Best Master's in Elementary Education Programs in Ohio
All 3 Elementary Education master's-level programs in Ohio, ranked overall on graduation rate, affordability, and more, from the IPEDS database.
A master's in elementary education can lead to initial Ohio licensure or advance a licensed teacher's career, and Ohio 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. Wittenberg University ranks first with a score of 46, on a 53 percent graduation rate.
Elementary school teachers in Ohio earn a median of $77,370 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, Ohio licensure, accreditation, online and accelerated formats, and career outlook, so you can compare elementary education programs in Ohio on the factors that change your outcome rather than on marketing.
- 1
Wittenberg University
46score- 2Master's/yr
- $77,320Metro teacher pay
- Master of Arts in Education (Leadership or Reading track)
- Online
About the programWittenberg's Master of Arts in Education is a 100 percent online, 38 credit degree for already-licensed teachers, offered in a Leadership track (which can include principal licensure) or a Reading track for educators who have completed a Reading Endorsement. Both share core and research coursework and culminate in a thesis or project. It is explicitly not an initial-licensure program and is not elementary-specific: the licensure page states the M.A. in Education is not a program for initial provisional licensure, and Primary Education (P-5) licensure at Wittenberg is available only at the undergraduate level. Earning a master's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of Ohio'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 2 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Springfield, OH, where elementary teachers earn a median $77,320, roughly $85,453 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
Ursuline College
43score- $36,077Est. total cost
- 5Master's/yr
- $76,470Metro teacher pay
- Master of Arts in Education (Master Apprenticeship Program), Primary Education & Primary Intervention Specialist dual licensure
- Hybrid
About the programThe Master Apprenticeship Program awards a Master of Arts in Education and leads to initial Ohio teacher licensure. The elementary-relevant track is a dual Primary Education and Primary Intervention Specialist license for grades PK-5, totaling 52 credits. It uses a cohort apprenticeship model pairing candidates with master mentor teachers, with a field internship and a full semester of student teaching. Full-time candidates finish in one year (summer methods plus fall and spring with three on-site days weekly); a part-time route runs 24 to 30 months with one evening class per week and online coursework. Education programs are CAEP accredited. This master's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Ohio.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageMaster'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 5 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Cleveland, OH, where elementary teachers earn a median $76,470, roughly $81,418 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
Xavier University
27score- $20,220Est. tuition (excl. fees)
- 6Master's/yr
- $64,740Metro teacher pay
- Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Elementary Education
- Hybrid
About the programThis 30 credit hour Master of Education in Elementary Education is delivered in a blended format combining online learning with in-person experience. Nine core credits plus 21 elective credits are required. The program is described as appropriate for teachers of early, elementary, and middle childhood classrooms, preschool through grade 9, and serves both candidates seeking initial Ohio licensure and already-licensed teachers seeking specialization. Because it spans that range and includes in-service educators, it is not exclusively an initial elementary-licensure degree. It awards more master's-level elementary education degrees than any of Ohio's 3 ranked master's-level programs, 6 in the most recent year. This master's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Ohio.
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 6 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN, where elementary teachers earn a median $64,740, roughly $67,883 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 Ohio
- Ohio has 3 accredited master's in elementary education programs in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from federal IPEDS data.
- Wittenberg University ranks first among elementary education master's programs in Ohio with a score of 46, on a 53 percent graduation rate.
- Xavier University is the most affordable master's in elementary education in Ohio, at $20,220 a year in-state tuition.
- Xavier University posts the highest graduation rate among elementary education programs in Ohio, at 69 percent.
- Elementary school teachers in Ohio earn a median of $77,370 a year (BLS), ranking Ohio 11 of 51 states and territories for the occupation.
- 1 of the master's in elementary education programs in Ohio offer an online or hybrid option.
- Ohio requires the OAE licensure exam, administered through State Board of Education of Ohio, Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness, to earn a teaching license.
What a master's in elementary education costs in Ohio (2026)
Published in-state tuition for a master's in elementary education in Ohio runs from $20,220 to $36,077 a year across the 3 programs we rank, with a median of $20,220. The most affordable is Xavier University at $20,220 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 Ohio
Elementary school teachers in Ohio earn a median of $77,370 a year, per BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), compared with a national median of $63,970. That ranks Ohio 11 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 Ohio is the entry point to that market, not the ceiling.
How to get an Ohio teaching license
To teach in Ohio you need a master's in elementary education (or a bachelor's plus an approved preparation program), a supervised student-teaching placement, and an Ohio teaching license issued by State Board of Education of Ohio, Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness. Ohio calls the initial credential the Resident Educator License, and earning it means passing OAE (Ohio Assessments for Educators) plus a background check.
OAE is administered by Evaluation Systems of Pearson; Praxis is used only for certain pupil-services licenses. Confirm your program is currently state-approved before you enroll.
Sources: Ohio educator certification, OAE exam
Choosing an accredited elementary education program in Ohio
Pick a master's in elementary education in Ohio that is regionally accredited and whose educator-preparation program is approved by the Ohio Department of Education, ideally with CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) accreditation. State approval is what lets the degree count toward an Ohio teaching license, and CAEP is the national standard for program quality, so confirm both before enrolling in any elementary education program in Ohio.
Sources: CAEP accreditation
Online and hybrid elementary education programs in Ohio
1 of the master's in elementary education programs in Ohio 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 Ohio 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 Ohio
How many master's in elementary education programs are in Ohio?
There are 3 accredited master's in elementary education programs in Ohio in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from the federal IPEDS database.
What is the most affordable master's in elementary education in Ohio?
Xavier University is the most affordable master's in elementary education in Ohio, at $20,220 a year in in-state tuition.
How much do elementary school teachers make in Ohio?
Elementary school teachers in Ohio earn a median of $77,370 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 Ohio?
Ohio requires the OAE (Ohio Assessments for Educators) licensure exam, administered for State Board of Education of Ohio, Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness. See the <a href="https://www.oh.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 Ohio?
For most future teachers, yes. A master's in elementary education in Ohio is the standard credential for an Ohio teaching license, and it leads to a median elementary school teachers salary of $77,370 a year in Ohio. 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 Ohio for 2026, ranked on the outcomes that matter. Compare all 3 master's in elementary education in Ohio 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 Ohio.