Elementary Education Degree in Cleveland, OH — Salary & ROI 2026
Elementary Education degree analysis for Cleveland, OH. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$48K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$53K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6 yrs
in Cleveland
Cost of Living
96
index (100 = avg)
Elementary Education in Cleveland, OH Overview
Cleveland, Ohio (pop. 372,624) has 20 colleges offering Elementary Education programs. The local cost of living index of 96 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,156/month. Although national enrollment in Elementary Education has been declining, graduates with skills in Lesson Planning and Classroom Management remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Cleveland is approximately $48,000.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
20
Public Tuition
$11,270/yr
Private Tuition
$49,395/yr
Room & Board
$10,394/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,310/yr
Unemployment
6%
Graduation Rate
69%
Elementary Education Salary in Cleveland (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Cleveland's cost of living index of 96 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Elementary Education salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $62,000 senior level.Cleveland adjustment factor: 0.96x based on the local cost of living index.
Elementary Education ROI Calculator for Cleveland
Estimate your return on investment for a Elementary Education degree using local Cleveland tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,270 | Private avg: $49,395
Cleveland avg aid: $7,310/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,656
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$14,400
vs HS diploma in Cleveland
ROI Payback Period
6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Cleveland
$182,144
Lifetime earnings premium ($268,800) minus total education cost ($86,656)
Student Loan Payoff for Elementary Education in Cleveland
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Cleveland for Elementary Education
Case Western Reserve University
private
$56,480/yr
$225,920 total
Cleveland State University
public
$11,270/yr
$45,080 total
John Carroll University
private
$42,310/yr
$169,240 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Cuyahoga Community College
$4,344/yr
Top Employers for Elementary Education in Cleveland
Cleveland offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Elementary Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Cleveland Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Elementary Education Job Titles
Elementary Education in Nearby Ohio Cities
Columbus, OH
$52K starting · COL 103
31 colleges
Cincinnati, OH
$51K starting · COL 102
28 colleges
Toledo, OH
$54K starting · COL 108
16 colleges
Akron, OH
$53K starting · COL 105
5 colleges
Dayton, OH
$52K starting · COL 104
9 colleges
Parma, OH
$45K starting · COL 90
4 colleges
Canton, OH
$42K starting · COL 84
4 colleges
Lorain, OH
$43K starting · COL 85.2
3 colleges
Other Education Majors in Cleveland
Instructional Design & Technology
$48K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$48K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$48K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Special Education
$48K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Music Education
$48K starting · 6 yr ROI
Physical Education
$48K starting · 5 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education
$48K starting · 6 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Elementary Education Degree in Cleveland — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Elementary Education ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Cleveland.