University of Northern Iowa to launch three-year elementary education degree

The University of Northern Iowa is taking aim at Iowa’s teacher shortage with a faster way to prepare future educators. Beginning in fall 2026, UNI will launch a three-year bachelor’s degree in elementary education — a compressed version of its most popular major. Students in the new “Degree in 3” program will study year-round, saving time and tuition while gaining hands-on classroom experience. University leaders say the initiative honors UNI’s long teaching legacy while meeting today’s urgent need for more teachers, sooner. Brooklyn Draisey with Iowa Capital Dispatch has the full story.