Best Online Master’s in K-12 Education Programs
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A master's in K-12 education is a two-year graduate degree that helps K-12 teachers expand their teaching skills and gain leadership opportunities. Graduates of a master's in K-12 education program know how to teach effectively and build positive relationships with colleagues, students, and families.
If you go to graduate school to earn your master's in K-12 education, you may earn a slightly higher salary. Public school teachers are usually on a salary step schedule. Teachers with a master's degree can go higher up that scale.
Interested in earning your master's and increasing your salary potential? Keep reading to learn about the best online master's in K-12 education to up-level your teaching career.
Best Online Master's in K-12 Education Programs
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University of GeorgiaLocation
Athens, GA
Tuition$15539
Graduation Rate86%
The University of Georgia hosts an online master of education in learning, design, and technology with a focus on instructional design and development. This program may appeal to aspiring educators interested in how pedagogy and technology converge.
The program trains future teachers as well as enterprise, healthcare, and military professionals. Course content focuses heavily on using various media formats to inform instructional design. The program comprises 36 credits, and incoming students with relevant graduate-level coursework may transfer in up to 25% of the degree requirements.
Applicants must submit GRE or MAT test scores, a resume or CV, a statement of educational objectives, and at least three letters of recommendation. Applicants must also have a bachelor's degree in a related field and a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0.
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Boston UniversityLocation
Boston, MA
Tuition$29154
Graduation Rate88%
Boston University's online master of education in curriculum and teaching program was designed for licensed teachers and provides career-boosting professional development for active educators seeking an advanced degree.
Degree-seekers can choose from seven concentrations, including elementary education, English, English as a second language, math, science, social studies, and special education. This online master's program includes curriculum development strategies focused on a learner's chosen practice area.
Structurally, the program uses 14-week terms, with students taking one course at a time. Following this plan leads to graduation in two years. BU offers this program through its College of Education and Human Development.
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Texas A&M UniversityLocation
College Station, TX
Tuition$19118
Graduation Rate82%
Texas A&M University offers a no-thesis master of education in curriculum and instruction. This online program emphasizes evidence-based educational techniques for preK-12 students. Coursework examines the practical classroom applications of advanced pedagogical theory while supporting degree personalization through many specialized electives.
Learners engage with four key instructional areas: academic learning, the social climate of the classroom and the well-being of its students, improving schools, and partnerships with families and community members.
In addition to the generalist program, teachers interested in focused and specific subject areas can earn an online master's in curriculum and instruction in STEM learning and urban education. This program does not lead to teacher certification, so it may not be a good fit for unlicensed students.
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Harding UniversityLocation
Searcy, AR
Tuition$19580
Graduation Rate67%
Harding University's online master of education in elementary education features 35 credits of coursework. Degree-seekers can focus their learning on general education, education for gifted learners, special education, English as a second language, or reading for dyslexic students.
Classes delve into pedagogical techniques specific to the student's chosen area of emphasis. Required courses common to all specializations examine topics like human growth and development through adolescence, foundational aspects of education, education research methods, instructional technologies, and the cultural and legal aspects of school environments.
Additional graduation requirements include rigorous comprehensive examinations, which students complete during their final semester. Applicants need to hold a valid teaching license.
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Auburn UniversityLocation
Auburn, AL
Tuition$23205
Graduation Rate78%
Auburn University offers an online master of education that focuses on the administration of elementary and secondary education. This degree provides the basis for certification as an Alabama Class A professional educator (or the equivalent) and is well suited for aspiring school administrators.
Using a cohort structure, the program concentrates on instructional leadership as it related to curriculum development and improvement, financial and resource management, teacher supervision, legal issues, and ethics. It also includes an in-person internship requirement, which is the only degree component that cannot be completed online.
In addition to academic transcriptions, applicants must submit a statement of intent, a resume, and three recommendation forms. Valid teacher certification, a background check, and multiple evidence-based leadership requirements also apply.
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Clemson UniversityLocation
Clemson, SC
Tuition$19508
Graduation Rate83%
Open to students based anywhere in the world, Clemson University's entirely online master's in teaching and learning can be completed in 18 months. This program offers four specialization options: instructional coaching, effective and reflective teaching, STEAM learning, and early childhood experiential learning.
The curriculum splits its 30 required credits into an 18-credit standardized core and a 12-credit specialization path. Career-boosting benefits of this program include a wider set of professional options and certifications that qualify most graduates for increased wages.
Students do not require formal licensure to be admitted into this program, although degree-seekers should have firsthand teaching experience in a formal or informal educational setting.
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Holy Family UniversityLocation
Philadelphia, PA
Tuition$15074
Graduation Rate60%
Philadelphia's Holy Family University provides an online master of education program designed for teachers with Level I Pennsylvania certification (or the equivalent). It delivers the academic requirements needed for Level II licensure, and graduates can also qualify for a formal endorsement in special education, reading, educational administration, English as a second language, or autism education.
Candidates interested in a generalist focus can configure the program to include classes from multiple specializations. Students can derive further value from HFU's relationships with Philadelphia-area school boards, which go on to hire many graduates.
