Best Master's in Elementary Education Programs in Michigan
All 3 Elementary Education master's-level programs in Michigan, ranked overall on graduation rate, affordability, and more, from the IPEDS database.
A master's in elementary education can lead to initial Michigan licensure or advance a licensed teacher's career, and Michigan 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. Western Michigan University ranks first with a score of 64, on a 58 percent graduation rate.
Elementary school teachers in Michigan earn a median of $65,110 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, Michigan licensure, accreditation, online and accelerated formats, and career outlook, so you can compare elementary education programs in Michigan on the factors that change your outcome rather than on marketing.
- 1
Western Michigan University
64score- 16Master's/yr
- $63,450Metro teacher pay
- Master of Arts in Teaching: Elementary Education
- Hybrid
About the programThis Master of Arts in Teaching leads to initial Michigan elementary education certification at the graduate level. Required coursework is completed online over about 18 months, paired with a year-long clinical experience in which candidates co-teach with mentors while placed in a full-time internship or paid classroom position during the final semester, or are already working in an elementary classroom. No graduate admissions test is required. It certifies teaching at the elementary grade band. As a master's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Michigan.
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 16 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Kalamazoo-Portage, MI, where elementary teachers earn a median $63,450, roughly $66,902 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
Oakland University
41score- 27Master's/yr
- $65,210Metro teacher pay
- Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education (MATEE)
- On-campus
About the programThe Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education is a two-year cohort program for those who already hold a bachelor's degree and seek initial Michigan teacher certification. It leads to a Michigan standard teaching certificate for grades PK-3 and 3-6. Coursework combines with a minimum of 100 hours of field experience across three semesters before a full-time student teaching placement of about 15 weeks. Classes meet two weekday evenings per week until student teaching and are offered in person at Oakland's main campus and the Macomb University Center. It awards more master's-level elementary education degrees than any of Michigan's 3 ranked master's-level programs, 27 in the most recent year. Graduates of this elementary education program at the master's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageA 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 27 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI, where elementary teachers earn a median $65,210, roughly $65,016 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.
- 3
Wayne State University
39score- 10Master's/yr
- $65,210Metro teacher pay
- Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.), Elementary Education
About the programThis Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education is designed for students who hold a bachelor's degree but have not completed a teacher certification program, leading to an initial Michigan Standard Teaching Certificate. Applicants choose one of two concentrations, a PreK through grade 3 band or a grades 3 through 6 band. It is a Plan C master's program of at least 30 credits, with the total varying by background. Clinical methods courses pair with an 8-credit full-time student teaching placement in the final semester. Candidates must pass the Michigan Tests for Teacher Certification. The College of Education programs hold CAEP accreditation. Earning a master's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Michigan'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 10 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI, where elementary teachers earn a median $65,210, roughly $65,016 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.
Key facts about a master's in Elementary Education in Michigan
- Michigan has 3 accredited master's in elementary education programs in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from federal IPEDS data.
- Western Michigan University ranks first among elementary education master's programs in Michigan with a score of 64, on a 58 percent graduation rate.
- Elementary school teachers in Michigan earn a median of $65,110 a year (BLS), ranking Michigan 23 of 51 states and territories for the occupation.
- Michigan requires the MTTC licensure exam, administered through Michigan Department of Education, Office of Educator Excellence, to earn a teaching license.
What elementary school teachers earn in Michigan
Elementary school teachers in Michigan earn a median of $65,110 a year, per BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), compared with a national median of $63,970. That ranks Michigan 23 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 Michigan is the entry point to that market, not the ceiling.
How to get a Michigan teaching license
To teach in Michigan you need a master's in elementary education (or a bachelor's plus an approved preparation program), a supervised student-teaching placement, and a Michigan teaching license issued by Michigan Department of Education, Office of Educator Excellence. Michigan calls the initial credential the Standard Teaching Certificate, and earning it means passing MTTC (Michigan Test for Teacher Certification) plus a background check.
Certification is applied for through the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS); MTTC is administered by Pearson. Confirm your program is currently state-approved before you enroll.
Sources: Michigan educator certification, MTTC exam
Choosing an accredited elementary education program in Michigan
Pick a master's in elementary education in Michigan that is regionally accredited and whose educator-preparation program is approved by the Michigan Department of Education, ideally with CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) accreditation. State approval is what lets the degree count toward a Michigan teaching license, and CAEP is the national standard for program quality, so confirm both before enrolling in any elementary education program in Michigan.
Sources: CAEP accreditation
Frequently asked questions about a master's in Elementary Education in Michigan
How many master's in elementary education programs are in Michigan?
There are 3 accredited master's in elementary education programs in Michigan in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from the federal IPEDS database.
How much do elementary school teachers make in Michigan?
Elementary school teachers in Michigan earn a median of $65,110 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 Michigan?
Michigan requires the MTTC (Michigan Test for Teacher Certification) licensure exam, administered for Michigan Department of Education, Office of Educator Excellence. See the <a href="https://www.mttc.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 Michigan?
For most future teachers, yes. A master's in elementary education in Michigan is the standard credential for a Michigan teaching license, and it leads to a median elementary school teachers salary of $65,110 a year in Michigan. 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 Michigan for 2026, ranked on the outcomes that matter. Compare all 3 master's in elementary education in Michigan 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 Michigan.