Most Affordable Online Master's in Elementary Education

Students looking to make a difference in the lives of young learners will find a great match in Western Governors University's Master of Arts in Teaching program for Elementary Education. WGU has designed their curriculum to prepare students to become highly qualified teachers with desirable credentials. Potential students for this online college program include retired military personnel, career changers, and others who already hold a bachelor's degree in another field. Faculty members cover both theoretical principles and practical strategies. MastersInEducation.com rated WGU as having one of the top online MAT programs in the country, and the school's impressive reputation draws many people to its online master's degree in elementary education each year.

• Graduation rate: 54% (2-year), 69% (3-year) (for master’s programs)
• School status: Private
• Tuition cost: $$
• Number of programs offered: 66
• City location: Salt Lake City, Utah
• Admission requirements: Admission form, transcripts showing a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum 2.5 GPA, meet with enrollment counselor, pass a state-specific skills test for initial licensure
• Standardized test scores/requirements: Not required
• Contact: https://www.wgu.edu/contact.html
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American Public University, an affordable online college, prepares students to become efficient and effective K-6 teachers who influence the lives of their students. Students learn best practices in classroom management, as well as effective communication skills for interacting with parents, students, and other teachers. Courses include reading and writing, literature, math, and physical education. All courses - besides student teaching - are available online, and graduates are eligible for elementary education certificates in West Virginia. GetEducated.com named APU to its list of "Best Buys" in online master in teaching degree programs.

• Graduation rate: 56% (for master’s programs)
• School status): Private
• Tuition cost: $$
• Number of programs offered: 200+
• City location: Charles Town, West Virginia
• Admission requirements: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited school, legal, government-issued ID, online application
• Standardized test scores/requirements: Not specified
• Contact: https://www.apu.apus.edu/aboutus/contactus.html 
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Delta State University has tailored its top online master's degree in Elementary Education program to allow students to advance in the field without disrupting their everyday work schedule. Delta State faculty, who come from a diverse array of teaching backgrounds, equip you online learners not only with theoretical principles, but also real-world elementary-education practices. Delta State uses the Canvas online college tool to make it easier for students to collaborate with faculty and each other, no matter their location. Best Education Schools gave Delta State's education programs a five-star overall rating and ranked it as the #6 education school in Mississippi.

• Graduation rate: 39% (6-year undergraduate rate)
• School status: Public
• Tuition cost: $$
• Number of programs offered: 15 undergraduate, 25 graduate (19 online)
• City location: Cleveland, Mississippi
• Admission requirements: Application and fee, official transcripts showing a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and a 2.5 GPA, Class A teaching certificate or equivalent, immunization records
• Standardized test scores/requirements: 370 (old) or 144 (new) GRE verbal, 30 MAT, or minimum score on one of the other recognized tests
• Contact: https://www.deltastate.edu/graduate-and-continuing-studies/graduate-continuing-studies/contact-us/ 
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The best elementary educators know how to weave together theories in education with everyday practical knowledge. Students graduating from the University of North Alabama will be prepared to step into that role and even apply for certification. This online college offers a flexible schedule and all the tools that are vital to distance education. Courses include Survey of Students with Disabilities, Methods of Educational Research, and Family Involvement in the Education of Young Children. U.S. News & World Report ranked UNA among the best regional universities in the Southern United States.

• Graduation rate: 43.5% (6-year undergraduate rate)
• School status: Public
• Tuition cost: $$
• Number of programs offered: 140+
• City location: Florence, Alabama
• Admission requirements: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, 3.0 GPA, valid bachelor’s-level certificate in the same field 
• Standardized test scores/requirements: Passing score on appropriate Praxis Subject Assessment
• Contact: https://www.una.edu/apply/index.html 
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Even if you have a degree in another field or have been outside the education field for several years, you can still be well prepared to give back in the classroom with University of Phoenix's cheap online master's degree in elementary education. Because of Phoenix's large network of campuses, this affordable program actually leads to licensure in many states. Projections indicate that this field will continue growing over the next decade, with employment of kindergarten, elementary, middle, and secondary school teacher employment forecast to increase by 13%. The Best Colleges ranked the University of Phoenix the #3 Top Online School in the U.S. in part for its Education programs.

• Graduation rate: 73.1% (master’s programs)
• School status: Private
• Tuition cost: $$$
• Number of programs offered: 100+
• City location: Tempe, Arizona
• Admission requirements: Undergraduate degree from an approved, accredited institution, transcripts showing an overall GPA of 2.5, show necessary work experience
• Standardized test scores/requirements: Not specified
• Contact: https://www.phoenix.edu/about_us/contact_us.html 
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Slippery Rock's online master's degrees in Elementary Education are an especially good fit for those who are passionate about literacy. The program offers both a specialization in K-12 reading and an optional Instructional Coaching Literary Endorsement. Students learn from faculty with doctorate degrees in small classes, ensuring quality education and meaningful peer interaction. Graduates are prepared to serve as classroom reading teachers, developmental study skills specialists, resource specialists, or consultants. The Distance Education program is committed to helping all online students succeed at their own pace by providing the same quality services and support as on-campus students. College Prowler ranked Slippery Rock above average in nearly all categories including academics, technology, and diversity.

