Most Affordable Online Master’s in Educational Leadership Programs
College is only getting more expensive, so finding the most affordable master’s degree to save you money with a high return on investment (ROI) is even more crucial than before. The cheapest online educational leadership programs are typically cheaper than in-person ones since you don’t have to account for travel, housing, and other campus-related expenses.
You can go into leadership roles like elementary and high school administration, a principal or superintendent, or postsecondary educational administration. If you’d like to work directly with students, you can also become an academic director, counselor, or advisor to students.
Featured Online Master’s in Educational Leadership Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Most Affordable Online Master’s in Educational Leadership Programs
University of Florida
- Gainesville, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,477
- Out-of-state$25,694
- In-State$10,770
- Out-of-state$27,335
- Retention Rate97%
- Acceptance Rate30%
- Students Enrolled55,781
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment57%
- AccreditationYes
Indiana University-Bloomington
- Bloomington, IN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$10,012
- Out-of-state$37,685
- In-State$10,033
- Out-of-state$31,932
- Retention Rate90%
- Acceptance Rate83%
- Students Enrolled47,041
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment48%
- AccreditationYes
Florida State University
- Tallahassee, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$5,616
- Out-of-state$18,746
- In-State$10,662
- Out-of-state$26,657
- Retention Rate94%
- Acceptance Rate25%
- Students Enrolled44,134
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment58%
- AccreditationYes
University of Central Florida
- Orlando, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$6,368
- Out-of-state$19,810
- In-State$6,916
- Out-of-state$25,759
- Retention Rate93%
- Acceptance Rate41%
- Students Enrolled68,010
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment9%
- AccreditationYes
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
- La Crosse, WI
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$7,587
- Out-of-state$16,405
- In-State$8,651
- Out-of-state$18,637
- Retention Rate84%
- Acceptance Rate82%
- Students Enrolled10,296
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment46%
- AccreditationYes
San Diego State University
- San Diego, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$5,742
- Out-of-state$17,622
- In-State$7,176
- Out-of-state$19,140
- Retention Rate89%
- Acceptance Rate39%
- Students Enrolled36,591
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment64%
- AccreditationYes
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Champaign, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$12,254
- Out-of-state$29,704
- In-State$14,891
- Out-of-state$29,176
- Retention Rate93%
- Acceptance Rate45%
- Students Enrolled56,947
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment84%
- AccreditationYes
University of Iowa
- Iowa City, IA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$8,356
- Out-of-state$30,319
- In-State$10,432
- Out-of-state$29,379
- Retention Rate88%
- Acceptance Rate86%
- Students Enrolled29,909
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment55%
- AccreditationYes
California State University-Sacramento
- Sacramento, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$5,742
- Out-of-state$17,622
- In-State$7,176
- Out-of-state$16,680
- Retention Rate81%
- Acceptance Rate94%
- Students Enrolled32,498
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment94%
- AccreditationYes
Florida Atlantic University
- Boca Raton, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$5,642
- Out-of-state$19,642
- In-State$5,467
- Out-of-state$16,695
- Retention Rate81%
- Acceptance Rate81%
- Students Enrolled29,501
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment65%
- AccreditationYes
Oakland University
- Rochester Hills, MI
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$15,135
- Out-of-state$24,735
- In-State$19,323
- Out-of-state$24,648
- Retention Rate73%
- Acceptance Rate92%
- Students Enrolled17,170
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment63%
- AccreditationYes
University of Wyoming
- Laramie, WY
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,800
- Out-of-state$19,950
- In-State$5,598
- Out-of-state$16,740
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance Rate96%
- Students Enrolled11,100
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment72%
- AccreditationYes
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
- Baton Rouge, LA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$8,047
- Out-of-state$24,731
- In-State$9,132
- Out-of-state$9,132
- Retention Rate84%
- Acceptance Rate76%
- Students Enrolled37,314
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment50%
- AccreditationYes
George Mason University
- Fairfax, VA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$9,796
- Out-of-state$33,960
- In-State$13,426
- Out-of-state$35,377
- Retention Rate85%
- Acceptance Rate90%
- Students Enrolled39,238
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment78%
- AccreditationYes
Towson University
- Towson, MD
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$7,238
- Out-of-state$23,240
- In-State$8,676
- Out-of-state$17,964
- Retention Rate82%
- Acceptance Rate79%
- Students Enrolled19,675
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment38%
- AccreditationYes
University of Missouri-Columbia
- Columbia, MO
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$10,074
- Out-of-state$30,441
- In-State$10,447
- Out-of-state$28,605
- Retention Rate89%
- Acceptance Rate79%
- Students Enrolled31,344
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment63%
- AccreditationYes
Lehigh University
- Bethlehem, PA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$56,980
- Out-of-state$56,980
- In-State$27,000
- Out-of-state$27,000
- Retention Rate91%
- Acceptance Rate37%
- Students Enrolled7,394
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment19%
- AccreditationYes
California State University-East Bay
- Hayward, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$5,742
- Out-of-state$17,622
- In-State$7,176
- Out-of-state$16,680
- Retention Rate80%
- Acceptance Rate82%
- Students Enrolled15,189
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment85%
