Best Elementary Education Schools Near Owatonna, MN (2026)

Updated September 6, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Owatonna, Minnesota has 5 accredited schools offering elementary education programs, with tuition ranging from $6,146 to $41,013 per year for indexed programs. Owatonna has a population of about 26,462. Median household income is $81,276 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 32.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Minnesota, the top-earning elementary education-related role is Secondary School Teacher at a median $76,460 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Elementary Education Schools to Owatonna

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer elementary education programs near Owatonna, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Owatonna city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Owatonna. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

Bethany Lutheran College

Mankato, MN 38.0 miles from Owatonna
  • 4 year
  • Accredited
39.2 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 39%
Graduation rate 57%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $46,110
Avg net price $20,148/yr
Tuition
In‑state$31,360
Out‑of‑state$31,360
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 32

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Minnesota State University-Mankato

Mankato, MN 38.3 miles from Owatonna
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
58.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 57%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $56,922
Avg net price $19,139/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 80%
  • Programs offered: 142

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#3

St Catherine University

Saint Paul, MN 57.6 miles from Owatonna
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
61.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 60%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $59,282
Avg net price $19,764/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 79%
  • Programs offered: 81

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

University of St Thomas

Saint Paul, MN 58.9 miles from Owatonna
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
73.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 78%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $73,739
Avg net price $29,155/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 87%
  • Programs offered: 109

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#5

Concordia University-Saint Paul

Saint Paul, MN 59.4 miles from Owatonna
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
58.8 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 79%
Graduation rate 52%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $59,871
Avg net price $18,462/yr
Tuition
In‑state$25,600
Out‑of‑state$25,600
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 67%
  • Programs offered: 65

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, MN 60.3 miles from Owatonna
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
60.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 57%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $64,705
Avg net price $16,863/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 70%
  • Programs offered: 62

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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#7

Crown College

Saint Bonifacius, MN 60.4 miles from Owatonna
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
39.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 55%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $48,057
Avg net price $26,672/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 68%
  • Programs offered: 35

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Augsburg University

Minneapolis, MN 60.4 miles from Owatonna
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
55.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 62%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $58,829
Avg net price $23,873/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 71%
  • Programs offered: 63

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Minnesota schools on the Minnesota elementary education page.

Elementary Education Wages Near Owatonna

Occupation Median Annual Wage (Minnesota, statewide)
Elementary School Teacher $76,350
Middle School Teacher $62,640
Secondary School Teacher $76,460
Teaching Assistant $40,100

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.

Owatonna at a Glance

Metric Value Source
Population 26,462 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income $81,276 Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ 32.3% Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Owatonna-Area Cities With Elementary Education Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited elementary education schools are near Owatonna, MN?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering elementary education programs near Owatonna. The closest is Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, MN (38.0 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is St Catherine University (57.6 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying elementary education roles in Minnesota?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying elementary education-related roles in Minnesota are: Secondary School Teacher ($76,460), Elementary School Teacher ($76,350), Middle School Teacher ($62,640). Wages for Owatonna workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Faribault instead of Owatonna?

Faribault, MN is 14.5 miles from Owatonna and has its own set of local elementary education programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Owatonna an affordable place to study elementary education?

Owatonna’s median household income of $81,276 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Owatonna while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Minnesota public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.

Learn More About Elementary Education Programs

Other Programs Available in Owatonna

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Owatonna:

Data verified: September 6, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.

Back to Best Elementary Education Schools in Minnesota (2026)