All specialization options support online delivery format, although learners local to the university's campus may also opt for a blended model that combines distance and classroom learning. Admission requirements include two letters of recommendation, a personal statement of 250-500 words, and evidence of strong academic achievement.
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Missouri State UniversityLocation
Springfield, MO
Tuition$10235
Graduation Rate54%
Missouri State University's online master's in education literacy emphasizes the importance of reading, making it a good option for aspiring English and ESL teachers. Cousework can be completed entirely online and the school offers competitive tuition rates.
The curriculum of this program emphasizes one-on-one teaching techniques that boost literacy and accelerate student reading comprehension. Participants also complete a six-credit graduate clinical.
Learners emerge ready for careers as specialized educators in roles like reading program supervisors, literacy coaches, Title I teachers, and reading interventionists. In addition to a master's degree, graduates also receive special reading teacher certification. Students should already have a teaching license before applying.
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Texas A&M International UniversityLocation
Laredo, TX
Tuition$4744
Graduation Rate46%
Texas A&M International University offers an online master's in educational administration and leads to a master of science designation. The 30-credit program enables motivated learners to meet graduation requirements in 10 months.
The program develops professional educators for leadership roles in schools and administrative bodies, and it is endorsed by the Texas State Board for Educator Certification. The program's practicum requirements offer candidates the opportunity to apply their skills under the tutelage of a field-based mentor.
Applicants must hold a current Texas teaching certification (or the equivalent) and have at least two years of classroom-based teaching experience. Learners proceed through coursework at an accelerated pace by taking classes during seven-week terms. Students pay by the course and in-state students save on tuition.
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University of Alabama in HuntsvilleLocation
Huntsville, AL
Tuition$15437
Graduation Rate52%
The University of Alabama in Huntsville's online master of education program follows a cohort structure and offers start dates in the summer and fall. Students who earn this 33-credit degree learn about applied research and innovative approaches to classroom management.
Delivered mostly online with brief campus residencies, the program combines universally applicable strategies with specialization options. After completing a generalist set of core courses, learners can choose one of six concentration study paths.
Concentration options include differentiated elementary instruction, reading education, English as a second language education, and education for students with visual impairments. Secondary teachers can also specialize in specific subject areas, including English, history, math, biology, chemistry, and physics. The final specialist option covers collaborative education for students on the autism spectrum.
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What Can I Expect From an Online Master's in K-12 Education Program?
Many of the qualities that make good teachers also make good students. For example, a teacher benefits from good speaking, writing, and listening skills, and these same skills help a master's student excel as well. Good teachers also need to be patient, empathetic, engaging, and adaptable. These skills also prepare students for graduate school.
The typical master's in K-12 education program requires 30-36 credits and takes about 2-3 years to complete. Some schools offer concentrations, such as classroom management, educational leadership, international baccalaureate, special education, and work-based learning. You may need to complete a master's project or thesis at the end of your program.
Master's in K-12 education programs are designed for students who already work as K-12 teachers and want to hone their skills or gain new skills to adapt to a changing educational environment.
Depending on the school, the master's in K-12 education program may be a master of arts (MA), master of science (MS), or master of education (M.Ed.). Typically, an MA focuses more on humanities, an MS focuses on science, and an M.Ed. focuses on applied education skills.
What Can I Do With an Online Master's in K-12 Education Degree?
At the high end of the pay scale, graduates with a master's in K-12 education earn an average of $2,760 more in their first year of teaching and an average of $7,358 more per year. For those who go into school administration, the pay jumps significantly. School principals earned a median salary of $98,490 in 2020, according to the BLS.
See where a master's in K-12 education can take you. Learn more about teaching careers.
Job | Median Salary (2023) | Outlook (2022-2032) |
---|---|---|
School Principal (K-12) | $101,460 | +1% |
Kindergarten and Elementary School Teacher | $63,670 | +1% |
Middle School Teacher | $64,290 | +1% |
High School Teacher | $65,220 | +1% |
School Superintendent | $145,000* | N/A |
*As of Feb. 2024
Frequently Asked Questions About Master's in K-12 Education Programs
Is a master's in K-12 education worth it?
In order to determine whether earning your master's degree is worth it, you'll need to consider the cost of the master's program, as well as the number of years you have left until retirement times the amount per year your salary will likely increase. Check with your school or district's HR department to see if you can get help paying for your master's degree.
Are K-12 education graduates in demand?
The BLS projects all education and library occupations to grow as fast as average over the next decade. This equates to over 850,000 openings each year.
How much money can I make with a master's in K-12 education?
Payscale reports that the average base salary for graduates with a master of education (M.Ed.) degree is $66,000 per year. According to the BLS, the median salaries for teachers in 2023 were $63,670 for kindergarten and elementary teachers, $64,290for middle school teachers, and $65,220 for high school teachers.
Graduates with a master's in K-12 education who want to earn higher salaries should consider administrative positions. According to the BLS, school principals earned a median salary of $103,460 in 2023. According to Payscale, school superintendents earned an average salary of $144,940 as of Feb. 2024.
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