Eastern Arizona College to Launch Bachelor's Degrees in Elementary and Secondary Education

October 11, 2026 - 05:05

Eastern Arizona College is moving ahead with plans to offer bachelor's degrees in elementary and secondary education, with the first cohorts expected to begin in fall 2027. The estimated tuition for the full program is $14,700, a figure designed to keep the degrees affordable for students in the region.

The decision marks a significant expansion of the college's academic offerings, which have traditionally focused on associate degrees and workforce certificates. College officials say the new programs respond to a persistent shortage of qualified teachers in rural Arizona, where school districts often struggle to recruit and retain educators.

Students enrolled in the programs will complete coursework in child development, classroom management, curriculum design, and instructional methods, along with supervised teaching experiences in local schools. The structure is intended to allow students to earn a bachelor's degree without leaving the area, removing a barrier that has long pushed prospective teachers to relocate.

College leaders describe the tuition rate as a deliberate effort to make the degrees accessible to working adults and recent high school graduates alike. Planning and accreditation work will continue over the next several years before the programs welcome their first students in 2027.