Master’s in Education and Teaching Program Guide

Educators are tasked with an honorable responsibility — shaping the minds of their students and fostering critical and independent thinking in the next generation of adults.

A master’s in teaching and education can lead to a satisfying educational career whether you want to work directly with students or behind the scenes as an academic administrator, researcher, or policymaker.

Our guide will walk you through these programs and outline career options, including how much money you can expect to earn once you start your education career.

Keep reading to learn what jobs you can pursue with a master’s degree in education, whether earned online or in person.

Once you earn your master’s in education and teaching, you’ll have diverse career opportunities. Common options for master’s in education and teaching degree holders include classroom teaching, curriculum development, school administration, and educational consulting.

Specific roles include instructional coordinator, curriculum developer, school principal, special education teacher, and postsecondary education administrator.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), educational roles will grow slower than the average for all occupations from 2023 to 2033. However, the BLS projects an average of 868,000 job openings annually until 2033 due to the number of workers permanently leaving the profession.

According to the BLS, master’s in education degree holders earn a median salary between $61,000 and $103,000 per year. Education roles vary from teaching to administrative positions.

Elementary, middle, and high school principals earn the most — a median annual salary of around $103,000 per year — while middle school and high school teachers earn a median salary of around $65,000 a year. But as a postsecondary education administrator, you can earn nearly as much as an elementary, middle, or high school principal.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

A master’s in education makes you eligible for advanced degrees like a Ph.D. in education or doctor of education (Ed.D.) These terminal degrees require 3-5 years of study beyond a master’s degree, including a written dissertation.

If a doctoral degree doesn’t interest you, you can pursue another related master’s degree to specialize your skills and advance your career. Some options include a master of science in educational psychology, a master of educational leadership, or a master’s in curriculum and instruction.

Whether or not you pursue another graduate degree after you finish your master’s in education program, you can pursue certifications in specialized areas of interest, such as special education and educational technology. In addition, as a teacher or school administrator, you may be required to take continuing education every few years in order to progress in your career.

Based on our research, two-year master’s degree programs cost an average of $73,520. To give you an example of a specific program’s tuition costs, Purdue Global charges $420 per credit for a master’s in education degree that requires 45-46 credits.

Miami University’s 30-credit master of education in curriculum and instruction degree costs nearly $600 per credit. At the University of Cincinnati, you’d pay $662 per credit hour or $6,612 per semester for a 30-credit master of education degree.

You’ll need to submit a solid application to get accepted into a master’s in education program. Then, you’ll have to dedicate around two years of study toward your degree if you enroll full time. Your coursework may include an internship or practical experience.

Most master’s in education programs require 30-60 credits, which takes around two years to complete. However, accelerated programs can help you earn your degree faster. Here are some real-world examples: Purdue Global’s online master’s in education program takes one year to complete and requires 45-46 credits.

If you enroll in Clemson University’s online teaching and learning M.Ed. program, you can earn your degree in as few as 18 months.

You’ll need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 3.0 to apply to a master’s in education program. Here are some more common application components:

Several key factors can help you determine your choice of a master’s in education program. These include program accreditation, content, and format. Learn about these factors below.

Accreditation is one of the most important factors in choosing a master’s in education program, whether you choose to learn online or in person.

Before you apply, make sure your college or university has institutional accreditation. Institutional accreditation ensures that your university provides a quality education and that your degree will be accepted by future employers.

You should also make sure that your master’s in education program has programmatic accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Programmatic accreditation ensures your program properly prepares you for the education profession. You can find your desired program’s accreditation status by visiting its websites, contacting the school directly, or searching the CAEP website.

Curious about what courses you’ll take in your master’s in education and teaching program? You can expect to gain expertise in teaching, curriculum design, and educational assessment.

Some common concentrations include experiential learning for early childhood, effective and reflective teaching, instructional coaching, and science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM).

Below is a list of courses you may encounter in your master’s in education program:

Should you study online or in person? Online programs offer the ultimate flexibility, allowing you to learn remotely, while in-person programs let you interact with your professors and fellow graduate students. Consider how you learn best.

In a hybrid program, you can have opportunities to learn both remotely and with your classmates and instructors.