- AccreditationYes
Oklahoma State University
- Stillwater, OK
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$5,417
- Out-of-state$20,937
- In-State$4,208
- Out-of-state$15,836
- Retention Rate84%
- Acceptance Rate71%
- Students Enrolled25,390
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment52%
- AccreditationYes
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
- Edinburg, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$7,857
- Out-of-state$20,097
- In-State$7,002
- Out-of-state$14,562
- Retention Rate76%
- Acceptance Rate87%
- Students Enrolled31,387
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment78%
- AccreditationYes
University of North Carolina Wilmington
- Wilmington, NC
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,443
- Out-of-state$19,063
- In-State$4,719
- Out-of-state$19,104
- Retention Rate83%
- Acceptance Rate69%
- Students Enrolled17,915
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment75%
- AccreditationYes
Ramapo College of New Jersey
- Mahwah, NJ
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$14,952
- Out-of-state$24,694
- In-State$19,085
- Out-of-state$19,085
- Retention Rate87%
- Acceptance Rate70%
- Students Enrolled5,732
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment85%
- AccreditationYes
The University of Texas at Arlington
- Arlington, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$9,206
- Out-of-state$26,778
- In-State$9,015
- Out-of-state$22,167
- Retention Rate71%
- Acceptance Rate93%
- Students Enrolled45,949
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment62%
- AccreditationYes
Georgia College & State University
- Milledgeville, GA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$7,508
- Out-of-state$26,688
- In-State$5,292
- Out-of-state$18,846
- Retention Rate80%
- Acceptance Rate80%
- Students Enrolled6,405
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment35%
- AccreditationYes
Western Governors University
- Salt Lake City, UT
- 2 year
- Online
- In-State$7,162
- Out-of-state$7,162
- In-State$7,500
- Out-of-state$7,765
- Retention Rate73%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled150,116
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
How We Rank Schools
At BestColleges, we believe a college education is one of the most important investments you can make. We help you navigate the college selection process by offering transparent, inclusive, and relevant school rankings.
We use datasets from trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools and our methodologies. This ranking is from 2022. To learn more, check out our full ranking methodologies.
How Much Does a Master’s in Educational Leadership Cost?
An in-person master’s education can cost you a median of $35,700 per year, accounting for tuition, fees, housing, and course materials. Private nonprofit colleges cost more on average than public institutions before financial aid.
Fully online master’s degrees are typically cheaper than in-person by over 30%, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The median cost of an online master’s degree is about $24,290 a year, saving you about $10,000 from the median in-person cost. Some of the cheapest online master’s degree programs range from $4,000 to $7,000 a year.
Total In-Person Master’s Degree Costs
Public Institutions (In 2023 Dollars)
$59,440
Private Institutions (In 2023 Dollars)
$85,400
4 Ways to Help You Pay for Your Master’s in Educational Leadership
For grad school, you may have to pay the full price — or sticker price — for college. However, there are federal and state opportunities for free money to help you pay for your education. While many people take out loans, try out these ways first to get money you don’t have to pay back.
FAFSA
The go-to financial aid application is the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). This application determines eligibility for financial aid from the federal government through grants, work-study programs, and loans. Colleges and universities also use your FAFSA to determine scholarships and other aid awards.
Note: If you are an undocumented student, you won’t be able to fill out your FAFSA. Check to see if your state offers state financial aid for undocumented students.
Grants
Your school may offer grant opportunities after you complete the FAFSA. Grants are non-repayable gifts by an organization to fund your projects or education. You typically have to write a proposal to the organization for the grant, and winning isn’t guaranteed.
Work-Study Programs
Federal work-study programs offer low-income students part-time work at their school or an outside organization. Earned income can go directly to tuition costs, or you can deposit it in your bank account. You may work as a research assistant, tutor, office support staff, and more.
Scholarships
There are numerous scholarship opportunities available for you in the educational field. Professional associations, educational organizations, colleges, and universities offer this merit-based financial aid assistance. For example, the American Association of School Administrators grants a $2,500 scholarship to graduate students intending to become school superintendents.
How Much Can You Make With a Master’s in Educational Leadership?
You can find careers in education administration from the preschool level to the college level. If administration isn’t your speed, you can also become an educational, guidance, or career counselor or advisor. Here are just a few jobs from the Bureau of Labor Statistics ranging from highest to lowest paid.
Job Title | Median Annual Salary (May 2023) | Job Growth Rate (2023-2033) |
---|---|---|
K-12 Education Administrators | $103,460 | Little or no change |
Postsecondary Education Administrators | $102,610 | 3% to 5% |
Education Administrators, All Other | $88,460 | 3% to 5% |
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $61,710 | 3% to 5% |
Education and Childcare Administrators in Preschool and Daycare | $54,290 | -1% |
Directors in Religious Activities and Education | $50,140 | 1% to 2% |
Frequently Asked Questions About Cheap Online Master’s in Educational Leadership
An online master’s in educational leadership is worth it, depending on what field and academic level you pursue. The median cost of an online master’s degree is about $24,290 a year. This means you can earn a high ROI for K-12 and postsecondary education administrators, where the median salary is above $100,000 a year.