Best Master's in Elementary Education Programs in Idaho
All 3 Elementary Education master's-level programs in Idaho, ranked overall on graduation rate, affordability, and more, from the IPEDS database.
A master's in elementary education can lead to initial Idaho licensure or advance a licensed teacher's career, and Idaho has 3 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. Idaho State University ranks first with a score of 53, on a 39 percent graduation rate.
Elementary school teachers in Idaho earn a median of $61,600 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, Idaho licensure, accreditation, online and accelerated formats, and career outlook, so you can compare elementary education programs in Idaho on the factors that change your outcome rather than on marketing.
- 1
Idaho State University
53score- $15,424In-state tuition
- $42,754Out-of-state tuition
- 1Master's/yr
- $60,840Metro teacher pay
- Master of Education in Elementary Education
About the programIdaho State University designed its Master of Education in Elementary Education for teachers who are already practicing or certified and want to grow within the profession rather than enter it. The 30-credit, non-thesis degree builds expertise across grades K-8 and lets candidates deepen their credential through endorsement areas such as STEM, mathematics education, ESL/TESOL, or English and language arts. Coursework strengthens the analytical side of teaching, sharpening data literacy, research methods, and curriculum design, and the program culminates in an Action Research capstone paired with a portfolio and oral defense. Because admission requires current certification or prior classroom experience, cohorts arrive with real teaching under their belts. For working educators seeking both flexibility and a clear focus, it offers a purposeful way to advance. As a master's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Idaho.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageFor 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 Pocatello, ID, where elementary teachers earn a median $60,840, roughly $68,432 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.
- 2
Boise State University
38score- $25,080In-state tuition
- $45,628Out-of-state tuition
- 14Master's/yr
- $61,230Metro teacher pay
- Master in Teaching, Elementary Education
- CAEP-accredited
- Hybrid
About the programAt Boise State University, the Master in Teaching in Elementary Education prepares students to earn teacher certification for grades K-8. The hybrid curriculum blends in-person and online coursework with a year-long placement alongside a K-8 mentor teacher, culminating in a full-time student teaching semester. Graduates earn a Standard Instructional Certificate with an All Subjects endorsement, preparing them for Idaho teacher licensure. The program is accredited by CAEP. It awards more master's-level elementary education degrees than any of Idaho's 3 ranked master's-level programs, 14 in the most recent year. Earning a master's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Idaho's elementary school teachers.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageFor 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 14 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boise City, ID, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,230, roughly $62,231 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market. And the institution carries weight: its research standing and program accreditation, the factor we weigh most, are a clear strength.
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.
- 3
Northwest Nazarene University
24score- 8Master's/yr
- $61,230Metro teacher pay
- Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Elementary Education
- Online
About the programNorthwest Nazarene University in Nampa, ID offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education for candidates who already hold a bachelor's degree and want to move into the classroom. The fully online program pairs 12 months of coursework and field experience in local schools with a student teaching semester, for a total program length of about 16 months. Graduates are prepared for an All-Subjects K-8 endorsement plus an additional middle-level content endorsement, and NNU's College of Education meets accreditation requirements from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, CAEP. As a master's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Idaho.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageFor 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 8 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boise City, ID, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,230, roughly $62,231 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.
Key facts about a master's in Elementary Education in Idaho
- Idaho has 3 accredited master's in elementary education programs in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from federal IPEDS data.
- Idaho State University ranks first among elementary education master's programs in Idaho with a score of 53, on a 39 percent graduation rate.
- Idaho State University is the most affordable master's in elementary education in Idaho, at $15,424 a year in-state tuition.
- Northwest Nazarene University posts the highest graduation rate among elementary education programs in Idaho, at 71 percent.
- Elementary school teachers in Idaho earn a median of $61,600 a year (BLS), ranking Idaho 30 of 51 states and territories for the occupation.
- 1 of the master's in elementary education programs in Idaho offer an online or hybrid option.
- Idaho requires the Praxis licensure exam, administered through Idaho State Department of Education, Certification and Professional Standards, to earn a teaching license.
What a master's in elementary education costs in Idaho (2026)
Published in-state tuition for a master's in elementary education in Idaho runs from $15,424 to $25,080 a year across the 3 programs we rank, with a median of $15,424. The most affordable is Idaho State University at $15,424 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 57 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 Idaho
Elementary school teachers in Idaho earn a median of $61,600 a year, per BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), compared with a national median of $63,970. That ranks Idaho 30 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 Idaho is the entry point to that market, not the ceiling.
How to get an Idaho teaching license
To teach in Idaho you need a master's in elementary education (or a bachelor's plus an approved preparation program), a supervised student-teaching placement, and an Idaho teaching license issued by Idaho State Department of Education, Certification and Professional Standards. Idaho calls the initial credential the Initial Certificate, and earning it means passing Praxis (The Praxis Series) plus a background check.
Confirm your elementary education program is currently approved by Idaho State Department of Education, Certification and Professional Standards before you enroll.
Sources: Idaho educator certification, Praxis exam
Choosing an accredited elementary education program in Idaho
Pick a master's in elementary education in Idaho that is regionally accredited and whose educator-preparation program is approved by the Idaho Department of Education, ideally with CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) accreditation. State approval is what lets the degree count toward an Idaho teaching license, and CAEP is the national standard for program quality, so confirm both before enrolling in any elementary education program in Idaho.
Sources: CAEP accreditation
Online and hybrid elementary education programs in Idaho
1 of the master's in elementary education programs in Idaho 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 Idaho 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 Idaho
How many master's in elementary education programs are in Idaho?
There are 3 accredited master's in elementary education programs in Idaho in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from the federal IPEDS database.
What is the most affordable master's in elementary education in Idaho?
Idaho State University is the most affordable master's in elementary education in Idaho, at $15,424 a year in in-state tuition.
How much do elementary school teachers make in Idaho?
Elementary school teachers in Idaho earn a median of $61,600 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 Idaho?
Idaho requires the Praxis (The Praxis Series) licensure exam, administered for Idaho State Department of Education, Certification and Professional Standards. See the <a href="https://www.ets.org/praxis" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">official exam page</a> for current test requirements.
Is a master's in elementary education worth it in Idaho?
For most future teachers, yes. A master's in elementary education in Idaho is the standard credential for an Idaho teaching license, and it leads to a median elementary school teachers salary of $61,600 a year in Idaho. 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 Idaho for 2026, ranked on the outcomes that matter. Compare all 3 master's in elementary education in Idaho 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 Idaho.