Elementary Education is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their elementary education programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 181 schools to find the best for elementary education students.
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Our analysis ranked University Of Wisconsin Madison the best school in the country for a degree in elementary education. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. There were roughly 112 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $45,906 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
See the full elementary education program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison
Purdue University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in elementary education, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Purdue University Main Campus graduates 83% of students within six years. There were roughly 101 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Elementary Education graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $45,459 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,646.
See the full elementary education program report for Purdue University Main Campus
A rank of #3 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the top schools for elementary education. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 96 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $50,601 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the elementary education program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Students looking for a strong elementary education program will find one at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 18 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $45,522 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,335.
See the full elementary education program report for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
A rank of #5 makes University Of Illinois At Chicago one of the top schools for elementary education. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. University Of Illinois At Chicago graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 103 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Chicago in the most recent data year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $65,587 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,750.
More information about a degree in elementary education from University Of Illinois At Chicago
Illinois State University came in at #6 for elementary education this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Normal. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Illinois State University awarded about 320 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $44,898. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans.
See the full elementary education program report for Illinois State University
Indiana University Bloomington earned the #7 position for elementary education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Bloomington. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 77 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. Students who receive their elementary education degree from Indiana University Bloomington earn around $49,947 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,741.
Read more about the elementary education program at Indiana University Bloomington
Loyola University Chicago came in at #8 for elementary education this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. About 18 elementary education degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $61,945. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
More information about a degree in elementary education from Loyola University Chicago
Butler University earned the #9 position for elementary education this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Butler University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 79% of students finish within six years. Butler University awarded about 27 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Elementary Education graduates of Butler University earn a median of $50,707 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
See the full elementary education program report for Butler University
Northeastern Illinois University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best elementary education schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Chicago. Northeastern Illinois University graduates 22% of students within six years. Northeastern Illinois University awarded about 39 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Northeastern Illinois University generally make around $51,301. Students borrow a median of $15,612 to complete this degree.
Read more about the elementary education program at Northeastern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University landed the #11 spot for elementary education this year. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Northern Illinois University graduates 49% of students within six years. About 77 elementary education degrees were awarded at Northern Illinois University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $44,214. Typical student debt for the program is $25,250.
Read more about the elementary education program at Northern Illinois University
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earned the #12 position for elementary education this year. Set in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public institution. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse awarded about 129 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Elementary Education graduates of University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earn a median of $51,489 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,785 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in elementary education from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse
Trine University landed the #13 spot for elementary education this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Angola. Trine University graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 40 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at Trine University in the most recent data year. Elementary Education graduates of Trine University earn a median of $54,881 early in their careers. Trine University graduates carry a median of $25,765 in student loans.
More information about a degree in elementary education from Trine University
Marquette University came in at #14 for elementary education this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Milwaukee. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 19 elementary education degrees were awarded at Marquette University in the most recent year. Elementary Education graduates of Marquette University earn a median of $45,806 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
See the full elementary education program report for Marquette University
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #15 spot for elementary education this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 29 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $36,483 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,432.
Get the full elementary education details for Ohio State University Main Campus
Vincennes University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best elementary education schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Vincennes. Vincennes University graduates 3% of students within six years. Vincennes University awarded about 26 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Elementary Education graduates of Vincennes University earn a median of $45,976 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,500.
More information about a degree in elementary education from Vincennes University
Concordia University Chicago came in at #17 for elementary education this year. Set in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Concordia University Chicago graduates 36% of students within six years. About 19 elementary education degrees were awarded at Concordia University Chicago in the most recent year. Elementary Education graduates of Concordia University Chicago earn a median of $51,004 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
Get the full elementary education details for Concordia University Chicago
Ball State University landed the #18 spot for elementary education this year. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 200 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at Ball State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $48,051 in their early career. Ball State University graduates carry a median of $24,655 in student loans.
Get the full elementary education details for Ball State University
University Of Evansville landed the #19 spot for elementary education this year. Set in the city of Evansville, University Of Evansville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. University Of Evansville awarded about 16 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $59,618 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,234 to complete this degree.
Read more about the elementary education program at University Of Evansville
Eastern Illinois University placed #20 among the best elementary education schools. Located in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. There were roughly 51 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University generally make around $41,582. Students borrow a median of $22,075 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in elementary education from Eastern Illinois University
Aurora University placed #21 among the best elementary education schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Aurora. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 52 elementary education degrees were awarded at Aurora University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Aurora University generally make around $54,551. Aurora University graduates carry a median of $24,197 in student loans.
Read more about the elementary education program at Aurora University
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis landed the #22 spot for elementary education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Indianapolis. About 54% of students finish within six years. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis awarded about 103 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $48,443 in their early career. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in elementary education from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Hope College earned the #23 position for elementary education this year. Set in the city of Holland, Hope College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Hope College graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 17 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at Hope College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Hope College generally make around $45,046. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the elementary education program at Hope College
Depaul University earned the #24 position for elementary education this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 68% of students finish within six years. Depaul University awarded about 48 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their elementary education degree from Depaul University earn around $49,111 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full elementary education details for Depaul University
Wheaton College Illinois earned the #25 position for elementary education this year. Located in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at Wheaton College Illinois in the most recent data year. Students who receive their elementary education degree from Wheaton College Illinois earn around $47,714 in the first couple years of their career. Wheaton College Illinois graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
Get the full elementary education details for Wheaton College Illinois
Rest of the Top 50 Elementary Education Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong elementary education education:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 181 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
