2023 Best Online Elementary Education Degrees

Wilmington University (WilmU) is a private, nonprofit institution offering an online Bachelor of Science in Education Studies - Elementary Education K-6 (Non-Licensure). Totaling 120 credit hours, the degree can take four years to complete at a full-time pace. WilmU’s acceptance rate is 100%, and it has a 45% graduation rate.

WilmU facilitates asynchronous and synchronous online learning via Canvas. This program’s curriculum is designed for students seeking educator roles that don’t require a license. Sample courses are E-Folio, Assistive Technology, and Creating Environments for Learning. Prospective careers for graduates include child care center administrators, curriculum developers, and camp directors.

St. Petersburg College (SP College) is a public institution that offers an online Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, which requires 120 credit hours. Full-time students can expect to complete the program within four years. The college accepts 100% of applicants, with 33% of students graduating.

At SP College, online students complete coursework asynchronously via the learning management system (LMS) D2L Brightspace. This online bachelor’s in elementary education gives students the skills and knowledge to become licensed or non-licensed elementary teachers. Some of the courses are Learning Theory and Student Development, Curriculum and Instruction, and Classroom Management and Communication K-12. Students are required to complete internships, a capstone course, and 220 school-based hours. Potential career opportunities for graduates include instructional coordinators, health educators, and teacher assistants.

At Southern Utah University (SUU), a public institution, prospective students can pursue an online Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. Totaling 120-123 credit hours, the degree program can take four years to complete on a full-time basis. SUU’s acceptance rate is 76%, and it has a graduation rate of 53%.

SUU students complete their online coursework asynchronously and synchronously through the popular LMS Canvas. The program’s curriculum provides students with the foundational knowledge and skills to become successful teachers. Sample courses are Educational Psychology, Human Development through the Lifespan, and Educating Exceptional Students. Students must complete a teaching practicum to graduate. Alumni often become elementary teachers, community education officers, and education administrators.

National University (NU) is a private, nonprofit institution that offers an online Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Development with an Inspired Teaching and Learning Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential (California) requiring 180 quarter units (or 120 credit hours). Full-time students can expect to spend four years completing this program. NU’s acceptance rate is 89%, and 34% of students graduate.

NU facilitates asynchronous and synchronous remote learning through Blackboard. This online program gives students the strategies and techniques to provide an elementary education curriculum. Sample courses include Diversity: Development and Education, Ethical and Legal Issues, and Play as Pedagogy. Students must complete 45 quarter units on NU’s campus. The program’s graduates may pursue careers as career advisors, librarians, and homeschool consultants.

Northern Arizona University (NAU) is a public institution offering an online Bachelor of Science in Education - Elementary Education - Learning and Pedagogy, which requires 120 credit hours. It can take four years for full-time students to complete this program. The university accepts 82% of applicants, with 59% of students graduating.

NAU facilitates asynchronous and synchronous virtual learning on the Blackboard LMS. An online bachelor’s in elementary education covers the techniques, skills, and knowledge required to be successful in the education field. The program’s courses are Elementary School Curriculum - Learning and Pedagogy, Educational Psychology for Educators, and Assessment and Eligibility of Exceptional Children. It's also required that students complete an independent study and student teaching experience. Potential careers for graduates are instructional designers, elementary teachers, and after-school program directors.

At Saint Leo University — a private, nonprofit university affiliated with the Roman Catholic church — students may enroll in an online Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. This award-winning program prepares teacher candidates for Florida certification for teaching grades K-6, including English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and reading endorsements. Students are required to accumulate more than 800 hours of clinical experience, and the school provides advisors who assist online students in finding field placements.

Saint Leo students use the Desire2Learn online platform to access course materials, submit assignments, and engage with classmates and instructors.

Drexel University, which is a private, nonprofit institution, offers an online Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education requiring the completion of 180 quarter credits. Students can focus on either preK-4 teaching or special education. The preK-4 curriculum covers child development, literacy, and family partnerships, while the special education curriculum focuses on modifying curricula and using technology to address learners' needs. The program is designed to prepare graduates for teacher certification in the state of Pennsylvania. However, elementary education majors can also choose a non-certification track for those who want to work in education outside of the classroom, perhaps in curriculum design or administration.

Online education students access their coursework through Drexel Learn. The school has an 83% acceptance rate and a 78% graduation rate.

Indian River State College (IRSC) is a public institution of higher education. The school offers an online Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with optional reading and ESOL endorsements. The curriculum is designed to train teachers for the state of Florida by including courses in classroom management, lesson planning, curriculum design, and child development. Through IRSC's Educator Preparation Institute, individuals who already hold a bachelor's degree in a field other than education can complete a one-year online program that prepares them for teaching licensure.

IRSC uses the Blackboard learning management system to deliver its online courses. Distance education students have access to academic, library, and tutoring resources.

Kansas State University, commonly known as K-State, is a publicly operated university. Its online Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education program requires the completion of 120 credit hours. Newly admitted students are considered pre-professional education majors, and they must fulfill several general education and major-specific requirements before they can be admitted into the professional education program, where they will complete upper-division courses and student teaching requirements. The curriculum is designed to prepare graduates to become educators in the state of Kansas.

A unique feature of K-State's online elementary education program is the use of video recording and critiques to help teacher candidates improve their teaching skills. K-State supports online students with academic, career, and technology resources.

The University of Louisiana - Monroe (ULM) is a public institution of higher education offering an online Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. In addition to general education classes, enrollees take courses in teaching methods and instruction, content areas such as math and science, and integrative studies. Graduation requirements also include clinical and field teaching experiences. ULM's elementary education program is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.

At ULM, online learners access their course materials and communicate with peers and instructors through the Moodle learning management system. ULM has a 70% acceptance rate and a 54% graduation rate.