Best Master's in Elementary Education Programs in Texas
All 7 Elementary Education master's-level programs in Texas, ranked overall on graduation rate, affordability, and more, from the IPEDS database.
A master's in elementary education can lead to initial Texas licensure or advance a licensed teacher's career, and Texas has 7 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. The University of Texas at San Antonio ranks first with a score of 53, on a 53 percent graduation rate.
Elementary school teachers in Texas earn a median of $62,760 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, Texas licensure, accreditation, online and accelerated formats, and career outlook, so you can compare elementary education programs in Texas on the factors that change your outcome rather than on marketing.
- 1
The University of Texas at San Antonio
53score- 9Master's/yr
- $61,720Metro teacher pay
- M.A. in Early Childhood and Elementary Education
About the programThe University of Texas at San Antonio positions its M.A. in Early Childhood and Elementary Education as advanced study for educators and professionals already in the field, not as a starting point for a first license. Candidates choose between a 30 credit hour non-thesis option and a 33-hour thesis path, then tailor the degree through emphasis areas such as child development, early childhood leadership, early literacies, family studies, and inclusive education. Across those choices, the program pairs reflective practice with current research, giving working educators a way to think more deeply about their craft. It does not confer initial teacher certification, so completing it does not qualify a graduate to teach elementary school. Those seeking that first credential would look instead to UTSA's separate post-baccalaureate routes for initial EC-6 licensure. Graduates of this elementary education program at the master's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.
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 9 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,720, roughly $65,163 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
Texas State University
51score- 44Master's/yr
- $61,270Metro teacher pay
- Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Elementary Education
About the programTexas State University runs its M.Ed. in Elementary Education through the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and offers several certification tracks, including EC-6 Generalist with Bilingual or ESL options, Grades 4-8 subject certifications, and non-certification advanced routes for those not seeking a license. The EC-6 Generalist Bilingual track featured here spans 36 semester credit hours and leads to initial Texas certification for Early Childhood through Grade Six. Its coursework folds certification requirements directly into the degree, and one course, CI 5326, carries a 50 clock-hour in-person field experience in EC-8 school settings to meet the state's clinical mandate. That mix of methods study and required classroom time keeps the program hands-on. Applicants pursuing certification are expected to request a certification plan from the Educator Preparation Program. It awards more master's-level elementary education degrees than any of Texas's 7 ranked master's-level programs, 44 in the most recent year. A master's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in Texas.
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 44 master's degrees a year, one of the larger cohorts in the specialty. Its graduates step into Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,270, roughly $62,478 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
Trinity University
49score- $15,000Est. tuition (excl. fees)
- 9Master's/yr
- $61,720Metro teacher pay
- Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
- Texas Education Agency (TEA); NCATE-accredited
- On-campus
About the programTrinity's Master of Arts in Teaching is a 30 credit hour, one year graduate program that begins in July and runs across three semesters. The elementary cohort prepares candidates for Texas EC-6 certification through pedagogics and clinical practice courses paired with a full-year, eight month internship in area Professional Development Schools, where candidates carry 12 credit hours per semester alongside classroom placement. The program leads to initial teacher certification and is accredited by the Texas Education Agency and NCATE. This master's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Texas.
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 9 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,720, roughly $65,163 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.
- 4
Our Lady of the Lake University
44score- $40,209Est. tuition (excl. fees)
- 3Master's/yr
- $61,720Metro teacher pay
- Master of Arts in Teaching (Elementary EC-6 certification track)
- Hybrid
About the programOLLU's Master of Arts in Teaching is a 39-credit program (27 hours of MAT core plus 12 hours in a specialization) for candidates who hold a bachelor's degree and want teacher certification while earning a master's. The elementary tracks lead to Texas EC-6 certification paired with Bilingual, ESL, or Special Education certification. It is delivered in a hyflex format allowing students to attend on campus or online. Candidates apply their learning through a full-year internship or clinical teaching experience. This is an initial-certification pathway covering the early-childhood-through-grade-6 band. A master's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in Texas.
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 3 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,720, roughly $65,163 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.
- 5
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
42score- 3Master's/yr
- $60,210Metro teacher pay
- Master of Science in Elementary Education (MAC)
- Online
About the programThis Master of Science in Elementary Education is a Master's and Certification (MAC) program leading to Texas initial teacher certification in either EC-6 or Grades 4-8, letting candidates earn the master's degree and initial certification together. It requires 36 to 42 semester credit hours depending on track. All coursework is offered fully online except clinical experiences, which are completed in person as either one semester of clinical teaching (6 hours, not counted toward the degree) or two semesters of paid intern-teacher placements. It is an initial-licensure pathway, not an in-service degree for already-certified teachers. 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 3 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Corpus Christi, TX, where elementary teachers earn a median $60,210, roughly $64,972 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.
