Elementary Education Degree (Grades K-6)

College Affordability Guide ranks Wayne State in the No.1 spot for 2022 as the Most Affordable College in Nebraska. College Affordability Guide focuses not only on the financial cost of colleges, but on the opportunity cost: what happens to students once they're enrolled. Do they graduate? Can they pay back their loans? Their analysis is designed to find schools that are affordable not only for the average student, but for lower-income students as well.

Ranking is based on the following factors:

• Institutional Fit – At least 500 students enrolled and the ability to earn non-standard credits, including at least 20% of students receiving Pell Grants.
• Getting In – Overall affordability and equitable use of financial aid, making the average net price of $15,000/year or less
• Getting Out – High graduation rate with more than 50% of students either debt-free or paying down student debt within three years of graduation
• Top Colleges - The combination of these "Institutional Fit," "Getting In," and "Getting Out" filters leaves a small group of schools that are serious about making sure that students of all backgrounds get their money's worth.

Wayne State College has been named as a College of Distinction. Colleges of Distinction honors and recognizes the hundreds of smaller, teaching-centered colleges that make up the fabric of the American educational system, schools that deliver well four overarching distinctions — Engagement, Teaching, Community, and Outcomes — which are the fundamental elements of an effective undergraduate education.

To be designated a “college of distinction,” a school’s curriculum must emphasize such core competencies as critical thinking, writing, oral skills, research, and global perspectives. They must also offer dynamic out-of-classroom learning and study abroad programs. The process is objective, in-depth, and qualitative; however, quantitative data such as class-size statistics, faculty-to-student ratio, plus retention and four-year graduation rates are also taken into account.

In a recent ranking of the best education degree programs by College Factual, Wayne State College earned #15 of all colleges in the U.S., placing us in the top 5% nationwide for 2019. Three metrics measure how College Factual determines which colleges are the "Most Focused."

1. Percentage of students studying a particular major - the higher the better. This is a signal from students at the college that they recognize the strength of the program, and also stands to reason that more resources are dedicated to departments with more students.
2. Market share - We take it as a positive signal if a college is attracting a lot of students to a particular major. This usually means that a college has more income from tuition to further invest in the program.
3. Post graduate resources - If a college has significant graduate and doctoral level programs, that indicates they are even more focused on a particular major.  This can mean more resources available to all students.

College Factual, located in Troy, New York, is a leading source of college data analytics and insights, with a strong focus on student outcomes. Its mission is to help all types of students discover their best-fit college and major so they can enjoy their college experience and graduate with less debt. College Factual provides coverage for over 2,500 colleges and universities, 350 college majors, for students in over 160 countries.