Elementary Education programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 345 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best elementary education schools.
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Best Schools for Elementary Education in the Southeast Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the elementary education degrees they offer, see the list below.
University Of Virginia Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in elementary education. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 24 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their elementary education degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $54,106 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans.
More information about a degree in elementary education from University Of Virginia Main Campus
Students looking for a strong elementary education program will find one at James Madison University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public university. James Madison University graduates 80% of students within six years. James Madison University awarded about 163 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their elementary education degree from James Madison University earn around $52,997 in the first couple years of their career. James Madison University graduates carry a median of $21,218 in student loans.
See the full elementary education program report for James Madison University
A rank of #3 makes Florida State University one of the top schools for elementary education. This very large public university is located in the city of Tallahassee. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 71 elementary education degrees were awarded at Florida State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their elementary education degree from Florida State University earn around $45,696 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,349 to complete this degree.
See the full elementary education program report for Florida State University
Students looking for a strong elementary education program will find one at University Of Miami, which ranked #4. University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 elementary education degrees were awarded at University Of Miami in the most recent year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $57,234 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete this degree.
Get the full elementary education details for University Of Miami
Students looking for a strong elementary education program will find one at Elon University, which ranked #5. Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elon. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 38 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at Elon University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $47,095 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in elementary education from Elon University
University Of South Florida Main Campus came in at #6 for elementary education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Tampa. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. University Of South Florida Main Campus awarded about 117 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their elementary education degree from University Of South Florida Main Campus earn around $52,532 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,995.
More information about a degree in elementary education from University Of South Florida Main Campus
University Of Georgia earned the #7 position for elementary education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Athens. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. About 10 elementary education degrees were awarded at University Of Georgia in the most recent year. Students who receive their elementary education degree from University Of Georgia earn around $59,279 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,229.
More information about a degree in elementary education from University Of Georgia
George Mason University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best elementary education schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fairfax. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. George Mason University awarded about 41 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their elementary education degree from George Mason University earn around $63,131 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,529.
See the full elementary education program report for George Mason University
University Of Central Florida ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best elementary education schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Orlando. University Of Central Florida graduates 78% of students within six years. University Of Central Florida awarded about 297 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Elementary Education graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $50,686 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in elementary education from University Of Central Florida
Longwood University earned the #10 position for elementary education this year. Set in the town of Farmville, Longwood University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. About 57 elementary education degrees were awarded at Longwood University in the most recent year. Students who receive their elementary education degree from Longwood University earn around $43,800 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,649 to complete this degree.
See the full elementary education program report for Longwood University
University Of Florida ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best elementary education schools. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 71 elementary education degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Students who receive their elementary education degree from University Of Florida earn around $48,506 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $18,063 in student loans.
Get the full elementary education details for University Of Florida
Edison State College placed #12 among the best elementary education schools. Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, Edison State College is a large public university. Edison State College awarded about 58 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Edison State College generally make around $51,448. Edison State College graduates carry a median of $12,750 in student loans.
Get the full elementary education details for Edison State College
Florida Atlantic University came in at #13 for elementary education this year. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. Florida Atlantic University awarded about 99 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Elementary Education graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $50,178 early in their careers. Florida Atlantic University graduates carry a median of $17,661 in student loans.
Get the full elementary education details for Florida Atlantic University
Indian River State College landed the #14 spot for elementary education this year. Set in the suburb of Fort Pierce, Indian River State College is a very large public institution. About 42 elementary education degrees were awarded at Indian River State College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Indian River State College generally make around $48,612. Indian River State College graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
Read more about the elementary education program at Indian River State College
Florida Gulf Coast University came in at #15 for elementary education this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Fort Myers. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. Florida Gulf Coast University awarded about 54 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $50,951 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,489.
See the full elementary education program report for Florida Gulf Coast University
Florida International University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best elementary education schools. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. Florida International University graduates 74% of students within six years. About 98 elementary education degrees were awarded at Florida International University in the most recent year. Elementary Education graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $48,461 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,490.
Read more about the elementary education program at Florida International University
North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned the #17 position for elementary education this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 52 elementary education degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Students who receive their elementary education degree from North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn around $44,877 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the elementary education program at North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College came in at #18 for elementary education this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Baton Rouge. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College awarded about 42 elementary education degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their elementary education degree from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earn around $48,142 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in elementary education from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College
High Point University placed #19 among the best elementary education schools. Set in the city of High Point, High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. There were roughly 33 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at High Point University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from High Point University generally make around $113,352. High Point University graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans.
See the full elementary education program report for High Point University
Vanderbilt University earned the #20 position for elementary education this year. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Vanderbilt University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $50,383 in their early career. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans.
Read more about the elementary education program at Vanderbilt University
University Of North Florida earned the #21 position for elementary education this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public university. University Of North Florida graduates 65% of students within six years. There were roughly 70 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Florida in the most recent data year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $48,255 in their early career. University Of North Florida graduates carry a median of $19,097 in student loans.
Read more about the elementary education program at University Of North Florida
The University Of Tampa earned the #22 position for elementary education this year. Set in the city of Tampa, The University Of Tampa is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. About 40 elementary education degrees were awarded at The University Of Tampa in the most recent year. Students who receive their elementary education degree from The University Of Tampa earn around $50,477 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
Read more about the elementary education program at The University Of Tampa
Appalachian State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best elementary education schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Boone. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 187 elementary education degrees were awarded at Appalachian State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, elementary education degree recipients from Appalachian State University generally make around $41,144. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in elementary education from Appalachian State University
Roanoke College came in at #24 for elementary education this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Salem. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 elementary education students who graduated with this degree at Roanoke College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their elementary education degree from Roanoke College earn around $33,725 in the first couple years of their career. Roanoke College graduates carry a median of $26,940 in student loans.
More information about a degree in elementary education from Roanoke College
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University came in at #25 for elementary education this year. Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University is a large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. About 29 elementary education degrees were awarded at Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University in the most recent year. Graduates of the elementary education program make about $50,736 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,824 to complete this degree.
Get the full elementary education details for Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University
Rest of the Top 50 Elementary Education Schools
These schools also placed among the best for elementary education this year:
The ranking above is published 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 · 345 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).
