What can you do with a Elementary Education degree from Michigan State University?

First, some facts. Of the Elementary Education graduates from Michigan State University we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 30 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Great! Overall, with an average relevance score of 89%, Elementary Education graduates from Michigan State University have a substantially higher likelihood (+22%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 89%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, 53% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Elementary Education graduate.

See the details:

View a random Elementary Education graduate from Michigan State University and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2012 from Michigan State University with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Teacher Intern
Waterford School District
Sep 2012 - May 2013
As a Teacher Intern, this position directly utilizes the skills and knowledge acquired from a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, requiring specific educational expertise on a daily basis.

Fifth Grade Teacher
Wake County Public School System
Jul 2013 - Present
The role of a Fifth Grade Teacher requires comprehensive teaching skills and pedagogical knowledge directly obtained through the Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, making it highly relevant.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Elementary Education degree from Michigan State University?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


A lot of folks who graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Elementary Education have found themselves in pretty standard teaching roles. You’ll see many of them working as teachers for specific elementary grades, like 1st, 3rd, and 4th grade. This makes sense since those positions directly align with what they learned during their studies. Even roles like Title 1 Teachers and Academic Specialists fall right in line, as they require the core skills and knowledge gained from their degree. It’s clear that the majority of these jobs are relevant to Elementary Education and make use of their training, which is great because it means they’re able to actively apply what they learned in school. However, not every role fits neatly into the realm of elementary teaching. Some graduates have ventured into more tangential positions like marketing, technology coordination, and even coaching. While these may use some of their skills, they don’t directly relate to the principles and methodologies of Elementary Education. In general, though, the leading trend is that most graduates are indeed working in capacities that are closely connected to their degrees, which is a solid outcome for their educational investments.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Elementary Education graduates (this is across all Elementary Education graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Michigan State University):

What kind of career trajectories do Elementary Education graduates from Michigan State University have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Looking at the career trajectories of graduates from Michigan State University's Elementary Education program, it’s pretty clear that many of them kick off their professional journeys as classroom teachers right after graduation. Most of these folks are starting out in elementary school teaching roles, often in institutions like National Heritage Academies or local public schools. Over the first five years, a lot of them seem to stay within the education field, either moving to different teaching positions, taking on responsibilities like Academic Specialist roles, or transitioning into leadership positions such as Instructional Coaches or Curriculum Directors. These moves indicate a commitment to education and a desire to advance within the system.

Fast forward to ten years after graduation, and you’ll find many alumni have solidified their careers in education. They are often well-established, holding titles such as 8th Grade Science Teacher or Assistant Directors of Special Education, while some venture into related fields like instructional design or talent development. While there are a few that have migrated out of traditional teaching roles into more administrative or corporate settings, the majority maintain a strong link to education, suggesting that the degree is serving them well. Overall, it looks like graduates from this program typically enjoy successful paths in education, reaffirming the relevance of their degrees and their passion for teaching young minds.

How hard is a Elementary Education degree from Michigan State University?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at Michigan State University, or really anywhere, can be a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, if you love working with kids and have a passion for teaching, the coursework might feel pretty engaging, but on the other hand, it does require a lot of dedication and hard work. You’ll have to juggle classes focused on teaching methods, child development, assessment strategies, and maybe some classroom management techniques, plus there’s often a hefty fieldwork component where you get hands-on experience in real classrooms. So, while it’s not necessarily the hardest major out there, it definitely has its challenging moments, especially when you’re balancing theory with practical application. Overall, it’s probably a bit easier than, say, engineering or some science majors, but it’s still no walk in the park if you want to ace it!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Elementary Education.

Do Elementary Education graduates from Michigan State University tend to make good money?

Looking at these MSU graduates, it seems like a mixed bag when it comes to making decent money. Most of them are sticking it out in teaching jobs, which, let’s be real, don’t always pay the best—especially in the early years. For instance, many of them started as teachers right after graduation with modest salaries, and while they may have moved up the ladder, like taking on roles as specialists or instructional coaches, it’s still likely not breaking the bank compared to other fields. A few have ventured into more lucrative roles, like marketing or tech positions, but overall, if they’re primarily in teaching, they might not be rolling in the dough. So, in short, while they’re probably making a stable living, it doesn't look like a whole lot of them are getting rich off these jobs.

What buzzwords do Elementary Education graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Elementary Education (this is across all Elementary Education graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to Michigan State University). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Elementary Education?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Elementary Education (ordered by the average relevance score of their Elementary Education graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
Northern Illinois University 95 13
University of Arizona 94 10
University of Iowa 93 14
Kansas State University 91 12
Michigan State University 89 30
Florida International University 89 14
Utah State University 89 10
Ball State University 88 14
Central Washington University 87 13
Western Governors University 84 44
Eastern Michigan University 84 14
Arizona State University 83 25
East Carolina University 83 26
Towson University 82 17
Indiana University Bloomington 80 15
Liberty University 80 16
Illinois State University 80 28
Appalachian State University 80 16
University of North Florida 80 13
Oklahoma State University 79 14
Penn State University 78 18
Brigham Young University - Idaho 78 13
Western Illinois University 78 11
University of Central Florida 77 41
Northern Arizona University 77 19
University of Nebraska-Lincoln 77 12
University of Northern Iowa 77 12
University of Florida 75 10
Utah Valley University 75 11
University of Northern Colorado 75 16
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 74 14
Florida Atlantic University 73 19
University of Mississippi 73 10
West Chester University of Pennsylvania 72 12
Grand Canyon University 71 20
Brigham Young University 70 17
Western Kentucky University 69 12
University of Phoenix 67 31
University of Missouri-Columbia 62 10