10 Accelerated Elementary Education Degrees 2025

Are you interested in educating young learners and wonder how fast you can become an elementary school teacher? Starting this career typically requires a bachelor's degree in education and teacher licensure, which takes about four years to attain.

Fortunately, schools nationwide offer accelerated programs to help students begin teaching careers sooner. Keep reading to learn about accelerated elementary education degrees offered nationwide.

How Fast Can You Get a Teaching Degree Online?

Students earning a fast-track degree online often complete their studies in a fraction of the traditional timeframe. For example, an in-person bachelor's degree in elementary education typically takes four years to complete, while students in online programs might graduate in as little as two years.

At the graduate level, master's programs normally take two or three years. Fast-track online programs, on the other hand, can be completed in 12 months.

What Is an Accelerated Elementary Education Degree?

An accelerated elementary education degree is designed for students interested in quickly becoming teachers. To help learners finish their studies at a faster pace, programs often provide the following:

• shorter course terms (e.g., five to eight weeks)
• multiple start dates per year
• generous transfer credit policies (up to 90 credits for bachelor's degrees)

In these programs, learners study the same coursework covered in traditional programs. They also receive the student teaching experiences needed to secure a teaching license.

Fastest Elementary Education Programs

Are you ready to begin your career as an elementary school teacher? Explore some of the nation's fastest elementary education programs.

1. Arkansas State University

The Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) in elementary education at Arkansas State University helps students earn an Arkansas teaching certificate for grades K-6. In this 100% online program, students learn to teach writing, reading, STEM subjects, and social studies while acquiring key classroom management skills.

Accelerated courses, multiple start dates, and the option to transfer up to 90 credit hours help students graduate sooner. Admission requirements include being an Arkansas resident willing to work in the state and having a 2.7 GPA with an associate degree (or a 2.0 GPA without the degree).

• Estimated tuition cost: $282 per credit
• Program length: Unspecified
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

2. Edgewood University

Edgewood University, formerly Edgewood College, offers a hybrid, 30-credit Master of Arts in Education (MAE) with teacher licensure designed for completion in as little as 12 months. Program tracks are available in cross-categorical special education, elementary and middle education, and secondary education.

While enrolled in asynchronous eight-week courses, learners complete student-teaching under the mentorship of another teacher in a sponsoring school district. Edgewood offers a tuition rate reduction opportunity that helps students seeking financial aid lower costs by 45%.

• Estimated tuition cost: $325 per credit
• Program length: 12 to 24 months
• Accreditation: HLC

3. Bay Path University

Bay Path University's BAE in elementary education helps students earn an initial teaching license for grades 1-6 in Massachusetts. Learners who want to pursue graduate degrees in education or psychology can choose the school's non-licensure program.

Students seeking a teaching license complete a supervised field-based pre-practicum and student teaching practicum in a regional public childhood classroom. These programs are accelerated, enabling students to graduate after three years of year-round study.

• Estimated tuition cost: $410 per credit
• Program length: Three years
• Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)

4. Baker College

Baker College's accelerated BS in elementary education program is designed for students ready for Michigan teacher certification. Enrollment is restricted to Michigan residents who plan to work as classroom teachers in the state. To gain admission, students must also have 30 transferable credit hours of general education.

Once enrolled, learners take 38 hours of education courses and 42 hours of subject area content. Supervised student teaching experiences are included. Coursework and field experiences are completed in two years and one semester.

• Estimated tuition cost: $450 per credit
• Program length: 2.5 years
• Accreditation: HLC

5. Concordia University Ann Arbor

Concordia University Ann Arbor offers a three-year path to Michigan teacher certification through its BA in lower and upper elementary education degree. In this fast-track program, students take self-paced online courses over eight-week sessions and benefit from start dates during the fall, spring, and summer trimesters.

Courses explore teaching methods for math, science, social studies, and language arts. Learners also gain hands-on experience in lower and upper elementary classrooms.

