    54score
    • 135Master's/yr
    • $59,180Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Education - Elementary Teacher Education
    • Online
    About the program

    The Master of Arts in Education - Elementary Teacher Education is a 44 to 45 credit online program intended for students with no prior teaching experience who seek initial teacher licensure to teach elementary-age children. It requires 12 weeks of full-time in-person clinical practice in a classroom, and some states require longer. Tuition is $540 per credit plus a $195 resource fee per course, with additional third-party charges for background clearance, fingerprinting, TB testing, and competency exams. Earning a master's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Arizona's elementary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 135 master's degrees a year, one of the larger cohorts in the specialty. Its graduates step into Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ, where elementary teachers earn a median $59,180, roughly $57,281 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market. Institutional standing and accreditation fill out the rest of the score.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    Program page
  6. 6

    Prescott College

    Prescott, AZPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    16score
    • 1Master's/yr
    • $47,400Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Elementary Education
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Prescott College's Master of Education in Elementary Education prepares candidates to teach across a wide K-8 span in Arizona classrooms, blending elementary pedagogy with hands-on student teaching. The 36-credit degree is delivered online, with optional in-person residencies in Prescott that give distance learners moments of face-to-face connection. Candidates who meet the program's requirements and the state's earn an Institutional Recommendation for teacher licensure through the Arizona Department of Education, a clear finish line to the coursework. Because all of the college's educator preparation programs are approved by the Arizona State Board of Education, the pathway to certification stays well defined. The mix of flexible online study and periodic residency work suits candidates who want reach and a personal touch at once. Earning a master's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Arizona's elementary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ, where elementary teachers earn a median $47,400, roughly $48,242 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market. Institutional standing and accreditation fill out the rest of the score.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    Program page

Key facts about a master's in Elementary Education in Arizona

  • Arizona has 6 accredited master's in elementary education programs in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from federal IPEDS data.
  • Arizona State University Digital Immersion ranks first among elementary education master's programs in Arizona with a score of 67.
  • Arizona State University Campus Immersion is the most affordable master's in elementary education in Arizona, at $27,720 a year in-state tuition.
  • Arizona State University Campus Immersion posts the highest graduation rate among elementary education programs in Arizona, at 68 percent.
  • Elementary school teachers in Arizona earn a median of $56,590 a year (BLS), ranking Arizona 43 of 51 states and territories for the occupation.
  • 4 of the master's in elementary education programs in Arizona offer an online or hybrid option.
  • Arizona requires the AEPA/NES licensure exam, administered through Arizona Department of Education, Educator Certification, to earn a teaching license.

What a master's in elementary education costs in Arizona (2026)

Published in-state tuition for a master's in elementary education in Arizona runs from $27,720 to $29,375 a year across the 6 programs we rank, with a median of $27,720. The most affordable is Arizona State University Campus Immersion at $27,720 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 50 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 Arizona

Elementary school teachers in Arizona earn a median of $56,590 a year, per BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), compared with a national median of $63,970. That ranks Arizona 43 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 master's in elementary education in Arizona is the entry point to that market, not the ceiling.

Sources: BLS OEWS wages, BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook

How to get an Arizona teaching license

To teach in Arizona you need a master's in elementary education (or a bachelor's plus an approved preparation program), a supervised student-teaching placement, and an Arizona teaching license issued by Arizona Department of Education, Educator Certification. Arizona calls the initial credential the Standard Professional Teaching Certificate, and earning it means passing AEPA/NES (Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments and National Evaluation Series) plus a background check.

Arizona uses AEPA and NES exams administered by Pearson, not Praxis. Confirm your program is currently state-approved before you enroll.

Sources: Arizona educator certification, AEPA/NES exam

Choosing an accredited elementary education program in Arizona

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

Sources: CAEP accreditation

Online and hybrid elementary education programs in Arizona

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

Frequently asked questions about a master's in Elementary Education in Arizona

How many master's in elementary education programs are in Arizona?

There are 6 accredited master's in elementary education programs in Arizona in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from the federal IPEDS database.

What is the most affordable master's in elementary education in Arizona?

Arizona State University Campus Immersion is the most affordable master's in elementary education in Arizona, at $27,720 a year in in-state tuition.

How much do elementary school teachers make in Arizona?

Elementary school teachers in Arizona earn a median of $56,590 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 Arizona?

Arizona requires the AEPA/NES (Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments and National Evaluation Series) licensure exam, administered for Arizona Department of Education, Educator Certification. See the <a href="https://www.aepa.nesinc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">official exam page</a> for current test requirements.

Is a master's in elementary education worth it in Arizona?

For most future teachers, yes. A master's in elementary education in Arizona is the standard credential for an Arizona teaching license, and it leads to a median elementary school teachers salary of $56,590 a year in Arizona. Compare graduation rate and net price above to find the best value in 2026.

These are the best master's in elementary education programs in Arizona for 2026, ranked on the outcomes that matter. Compare all 6 master's in elementary education in Arizona 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 Arizona.

Sources

Elementary Education in other states