Best Online Master’s in Secondary Education Programs
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2024An online master’s in secondary education can give you the necessary skills and training to obtain a teaching license to pursue a variety of teaching and administrative roles in secondary education.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects over 67,000 openings for high school teachers each year, on average, between 2022 and 2032. The BLS also projects over 19,000 openings for instructional coordinators and over 20,000 openings for school principals each year, on average, during that time span.
Keep reading to learn what you need to know about earning this degree.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Best Online Master’s in Secondary Education Programs
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 Rate78%
- Acceptance Rate88%
- Students Enrolled6,763
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment35%
- AccreditationYes
McDaniel College
- Westminster, MD
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$46,336
- Out-of-state$46,336
- In-State$9,468
- Out-of-state$9,468
- Retention Rate72%
- Acceptance Rate87%
- Students Enrolled3,053
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment54%
- AccreditationYes
Goucher College
- Baltimore, MD
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$48,000
- Out-of-state$48,000
- In-State$9,180
- Out-of-state$9,180
- Retention Rate80%
- Acceptance Rate82%
- Students Enrolled1,917
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment39%
- AccreditationYes
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
- Charleston, SC
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$8,356
- Out-of-state$30,857
- In-State$10,740
- Out-of-state$18,390
- Retention Rate86%
- Acceptance Rate86%
- Students Enrolled3,693
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment32%
- AccreditationYes
Drake University
- Des Moines, IA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$45,734
- Out-of-state$45,734
- In-State$11,738
- Out-of-state$11,738
- Retention Rate84%
- Acceptance Rate69%
- Students Enrolled4,875
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment44%
- AccreditationYes
New York University
- New York, NY
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$53,770
- Out-of-state$53,770
- In-State$35,982
- Out-of-state$35,982
- Retention Rate94%
- Acceptance Rate13%
- Students Enrolled58,226
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment45%
- AccreditationYes
University of Alabama
- Tuscaloosa, AL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$10,780
- Out-of-state$30,250
- In-State$10,780
- Out-of-state$30,250
- Retention Rate89%
- Acceptance Rate79%
- Students Enrolled38,316
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment40%
- AccreditationYes
University of Maine
- Orono, ME
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$11,640
- Out-of-state$33,240
- In-State$9,738
- Out-of-state$29,214
- Retention Rate76%
- Acceptance Rate96%
- Students Enrolled12,657
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment66%
- AccreditationYes
University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne
- Fort Wayne, IN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$32,230
- Out-of-state$32,230
- In-State$12,418
- Out-of-state$12,418
- Retention Rate74%
- Acceptance Rate99%
- Students Enrolled2,196
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment70%
- AccreditationYes
Ball State University
- Muncie, IN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$9,628
- Out-of-state$26,862
- In-State$9,482
- Out-of-state$25,938
- Retention Rate73%
- Acceptance Rate68%
- Students Enrolled20,319
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment60%
- AccreditationYes
How We Rank Schools
To create this ranking, BestColleges sourced the most recent data available from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. We then ranked each school according to the top variables college students selected in our College Choice and Admissions Survey. To learn more, check out our full rankings methodology or read the summary below.
What Can You Expect From an Online Master’s in Secondary Education?
Traditionally, a master’s in secondary education consists of 30-45 credits and will take you 1-2 years to finish. Coursework can include topics in pedagogy, curriculum-building, educational research, and educational technology.
While many programs offer secondary education as a specialization within a broader education degree program, some schools allow you to focus exclusively on secondary education for your entire degree.
Some schools also offer the option to add a concentration to your degree to prepare you for a specific career path. Concentration options include special education, international education, second language education, and curriculum and policy studies.
Though courses vary across programs, common classes included in an online master’s program in secondary education include:
- Educational Psychology
- Adolescent Learning and Development
- Teaching Diverse Classrooms
- Interdisciplinary Instruction
- Teaching Methods
Benefits of Earning Your Master’s in Secondary Education Online
There are several benefits to earning your degree online including increased flexibility and the ability to take classes from a variety of institutions, not just those closest to your location.
Other advantages of online degree programs include:
- Keeping up with existing commitments
- Taking advantage of employer incentives or partnerships
- Saving money by avoiding on-campus expenses like parking fees
- Pursuing a specific field of interest only available online
What Can You Do With a Master’s in Secondary Education?
A master’s in secondary education can unlock a variety of careers in teaching, administration, and leadership. While growth in these careers is dependent on local and state government funding, increased student enrollments could sustain the demand for these roles.
| Job Title | Median Annual Salary (May 2023) |
|---|---|
| Career and Technical Education Teachers | $63,580 |
| Instructional Coordinator | $74,620 |
| High School Principal | $103,460 |
| High School Teacher | $65,220 |
| Special Education Teachers | $65,910 |
Frequently Asked Questions About an Online Master’s in Secondary Education
Yes, an online master’s in secondary education can be worth it if you want to pursue a career in education including teaching or administrative roles. You can also use a master’s degree in secondary education as a next step before you pursue a doctoral degree in a related field.
Note: The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by BestColleges. Page last reviewed May 2, 2024.
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