Best Master's in Elementary Education Programs in Nebraska
All 3 Elementary Education master's-level programs in Nebraska, ranked overall on graduation rate, affordability, and more, from the IPEDS database.
A master's in elementary education can lead to initial Nebraska licensure or advance a licensed teacher's career, and Nebraska 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. University of Nebraska at Omaha ranks first with a score of 55, on a 47 percent graduation rate.
Elementary school teachers in Nebraska earn a median of $62,380 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, Nebraska licensure, accreditation, online and accelerated formats, and career outlook, so you can compare elementary education programs in Nebraska on the factors that change your outcome rather than on marketing.
- 1
University of Nebraska at Omaha
55score- 56Master's/yr
- $62,670Metro teacher pay
- Elementary Education, Master of Science (MS)
About the programThe University of Nebraska at Omaha's Master of Science in Elementary Education is a 36-credit advanced degree built for teachers already in the classroom rather than for those seeking a first license. The catalog is candid that the master's degree does not itself lead to initial certification, and applicants are expected either to hold a valid teaching certificate or to enter a concentration that leads to one. What stands out is the breadth of direction on offer, with ten concentrations ranging from curriculum, instruction and assessment to early childhood, STEM, multilingual learner, instructional technology leadership, and equity and social justice, so teachers can steer their study toward the questions that matter most in their work. One track, Accelerated Certification for Teachers, functions as a separate initial-certification pathway. For everyone else, the degree deepens research-informed practice for teachers already leading classrooms. It awards more master's-level elementary education degrees than any of Nebraska's 3 ranked master's-level programs, 56 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 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 56 master's degrees a year, one of the larger cohorts in the specialty. Its graduates step into Omaha, NE-IA, where elementary teachers earn a median $62,670, roughly $68,186 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
University of Nebraska at Kearney
48score- 11Master's/yr
- $62,380State teacher pay
- Master of Arts in Education in Curriculum and Instruction (Elementary Education emphasis)
About the programThe University of Nebraska at Kearney offers a Master of Arts in Education in Curriculum and Instruction with an Elementary Education emphasis. This emphasis is a non-certification concentration for practicing educators, built on core coursework in research, democracy, diversity, and technology, and it does not lead to initial licensure. For those seeking a first teaching credential, the same degree offers a separate Elementary Education certification track that includes student teaching and leads to initial certification. This master's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Nebraska.
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 11 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Nebraska statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $62,380, roughly $69,232 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
Creighton University
31score- $26,978Est. tuition (excl. fees)
- 2Master's/yr
- $62,670Metro teacher pay
- Master of Education in Elementary School Teaching
- On-campus
About the programCreighton's Master of Education in Elementary School Teaching is an initial-licensure program for students whose bachelor's degree is in a field other than elementary teaching. It requires at least 41 credit hours and can be completed on campus in about 18 months, with a summer start. Required coursework includes supervised Clinical Practice (student teaching) and an accompanying seminar, and candidates work in real classrooms early in the program. Completion positions graduates for a Nebraska teaching certificate. Creighton's education programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. As a master's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Nebraska.
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 2 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Omaha, NE-IA, where elementary teachers earn a median $62,670, roughly $68,186 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 Nebraska
- Nebraska has 3 accredited master's in elementary education programs in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from federal IPEDS data.
- University of Nebraska at Omaha ranks first among elementary education master's programs in Nebraska with a score of 55, on a 47 percent graduation rate.
- Creighton University is the most affordable master's in elementary education in Nebraska, at $26,978 a year in-state tuition.
- Creighton University posts the highest graduation rate among elementary education programs in Nebraska, at 83 percent.
- Elementary school teachers in Nebraska earn a median of $62,380 a year (BLS), ranking Nebraska 29 of 51 states and territories for the occupation.
- Nebraska requires the Praxis licensure exam, administered through Nebraska Department of Education, Office of Educator Certification, to earn a teaching license.
What a master's in elementary education costs in Nebraska (2026)
Published in-state tuition for a master's in elementary education in Nebraska runs from $26,978 to $26,978 a year across the 3 programs we rank, with a median of $26,978. The most affordable is Creighton University at $26,978 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 63 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 Nebraska
Elementary school teachers in Nebraska earn a median of $62,380 a year, per BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), compared with a national median of $63,970. That ranks Nebraska 29 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 Nebraska is the entry point to that market, not the ceiling.
How to get a Nebraska teaching license
To teach in Nebraska you need a master's in elementary education (or a bachelor's plus an approved preparation program), a supervised student-teaching placement, and a Nebraska teaching license issued by Nebraska Department of Education, Office of Educator Certification. Nebraska calls the initial credential the Initial Teaching Certificate, and earning it means passing Praxis (The Praxis Series) plus a background check.
A Praxis content test is waived for applicants who complete an approved preparation program, but required for a temporary certificate or to add endorsements. Confirm your program is currently state-approved before you enroll.
Sources: Nebraska educator certification, Praxis exam
Choosing an accredited elementary education program in Nebraska
Pick a master's in elementary education in Nebraska that is regionally accredited and whose educator-preparation program is approved by the Nebraska Department of Education, ideally with CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) accreditation. State approval is what lets the degree count toward a Nebraska teaching license, and CAEP is the national standard for program quality, so confirm both before enrolling in any elementary education program in Nebraska.
Sources: CAEP accreditation
Frequently asked questions about a master's in Elementary Education in Nebraska
How many master's in elementary education programs are in Nebraska?
There are 3 accredited master's in elementary education programs in Nebraska in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from the federal IPEDS database.
What is the most affordable master's in elementary education in Nebraska?
Creighton University is the most affordable master's in elementary education in Nebraska, at $26,978 a year in in-state tuition.
How much do elementary school teachers make in Nebraska?
Elementary school teachers in Nebraska earn a median of $62,380 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 Nebraska?
Nebraska requires the Praxis (The Praxis Series) licensure exam, administered for Nebraska Department of Education, Office of Educator Certification. See the <a href="https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/nebraska-overview.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">official exam page</a> for current test requirements.
Is a master's in elementary education worth it in Nebraska?
For most future teachers, yes. A master's in elementary education in Nebraska is the standard credential for a Nebraska teaching license, and it leads to a median elementary school teachers salary of $62,380 a year in Nebraska. 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 Nebraska for 2026, ranked on the outcomes that matter. Compare all 3 master's in elementary education in Nebraska 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 Nebraska.