Elementary Education Degree in Lakewood, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
Elementary Education degree analysis for Lakewood, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$53K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$58K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.9 yrs
in Lakewood
Cost of Living
105.8
index (100 = avg)
Elementary Education in Lakewood, CO Overview
Lakewood, Colorado (pop. 155,984) has 6 colleges offering Elementary Education programs. The local cost of living index of 105.8 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,395/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 Lakewood is approximately $52,900.
Category
Education
Local Colleges
6
Public Tuition
$12,200/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,028/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,371/yr
Unemployment
2.9%
Graduation Rate
73%
Elementary Education Salary in Lakewood (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lakewood's cost of living index of 105.8 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Elementary Education salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $62,000 senior level.Lakewood adjustment factor: 1.06x based on the local cost of living index.
Elementary Education ROI Calculator for Lakewood
Estimate your return on investment for a Elementary Education degree using local Lakewood tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,200 | Private avg: $38,000
Lakewood avg aid: $8,371/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$108,912
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,870
vs HS diploma in Lakewood
ROI Payback Period
6.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lakewood
$187,328
Lifetime earnings premium ($296,240) minus total education cost ($108,912)
Student Loan Payoff for Elementary Education in Lakewood
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lakewood for Elementary Education
Lakewood State University
public
$11,245/yr
$44,980 total
University of Lakewood
public
$12,683/yr
$50,732 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Lakewood Community College
$5,959/yr
Top Employers for Elementary Education in Lakewood
Lakewood offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Elementary Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lakewood Hiring Sectors for Education
School districts
Universities
EdTech companies
Non-profits
Training organizations
Common Elementary Education Job Titles
Elementary Education in Nearby Colorado Cities
Denver, CO
$64K starting · COL 128
31 colleges
Colorado Springs, CO
$61K starting · COL 122
22 colleges
Aurora, CO
$56K starting · COL 111
28 colleges
Fort Collins, CO
$63K starting · COL 126
5 colleges
Thornton, CO
$51K starting · COL 102.5
6 colleges
Arvada, CO
$53K starting · COL 105.5
5 colleges
Westminster, CO
$52K starting · COL 103.8
5 colleges
Pueblo, CO
$61K starting · COL 122
13 colleges
Other Education Majors in Lakewood
Instructional Design & Technology
$53K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Educational Psychology
$53K starting · 5 yr ROI
Higher Education Administration
$53K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Special Education
$53K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Music Education
$53K starting · 6 yr ROI
Physical Education
$53K starting · 5 yr ROI
Early Childhood Education
$53K starting · 6 yr ROI
Education
$0 starting · 0 yr ROI
Elementary Education Degree in Lakewood — 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 Lakewood.