- 6
Stephen F Austin State University
30score- 10Master's/yr
- $62,760State teacher pay
- Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Elementary Education
About the programStephen F. Austin State University offers a Master of Education in Elementary Education with early-childhood-through-grade-6 tracks, housed in its Department of Education Studies. Students can choose a standard EC-6 track that leads to initial certification or a no-certification track designed for practicing teachers. The department's related graduate programs include an online Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, a Master of Education in Special Education, and a Master of Arts in Teaching with certification. As a master's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Texas.
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 10 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Texas statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $62,760, roughly $64,663 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.
- 7
Dallas Baptist University
28score- 1Master's/yr
- $65,070Metro teacher pay
- Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Teaching
About the programDallas Baptist University's Master of Education in Teaching is a non-thesis professional degree that can be combined with Texas educator certification. Paired with the Core Subjects EC-6 with Science of Teaching Reading certification plan, the program is a 42-semester-hour minimum path that leads to initial Early Childhood through Grade 6 (elementary) Texas teacher certification. The base M.Ed. in Teaching without certification runs 30 to 36 hours. Candidates seeking certification must be admitted to DBU's Educator Preparation Program and complete content requirements and the required PACT examinations. A master's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in Texas.
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 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, where elementary teachers earn a median $65,070, roughly $63,120 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 Texas
- Texas has 7 accredited master's in elementary education programs in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from federal IPEDS data.
- The University of Texas at San Antonio ranks first among elementary education master's programs in Texas with a score of 53, on a 53 percent graduation rate.
- Trinity University is the most affordable master's in elementary education in Texas, at $15,000 a year in-state tuition.
- Trinity University posts the highest graduation rate among elementary education programs in Texas, at 84 percent.
- Elementary school teachers in Texas earn a median of $62,760 a year (BLS), ranking Texas 27 of 51 states and territories for the occupation.
- 1 of the master's in elementary education programs in Texas offer an online or hybrid option.
- Texas requires the TExES licensure exam, administered through Texas Education Agency and State Board for Educator Certification, to earn a teaching license.
What a master's in elementary education costs in Texas (2026)
Published in-state tuition for a master's in elementary education in Texas runs from $15,000 to $40,209 a year across the 7 programs we rank, with a median of $15,000. The most affordable is Trinity University at $15,000 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 55 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 Texas
Elementary school teachers in Texas earn a median of $62,760 a year, per BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), compared with a national median of $63,970. That ranks Texas 27 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 Texas is the entry point to that market, not the ceiling.
How to get a Texas teaching license
To teach in Texas you need a master's in elementary education (or a bachelor's plus an approved preparation program), a supervised student-teaching placement, and a Texas teaching license issued by Texas Education Agency and State Board for Educator Certification. Texas calls the initial credential the Standard Certificate, and earning it means passing TExES (Texas Examinations of Educator Standards) plus a background check.
TExES exams are administered by Pearson under the Texas Educator Certification Examination Program, not Praxis. Confirm your program is currently state-approved before you enroll.
Sources: Texas educator certification, TExES exam
Choosing an accredited elementary education program in Texas
Pick a master's in elementary education in Texas that is regionally accredited and whose educator-preparation program is approved by the Texas Department of Education, ideally with CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) accreditation. State approval is what lets the degree count toward a Texas teaching license, and CAEP is the national standard for program quality, so confirm both before enrolling in any elementary education program in Texas.
Sources: CAEP accreditation
Online and hybrid elementary education programs in Texas
1 of the master's in elementary education programs in Texas 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 Texas 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 Texas
How many master's in elementary education programs are in Texas?
There are 7 accredited master's in elementary education programs in Texas in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from the federal IPEDS database.
What is the most affordable master's in elementary education in Texas?
Trinity University is the most affordable master's in elementary education in Texas, at $15,000 a year in in-state tuition.
How much do elementary school teachers make in Texas?
Elementary school teachers in Texas earn a median of $62,760 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 Texas?
Texas requires the TExES (Texas Examinations of Educator Standards) licensure exam, administered for Texas Education Agency and State Board for Educator Certification. See the <a href="https://www.tx.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 Texas?
For most future teachers, yes. A master's in elementary education in Texas is the standard credential for a Texas teaching license, and it leads to a median elementary school teachers salary of $62,760 a year in Texas. 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 Texas for 2026, ranked on the outcomes that matter. Compare all 7 master's in elementary education in Texas 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 Texas.