Best Master's in Elementary Education Programs in Washington
All 7 Elementary Education master's-level programs in Washington, ranked overall on graduation rate, affordability, and more, from the IPEDS database.
A master's in elementary education can lead to initial Washington licensure or advance a licensed teacher's career, and Washington 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. University of Washington-Seattle Campus ranks first with a score of 58, on a 85 percent graduation rate.
Elementary school teachers in Washington earn a median of $102,350 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, Washington licensure, accreditation, online and accelerated formats, and career outlook, so you can compare elementary education programs in Washington on the factors that change your outcome rather than on marketing.
- 1
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
58score- $20,736In-state tuition
- $37,464Out-of-state tuition
- 78Master's/yr
- $102,920Metro teacher pay
- Master in Teaching (M.I.T.)
- Hybrid
About the programThe University of Washington's Elementary Teacher Education Program is an intensive, immersive route to the classroom, a one-year Master in Teaching that runs across four quarters beginning in summer. At 70 credits and deeply field-based, the hybrid program offers both daytime and evening cohorts and steadily raises the stakes of its placements, from 75 hours in summer and autumn to 215 in winter and a full 440 hours of student teaching in spring across Seattle-area partner schools. That escalating structure lets candidates grow into full-time teaching rather than being thrown into it. Graduates earn a Washington Residency Certificate for elementary teaching and can layer on endorsements in areas such as multilingual learners, bilingual education, and special education. Before beginning full-time student teaching, candidates must pass the NES elementary subtests. It awards more master's-level elementary education degrees than any of Washington's 7 ranked master's-level programs, 78 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 78 master's degrees a year, one of the larger cohorts in the specialty. Its graduates step into Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $102,920, roughly $92,610 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
Heritage University
58score- 14Master's/yr
- $98,330Metro teacher pay
- Master in Teaching
- Online
About the programHeritage University's Master in Teaching leads to initial Washington State teacher certification with an Elementary Education K-8 endorsement. Classes are delivered primarily in a synchronous online model. The Theory to Practice route places candidates in K-8 classrooms across several semesters before a final student teaching semester, while the Residency and Accelerate alternate routes let candidates finish in about eleven months while teaching in a K-8 classroom and add an English Language Learner or Special Education endorsement. The official budget reflects roughly 40 credits at $912 per credit. As a master's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Washington.
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 14 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Yakima, WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,330, roughly $102,915 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
Washington State University
55score- 21Master's/yr
- $102,350State teacher pay
- Master in Teaching (MIT) - Elementary
- On-campus
About the programWashington State University's Master in Teaching Elementary, known as MIT-E, is an intensive preparation program for people who hold a bachelor's degree in a non-education field and want to become elementary teachers. It delivers two outcomes at once, a master's degree and a Washington State elementary (K-8) teaching certificate, which makes it a genuine initial-licensure route rather than a professional add-on. The WSU Tri-Cities plan asks for at least 41 semester credits of coursework, 14 credits of field experience, and a 2-credit Master's Project, keeping classroom practice central to the design. Courses meet in late afternoon and evening while field placements fall during the school day, a structure suited to adults making a career change. Offered across the Pullman, Spokane, Tri-Cities, and Vancouver campuses, it finishes in roughly 13 to 20 months depending on location. As a master's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Washington.
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 21 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Washington statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $102,350, roughly $95,643 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
Whitworth University
49score- $33,605Est. tuition (excl. fees)
- 5Master's/yr
- $98,800Metro teacher pay
- Master in Teaching
- On-campus
About the programThe Master in Teaching is a one-year (13-month) on-campus day program that leads to an initial Washington state teaching certificate. The elementary track requires 47 credits and certifies candidates to teach K-8. Coursework is integrated with a full academic-year student teaching practicum, two days weekly in fall and full-time Monday through Friday in spring. Candidates earn both the master's degree and the teaching certificate together, making this an initial-licensure pathway rather than an advanced degree for already-certified teachers. As a master's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Washington.
