A Masters in Elementary Education will set you up to teach kids who are at an important point in their educational life. Elementary students are laying the foundations for everything that will come later in life – their ability to thrive at high school and university level will be determined, in part, by their experiences at elementary. This is not only true of their academic life, but also of social connections and communication skills – the role of an elementary teacher is not only in passing on book learning, but teaching kids how to behave as part of a society.

The Best Masters in Elementary Education Programs

When it comes to deciding which Masters in Elementary Education programs to apply to, the range of options can seem overwhelming. Here are a few schools we suggest looking into.

UCLA is one of the first graduate schools many people look to when considering a Masters in Elementary Education.This can be an especially appealing option if you did your undergraduate studies on the East Coast and you want to get a taste of the California lifestyle. But this course certainly won’t be laidback and easy – it’s a high quality program, but it can be strenuous.

Michigan State University is one of the best graduate schools in the country at which to study for a career in elementary education. The university offers a Master of Arts in Education which features some staff who are well-known in professional education circles. One of the beautiful aspects of the Michigan State program is its flexibility – your program can be highly personalized to fit the topics you most want to focus on.

The Teachers’ at College Columbia University offers a Masters in Education program which encompasses both elementary and secondary teaching. Although the program allows you five years in which to complete the course, many students choose one of the accelerated options which can see you qualified within only 13 months. Of the three top programs listed here, this is the best one for a teacher planning to work with disabled kids.

Masters in Elementary Education Online

As the demand for qualified elementary school teachers continues to increase, the University of Phoenix is making it easier than ever to get your Masters degree with their user-friendly online program. However, you shouldn’t head into an online Masters expecting to cruise through – although you’ll have the ability to pick and choose when you study in the comfort of your own home, you’ll still need to put in the same amount of work as you would in an on-campus program. Qualification standards are the same whether you study online or off.

Liberty University is another great choice for a Masters in Elementary Education online. Again, even though this program is completely online that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to cruise through – Liberty’s program maintains a high standard of achievement for its Masters students, and you’ll be expected to step up to that standard.

Masters in Elementary Education Jobs

Teaching in an elementary school is the main goal for most people taking on this degree – whether that be as a typical classroom teacher, or a specialist dealing with gifted or disabled children. Beyond that, there are administration roles and leadership roles such as becoming the principal of a school. You can also work at a summer camp or pursue a career in PR or advertising for government and non-profit education-related institutions. A Masters is particularly useful if you want to become a school administrator, and this degree will help you earn more throughout your lifetime.

Masters in Elementary Education Salary

With a Masters, the typical salary for an elementary school teacher is around $43,000-$45,000 per year. Having a masters in elementary education pays significantly better than the lowest salaries for teachers with a Bachelor’s only, which can sink down to around $31,000.