Best Master's in Elementary Education Programs in Washington, D.C.
All 3 Elementary Education master's-level programs in Washington, D.C., ranked overall on graduation rate, affordability, and more, from the IPEDS database.
A master's in elementary education can lead to initial Washington, D.C. licensure or advance a licensed teacher's career, and Washington, D.C. 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. American University ranks first with a score of 56, on a 75 percent graduation rate.
Elementary school teachers in Washington, D.C. earn a median of $96,580 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, D.C. licensure, accreditation, online and accelerated formats, and career outlook, so you can compare elementary education programs in Washington, D.C. on the factors that change your outcome rather than on marketing.
- 1
American University
56score- $47,289Est. tuition (excl. fees)
- 95Master's/yr
- $79,470Metro teacher pay
- Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) with a concentration in Elementary Education
- Hybrid
About the programAmerican University in Washington, DC offers a Master of Arts in Teaching with a concentration in elementary education, a 33-credit program that leads to teacher licensure in grades 1-6. What distinguishes it is the sheer amount of classroom time built into the degree, more than 600 hours of field experience that runs from a first-semester practicum through a full semester of student teaching. That immersion, housed in the Antonio and Lyla Baker School of Education, means candidates spend far more time learning by doing than by lecture alone. Students can pursue the elementary education MAT in person or online, fitting the program around their circumstances. There is also real geographic reach at the end, since DC licensure earned here can transfer to 48 states once candidates pass the required certification exams. It awards more master's-level elementary education degrees than any of Washington, D.C.'s 3 ranked master's-level programs, 95 in the most recent year. This master's-level elementary education program prepares graduates for work as elementary school teachers in Washington, D.C..
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 95 master's degrees a year, one of the larger cohorts in the specialty. Its graduates step into Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, where elementary teachers earn a median $79,470, roughly $72,986 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
George Washington University
29score- $66,000Est. tuition (excl. fees)
- 9Master's/yr
- $79,470Metro teacher pay
- Master of Education (M.Ed.) in the Field of Elementary Education
- CAEP-accredited
- On-campus
About the programBuilt for candidates who want a licensure-track graduate credential in the nation's capital, the Master of Education in the field of Elementary Education at George Washington University moves a cohort of future teachers through 33 credits together. The degree leads to licensure eligibility for grades 1 through 6 in the District of Columbia, and it grounds that classroom preparation in a professional internship that places candidates beside master teachers across diverse DC-area elementary schools. Students shape the timeline around their lives, choosing a one-year, full-time track that begins in summer or a two-year, part-time route, with both meeting on the Foggy Bottom campus. The Graduate School of Education and Human Development carries CAEP accreditation and state approval, so the pathway to certification stays clearly mapped from the first course to the final placement. 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 9 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, where elementary teachers earn a median $79,470, roughly $72,986 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 Washington University
26score- $31,860Est. total cost
- 2Master's/yr
- $79,470Metro teacher pay
- Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in Elementary Education
- CAEP-accredited
- On-campus
About the programTrinity Washington University in Washington, DC offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education, a 36 credit program that leads to teacher certification for grades 1 through 6. Students complete coursework on the main campus with flexible full time or part time scheduling until the final semester, which requires a full time student teaching internship at partner schools such as Truesdell Education Campus and Sacred Heart Bilingual. The program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and approved by the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education, with licensure reciprocal in most states. Candidates can also pursue a dual licensure option in special education by completing four additional courses. As a master's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in Washington, D.C..
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, where elementary teachers earn a median $79,470, roughly $72,986 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, D.C.
- Washington, D.C. has 3 accredited master's in elementary education programs in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from federal IPEDS data.
- American University ranks first among elementary education master's programs in Washington, D.C. with a score of 56, on a 75 percent graduation rate.
- Trinity Washington University is the most affordable master's in elementary education in Washington, D.C., at $31,860 a year in-state tuition.
- George Washington University posts the highest graduation rate among elementary education programs in Washington, D.C., at 84 percent.
- Elementary school teachers in Washington, D.C. earn a median of $96,580 a year (BLS), ranking Washington, D.C. 3 of 51 states and territories for the occupation.
- Washington, D.C. requires the Praxis licensure exam, administered through Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Division of Teaching and Learning, to earn a teaching license.
What a master's in elementary education costs in Washington, D.C. (2026)
Published in-state tuition for a master's in elementary education in Washington, D.C. runs from $31,860 to $66,000 a year across the 3 programs we rank, with a median of $47,289. The most affordable is Trinity Washington University at $31,860 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 69 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, D.C.
Elementary school teachers in Washington, D.C. earn a median of $96,580 a year, per BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), compared with a national median of $63,970. That ranks Washington, D.C. 3 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, D.C. is the entry point to that market, not the ceiling.
How to get a Washington, D.C. teaching license
To teach in Washington, D.C. 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, D.C. teaching license issued by Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Division of Teaching and Learning. Washington, D.C. calls the initial credential the Standard Teaching Credential, and earning it means passing Praxis (The Praxis Series) plus a background check.
Initial candidates must submit passing Praxis Core scores or demonstrate basic skills via a 3.0-plus GPA. Confirm your program is currently state-approved before you enroll.
Sources: Washington, D.C. educator certification, Praxis exam
Choosing an accredited elementary education program in Washington, D.C.
Pick a master's in elementary education in Washington, D.C. that is regionally accredited and whose educator-preparation program is approved by the Washington, D.C. 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, D.C. teaching license, and CAEP is the national standard for program quality, so confirm both before enrolling in any elementary education program in Washington, D.C..
Sources: CAEP accreditation
Frequently asked questions about a master's in Elementary Education in Washington, D.C.
How many master's in elementary education programs are in Washington, D.C.?
There are 3 accredited master's in elementary education programs in Washington, D.C. in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from the federal IPEDS database.
What is the most affordable master's in elementary education in Washington, D.C.?
Trinity Washington University is the most affordable master's in elementary education in Washington, D.C., at $31,860 a year in in-state tuition.
How much do elementary school teachers make in Washington, D.C.?
Elementary school teachers in Washington, D.C. earn a median of $96,580 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, D.C.?
Washington, D.C. requires the Praxis (The Praxis Series) licensure exam, administered for Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Division of Teaching and Learning. See the <a href="https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/dc-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 Washington, D.C.?
For most future teachers, yes. A master's in elementary education in Washington, D.C. is the standard credential for a Washington, D.C. teaching license, and it leads to a median elementary school teachers salary of $96,580 a year in Washington, D.C.. 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, D.C. for 2026, ranked on the outcomes that matter. Compare all 3 master's in elementary education in Washington, D.C. 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, D.C..