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 Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,800, roughly $98,459 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
Western Washington University
44score- 10Master's/yr
- $101,230Metro teacher pay
- M.Ed. - Language and Literacy
- Online
About the programThis is a 45 credit M.Ed. in Language and Literacy delivered over two years in synchronous, online cohorts. It is an in-service degree for practicing pre-K-12 and beyond teachers who want to deepen literacy knowledge and take on leadership roles. The program explicitly does not lead to a Washington State Residency Teacher Certificate, so it does not provide initial teaching licensure. Students may add a Washington reading endorsement or pursue National Board certification. There is no student teaching component; the focus is coursework in reading, writing, digital literacies, and leadership. 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 10 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Bellingham, WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,230, roughly $97,964 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
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
31score- 16Master's/yr
- $102,920Metro teacher pay
- Master of Education (MEd) in Elementary Education
- On-campus
About the programThis on-campus MEd in Elementary Education prepares candidates for initial Washington K-8 teacher certification; it is not designed for already-certified practicing teachers. It is 68 credits for certification only or 71 credits to also earn the M.Ed. The five-quarter, full-time program begins in summer, includes daytime clinical practice in local schools starting when schools open in fall, and requires a mandatory endorsement in either English Language Learners or Special Education. Optional Middle Level Endorsements (grades 4-9) in Humanities, Science, or Mathematics are available. The School of Education states the teacher certification programs were created as a face-to-face program. As a master's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Washington.
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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $102,920, roughly $92,610 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
City University of Seattle
27score- 11Master's/yr
- $102,920Metro teacher pay
- Master of Education in Elementary Education (M.Ed.)
- Online
About the programCity University of Seattle's M.Ed. in Elementary Education is a fully online program of roughly 39 to 40 credits focused on evidence-based elementary instruction aligned with Washington State standards, covering instructional practice, assessment, learning-goal design, and differentiated instruction. It is an in-service degree for practicing educators rather than an initial-licensure pathway; the program notes that a Washington State teacher may also complete the requirements for an Elementary Education endorsement. It does not by itself grant an initial teaching license; CityU's separate Master in Teaching tracks serve candidates seeking first certification. This master's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Washington.
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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $102,920, roughly $92,610 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 Washington
- Washington has 7 accredited master's in elementary education programs in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from federal IPEDS data.
- University of Washington-Seattle Campus ranks first among elementary education master's programs in Washington with a score of 58, on a 85 percent graduation rate.
- University of Washington-Seattle Campus is the most affordable master's in elementary education in Washington, at $20,736 a year in-state tuition.
- Elementary school teachers in Washington earn a median of $102,350 a year (BLS), ranking Washington 1 of 51 states and territories for the occupation.
- 1 of the master's in elementary education programs in Washington offer an online or hybrid option.
- Washington requires the WEST/NES licensure exam, administered through Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, to earn a teaching license.
What a master's in elementary education costs in Washington (2026)
Published in-state tuition for a master's in elementary education in Washington runs from $20,736 to $33,605 a year across the 7 programs we rank, with a median of $20,736. The most affordable is University of Washington-Seattle Campus at $20,736 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 66 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 Washington
Elementary school teachers in Washington earn a median of $102,350 a year, per BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), compared with a national median of $63,970. That ranks Washington 1 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 Washington is the entry point to that market, not the ceiling.
How to get a Washington teaching license
To teach in Washington you need a master's in elementary education (or a bachelor's plus an approved preparation program), a supervised student-teaching placement, and a Washington teaching license issued by Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Washington calls the initial credential the Residency Teacher Certificate, and earning it means passing WEST/NES (Washington Educator Skills Tests and National Evaluation Series) plus a background check.
Administered by Pearson: WEST-B for basic skills and WEST-E/NES for content endorsements. Confirm your program is currently state-approved before you enroll.
Choosing an accredited elementary education program in Washington
Pick a master's in elementary education in Washington that is regionally accredited and whose educator-preparation program is approved by the Washington Department of Education, ideally with CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) accreditation. State approval is what lets the degree count toward a Washington teaching license, and CAEP is the national standard for program quality, so confirm both before enrolling in any elementary education program in Washington.
Sources: CAEP accreditation
Online and hybrid elementary education programs in Washington
1 of the master's in elementary education programs in Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington
How many master's in elementary education programs are in Washington?
There are 7 accredited master's in elementary education programs in Washington in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from the federal IPEDS database.
What is the most affordable master's in elementary education in Washington?
University of Washington-Seattle Campus is the most affordable master's in elementary education in Washington, at $20,736 a year in in-state tuition.
How much do elementary school teachers make in Washington?
Elementary school teachers in Washington earn a median of $102,350 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 Washington?
Washington requires the WEST/NES (Washington Educator Skills Tests and National Evaluation Series) licensure exam, administered for Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. See the <a href="https://www.west.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 Washington?
For most future teachers, yes. A master's in elementary education in Washington is the standard credential for a Washington teaching license, and it leads to a median elementary school teachers salary of $102,350 a year in Washington. 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 Washington for 2026, ranked on the outcomes that matter. Compare all 7 master's in elementary education in Washington 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 Washington.