Online Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Teacher Education

Yes — all coursework in SMSU’s BS in Elementary Teacher Education is delivered online, so you can study from anywhere with internet access. There is one critical exception: the student teaching practicum must be completed in person in a Minnesota K-6 classroom. That’s typically a single semester during your final year, so you can complete the bulk of the program remotely and plan your Minnesota residency around that placement. If you’re currently working full-time, the asynchronous structure of the online coursework is designed to accommodate that — only the practicum semester requires you to rearrange your schedule more significantly. Learn more about how online learning works at SMSU.

The program prepares you to teach kindergarten through 6th grade across all core elementary subjects — language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. Upon graduation, you qualify to apply for a Minnesota K-6 Elementary Teaching License issued by PELSB (the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board), which authorizes you to teach all of those subjects within that grade range in Minnesota public schools. If you plan to teach in another state, Minnesota licenses may be recognized through reciprocity agreements, but each state sets its own requirements — it’s worth researching your target state early in your program. See course details for the full curriculum breakdown.

You’ll need a high school diploma or GED and a minimum 2.5 GPA (3.0 is recommended). The application fee is $20 and is waivable for qualifying applicants. Transfer students need to submit transcripts from every institution they’ve attended, and prior college credits are evaluated individually — depending on alignment and grade, they may reduce how long the program takes to complete. One important note: because this is a Minnesota teacher licensure program, your student teaching placement must occur in a Minnesota public school under a Minnesota-licensed supervising teacher, regardless of where you live during your online coursework. Visit the admissions page for deadlines and to start your application.

Yes — SMSU extends in-state tuition to all students regardless of where you live during your online coursework. At $349.62 per credit hour, the total estimated cost for the full 120-credit program is $41,954.40, not including textbooks, supplies, or fees. Note that because this is a licensure program, only Minnesota residents are eligible for in-state rates during the student teaching semester specifically — so if you’re relocating for practicum, factor that into your planning. Use the tuition calculator to estimate your net cost, and complete your FAFSA (school code: 002375) to see what grants, loans, and scholarships apply to you.

Yes — student teaching is entirely in-person and must take place in a Minnesota K-6 public school classroom, supervised by a Minnesota-licensed cooperating teacher. It’s typically completed during your final year and runs for one full semester (12–16 weeks), requiring full-time availability during that period. This is the part of the program that requires you to be physically present in Minnesota, even if you’ve completed all your coursework from elsewhere. Many students plan ahead by arranging temporary housing or taking a leave of absence from work for that semester. One resource worth knowing about: Minnesota’s Student Teacher Grant Program provides financial assistance to eligible student teachers completing unpaid placements — your financial aid advisor can help you determine if you qualify. For more on Minnesota’s licensing process, see How to Become a Teacher in Minnesota.

Graduates qualify to apply for a Minnesota K-6 Elementary Teaching License through PELSB, which authorizes teaching all core subjects in kindergarten through 6th grade in Minnesota public schools. The program is both HLC-accredited and PELSB-approved, which gives the credential national credibility with employers and graduate programs. For teaching in other states, Minnesota participates in some reciprocity agreements, but not universally — each state controls its own licensure requirements and endorsement process. If you intend to teach outside Minnesota, research your target state’s requirements before you graduate rather than after, since some states require additional coursework or exams. The How to Become a Teacher in Minnesota article walks through the PELSB licensure process in detail.

The minimum required GPA is 2.5, with 3.0 recommended. If your GPA falls closer to the minimum, it doesn’t automatically disqualify you — SMSU offers tutoring, writing support, and academic advising throughout the program to help students succeed once enrolled. Transfer credits from prior college work can also be evaluated as part of your application, and strong grades in those courses can strengthen your academic profile. If you’re uncertain where you stand, contact an admissions counselor directly at 1-800-201-2944 or through the admissions page — they can review your transcripts and give you an honest picture of your options.

SMSU offers five start dates per year — in January, March, May, August, and October — which is significantly more flexible than programs that only admit students in the fall. If you miss one start date, you’re typically looking at a 1–2 month wait for the next cohort rather than an entire year. That flexibility also means you can time your enrollment around work schedules, family commitments, or financial aid timelines. Plan to apply at least 4–6 weeks before your target start date to allow enough time for admissions processing and course registration. Contact the enrollment team to confirm the next available date that works for your situation.

Not for the online coursework portion — you can study from anywhere in the U.S. for the first three years or so of the program. The Minnesota residency requirement kicks in specifically for the student teaching semester, when you must be physically present in a Minnesota K-6 public school for 12–16 weeks. That’s a real planning consideration if you live out of state: you’ll need to arrange temporary housing and, likely, a leave from your job for that semester. Upon completion, you earn a Minnesota K-6 license, which may transfer to other states through reciprocity — but verify your target state’s specific requirements early, since policies vary.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for elementary school teachers was $62,340 as of May 2024, with kindergarten teachers earning a median of $61,430. Minnesota district pay varies by location and experience, and typically falls within a range comparable to or above these national medians; for district-specific figures, prospective teachers can consult Minnesota’s state-level BLS wage data or individual district salary schedules. Starting salaries for new teachers generally fall in the $40,000–$45,000 range and tend to increase meaningfully over the first decade as you accumulate experience and move through district pay schedules. Overall employment of kindergarten and elementary school teachers is projected to decline slightly through 2034, but the BLS still projects about 103,800 openings per year, on average, over the decade — primarily from the need to replace teachers who leave the profession or retire.

The program requires 120 total credits, including 77–78 credit hours in the elementary education major. Full-time students taking 12–15 credits per semester typically finish in about 4 years; those studying part-time at 6–9 credits per semester should plan for closer to 5 years. If you have prior college credits, they’re evaluated individually for alignment with program requirements — strong transfer credit packages can reduce your time to completion by six months to a year. The online format lets you adjust your pace semester by semester based on your workload and life circumstances, which is one of its main advantages over a fixed campus schedule. See the full course plan to understand sequencing and requirements.

Yes — SMSU’s BS in Elementary Teacher Education holds two credentials: regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), which validates the institution’s overall academic quality, and program-level approval from PELSB, Minnesota’s professional educator licensing board. Both matter practically. HLC accreditation ensures your credits transfer to other institutions and that your degree is recognized by employers and graduate programs nationwide. PELSB approval is what qualifies you to apply for the Minnesota K-6 teaching license upon graduation — without it, completing the degree wouldn’t make you eligible for licensure regardless of academic performance. Together, they mean the credential you earn carries full professional weight in and beyond Minnesota.