2026 Best Elementary Education Schools in District of Columbia

Elementary Education degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for elementary education students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

• Best Elementary Education Schools in District of Columbia

Best Schools for Elementary Education in District of Columbia

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall elementary education education in District of Columbia.

Top Schools in Elementary Education

1

American University
Washington, DC

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

114 Elementary Education Degrees Awarded

$59,756 Median Starting Salary

No school ranked higher than American University this year for elementary education. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. American University graduates 76% of students within six years. American University awarded about 114 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Elementary Education graduates of American University earn a median of $59,756 early in their careers. American University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in elementary education from American University

2

Howard University
Washington, DC

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

20 Elementary Education Degrees Awarded

$58,495 Median Starting Salary

Students looking for a strong elementary education program will find one at Howard University, which ranked #2. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. About 70% of students finish within six years. Howard University awarded about 20 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their elementary education degree from Howard University earn around $58,495 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,498 to complete this degree. See the full elementary education program report for Howard University

Notes and References

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 · 6 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).

More about our data sources and methodologies.