• Graduation rate: 67.8% (undergraduate rate)
• School status: Public
• Tuition cost: $$
• Number of programs offered: 190+
• City location: Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
• Admission requirements: Application and fee, bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, transcripts showing a GPA of 3.0 or higher, resume, teaching certificate
• Standardized test scores/requirements: Not required
• Contact: https://www.sru.edu/admissions/request-information 
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The University of Mississippi, or "Ole Miss" offers a 100% accredited online master's degree in Elementary Education taught by full-time faculty which students can easily complete in fewer than 18 months. This affordable and highly reputable program offers a flat tuition rate regardless of residency, and U.S. News & World Report named Ole Miss a Top 100 Education School in its grad school rankings. The admission deadline is March 1 and students typically begin coursework in the summer and graduate at the end of the following summer. Classes such as Differentiated Instruction, Literacy Connections, and Measurement and Evaluation prepare graduates to use the latest in research and technology to become master teachers in the K-6 classroom.

• Graduation rate: 60.1% (6-year undergraduate rate)
• School status: Public
• Tuition cost: $$
• Number of programs offered: 150+
• City location: University, Mississippi
• Admission requirements: 3.0 GPA in last 60 hours of undergraduate study, undergraduate degree in education or closely related field, two references
• Standardized test scores/requirements: Competitive/passing scores on GRE, Praxis, or similar standardized test
• Contact: https://olemiss.edu/applynow/ 
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Teachers seeking a quality graduate program in education that is both affordable and flexible will be impressed with SDSU's Master of Arts in Teaching. The program's mission is to engage students from linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds in inquiry based teaching and learning and to promote higher order critical thinking skills. Courses are available 100% online via Blackboard and include both live online group work and recorded lectures and discussions. This online master's degree in elementary education may be completed in only one year by taking foundation courses over the summer, sociocultural and diversity courses in fall, and capping the program in the spring with a research-based course and capstone project. Forbes ranked SDSU #47 in the West.

• Graduation rate: 77.8% (6-year undergraduate rate)
• School status: Public
• Tuition cost: $$
• Number of programs offered: 197
• City location: San Diego, California
• Admission requirements: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, official transcripts, statement of purpose, letter of recommendation, online application
• Standardized test scores/requirements: GRE
• Contact: https://sdsu.askadmissions.net/emtinterestpage.aspx?ip=mySDSU 
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The University of North Carolina Charlotte offers a master's degree in Elementary Education online for experienced educators seeking to hone their craft and become instructional leaders. Students typically attend part-time, taking courses via Moodle and Saba Meeting with a mixture of synchronous classroom meetings, research, and assignments. In addition to completing coursework in three phases covering Developing Perspectives, Collaborative Inquiry, and Investigative Leadership, students may choose to concentrate in an area like Academically or Intellectually Gifted, Instructional Systems Technology, or Special Education. Admission is in the fall only. U.S. News & World Report ranked UNC-Charlotte the #86 Best Grad School in Education.

• Graduation rate: 65.1% (6-year undergraduate rate)
• School status: Public
• Tuition cost: $$
• Number of programs offered: 190+
• City location: Charlotte, North Carolina
• Admission requirements: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, 3.0 GPA, current elementary teaching license, three letters of recommendation, personal statement
• Standardized test scores/requirement: Not specified
• Contact: https://www.uncc.edu/contact 
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The online master's degree in Elementary Education at UND is perfect for K-6 teachers looking to increase their knowledge about educational technology, assessment strategies, and curriculum development. This flexible two-year program offers three start dates per year and all students pay the in-state tuition rate regardless of residency. Highly qualified faculty with doctoral degrees and extensive experience deliver instruction through a mixture of live and recorded lectures online. The professors conduct the live lectures on evenings and weekends so students never have to come to campus. U.S. News & World Report named UND to its list of Best National Universities in the nation.

• Graduation rate: 61.1% (6-year undergraduate rate)
• School status: Public
• Tuition cost: $$
• Number of programs offered: 250+
• City location: Grand Forks, North Dakota
• Admission requirements: Online application and fee, official transcripts, personal statement of goals, three references, 2.75 GPA for all undergraduate work (or 3.0 for last 60 hours)
• Standardized test scores/requirements): GRE
• Contact: https://und.edu/about/contact-us.html 
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