• Estimated tuition cost: $500 per credit
• Program length: Within three years
• Accreditation: HLC

6. Concordia University Wisconsin

Concordia University Wisconsin is home to an accelerated Bachelor of Arts (BA) in elementary education for learners who want to secure a valid Wisconsin license for grades K-9. Coursework focuses on the foundations of education, ethics of teaching, math in middle school, and emergent writing. Field experiences start in the first year of the academic program.

Offered 100% online, this program delivers coursework in short eight-week sessions and has multiple start dates each year to help learners complete their studies within three years. The school's generous transfer policy enables learners to bring in up to 84 credits.

• Estimated tuition cost: $500 per credit
• Program length: Within three years
• Accreditation: HLC

7. Clarke University

Clarke University's Department of Education is home to an accelerated elementary degree program for students with an Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS), or at least 60 credit hours. Once enrolled, learners complete core education requirements to earn an elementary education bachelor's degree in 18 months. Licensure could require more courses and time.

Coursework, which explores children's literature, reading interventions, and emergent literacy, is delivered in a 100% online format with accelerated eight-week courses. Learners enrolled in this program qualify for a reading endorsement.

• Estimated tuition cost: $510 per credit
• Program length: As few as 18 months
• Accreditation: HLC

8. Creighton University

The Master of Education (MEd) in elementary school teaching at Creighton University is a fast-track program designed for completion in 18 months. Learners study human relations, classroom management, inclusion, and the foundations of education. They also work with students in real classrooms from day one.

Admission to this program requires a bachelor's degree with at least 30 credit hours in teaching prerequisites. Creighton automatically applies a per-credit scholarship to each course throughout the program.

• Estimated tuition cost: $642 per credit hour
• Program length: 18 months
• Accreditation: HLC

9. Western Governors University

Students interested in becoming licensed teachers can pursue a BA in elementary education at Western Governors University. This program offers 36 courses that explore elementary social studies methods, elementary disciplinary literacy, foundations of literacy through literature, and more.

In addition to online coursework, learners complete in-class teaching experiences through a minimum of 75 hours of observation. A flexible learning format and generous transfer policy help students graduate in fewer than three years.

• Estimated tuition cost: $3,825 per six-month term
• Program length: Less than three years
• Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)

10. Newman University

Newman University offers an elementary teacher education program for students seeking a teaching license for kindergarten through sixth grade. The program, which results in a BS degree in elementary education, also qualifies learners for middle-level endorsements in math, science, English, or social studies.

Program options for this degree include a traditional two-year elementary education program or an accelerated 16-month option. The accelerated program is offered in a four-semester consecutive format.

• Estimated tuition cost: $37,000 per year
• Program length: As little as 16 months
• Accreditation: HLC

FAQs About Accelerated Elementary Education Degrees

Have you decided that fast-track elementary education degree programs are right for you? Before enrolling, learn more about these accelerated options.

Can You Get an Elementary Education Degree in 2 Years?

Yes, it's possible to earn an elementary education degree in two years. Bachelor's programs with accelerated learning formats help students graduate in as few as 24 months, while fast-track master's programs enable learners to complete their studies in as few as 12 months.

What Is the Fastest Way To Get a Teaching Degree?

The fastest way to get a teaching degree is to find programs with shorter course terms (as few as five weeks) and multiple start dates. Pursuing programs that allow students to transfer up to 90 credits is another great way to reduce the time needed to earn a degree.

Why Pursue an Accelerated Elementary Education Degree?

An accelerated elementary education degree enables students to secure a teaching license and start a new career in less time than a traditional program. Some fast-track programs provide additional perks such as self-paced or competency-based learning, which let students control how and when they learn.

What Can I Do With an Elementary Education Degree?

An elementary education program generally prepares students to teach in K-6 schools. However, degree holders can also pursue teaching roles in other learning environments, including middle schools and early childhood education settings. Graduates who don't want to teach in classrooms can pursue roles in curriculum development, instructional design, or administration.

Explore Elementary Education Degrees

Begin your journey toward a rewarding teaching career by exploring the degree programs on Learn.org. Contact schools of interest today to learn how they can help you achieve your goals.