Elementary Education
Elementary Education graduates earn an average annual wage of $95,682, making it one of the higher-paying degree fields. With 141,650 professionals in the field earning competitive wages, this degree offers strong career prospects. The field combines competitive wages with a large and growing workforce, making it an attractive option for students seeking strong career opportunities.
Key Statistics
Institutions
Information about the types of higher education institutions that grant degrees in Elementary Education and the types of students that study this field.
Tuition Costs for Common Institutions
$1,506 Median In-State Public
$12,246 Median Out of State Private
Tuition costs for Elementary Education majors are, on average, $1,506 for in-state public colleges, and $12,246 for out of state private colleges.
Tuition costs comparison for Elementary Education programs.
Degrees Awarded Over Time
441 Total Degrees Awarded in 2023
This chart shows the number of degrees awarded in Elementary Education from 2015 to 2023.
Historical trend of degrees awarded in Elementary Education.
Top 5 Schools by Enrollment
| # | School | State | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gavilan College | CA | 4,410 |
Schools with the largest enrollment offering Elementary Education programs.
Top 5 Most Affordable Tuition
| # | School | State | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gavilan College | CA | $1,506 |
Schools with the lowest tuition costs for Elementary Education programs.
Top 5 Most Affordable Net Price
| # | School | State | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gavilan College | CA | $2,244 |
Schools with the lowest net price (after financial aid) for Elementary Education programs.
Graduation Rates
57.53% Median Graduation Rate (150% of normal time)
57.13% Average Graduation Rate
109 Institutions Reporting
45.45% - 70.63% Interquartile Range
Graduation/completion rates for Elementary Education programs across institutions.
Employment
Information on the businesses and industries that employ Elementary Education graduates and on wages and locations for those in the field.
Yearly Income for Common Jobs
$95,682 Average Wage in Workforce
The average salary for Elementary Education majors is $95,682.
Average annual salaries of the most common occupations for Elementary Education majors.
Occupations by Share
141,650 2023 Workforce
The number of Elementary Education graduates in the workforce has been growing.
Various jobs filled by those with a major in Elementary Education by share of the total number of graduates.
Return on Investment & Value
Financial analysis of Elementary Education degree including debt, earnings, and return on investment metrics.
Financial Value Analysis
N/A Median Student Debt
$47,169 Median Annual Earnings (10 years after enrollment)
nan% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
nan years Estimated Payback Period (assuming 10% of income)
5155.01% Return on Investment (10-year earnings vs 4-year cost)
This degree shows strong ROI, with 10-year earnings significantly exceeding the cost of education.
$8,976 Estimated Total Cost (4 years at median net price)
Financial value comparison for Elementary Education degree.
Diversity
Demographic information for those who earn a degree in Elementary Education in the United States.
Workforce Age
N/A Average Age in 2023
This chart shows distribution of ages for employees with a degree in Elementary Education.
Age distribution for Elementary Education degree holders in the workforce.
Gender Distribution
Gender distribution data is not available for this degree program.
Gender distribution of Elementary Education degree recipients.
Race and Ethnicity Distribution
Race and ethnicity distribution data is not available for this degree program.
Racial and ethnic distribution of Elementary Education degree recipients.
Degrees Awarded
The most common degree types awarded to students graduating in Elementary Education are Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree, and Associates Degree.
Distribution of degree types awarded in Elementary Education.
Skills
Data on the critical and distinctive skills necessary for those working in the Elementary Education field from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Required Skills
Elementary Education majors need many skills, but most especially Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and Reading Comprehension.
Rating of how necessary various skills are for Elementary Education majors.
Skills Bar Chart
This bar chart shows the same information as the radar chart, displaying the importance of each skill.
Skill importance ratings for Elementary Education majors.
About
Elementary Education and Teaching
In 2023, 441 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs in Elementary Education.
CIP Code
00.1202 - Elementary Education
Insights and Analysis
Exceptional Return on Investment: Elementary Education offers an outstanding ROI of 5155%, meaning graduates typically earn significantly more over 10 years than the total cost of their education. This makes it one of the most financially rewarding degree choices available.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, IPEDS completion data, and Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Employment and wage data are from the most recent Census Bureau ACS PUMS estimates.