Best Master's in Adult and Continuing Education Programs by Local Teacher Pay

1. 1

   City University of Seattle

   Seattle, WAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

   • 4Master's/yr
   • $102,920Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Education in Adult Education (also marketed as Adult Education and Instructional Design)
   • On-campus
   About the program

   City University of Seattle offers a Master of Education in Adult Education, also marketed as Adult Education and Instructional Design, built explicitly for working professionals in training, human resources, and learning and development. Many sections can be completed entirely online, with hybrid and in-person options, and an instructional design track is available for those who want to specialize in building learning experiences. The curriculum emphasizes adult learning theory alongside instructional design, gamification, media, and technology, and it grounds that content in applied projects reviewed through instructor and peer feedback. That project-and-feedback rhythm reads as a program made to be immediately useful to trainers and instructional designers already in the field. Offered by an institution accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, it prepares practitioners rather than K-12 licensed teachers. As a master's degree in adult and continuing education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as adult basic education in Washington.

   Why it ranks here

   For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 4 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $102,920, roughly $92,610 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
2. 2

   Western Washington University

   Bellingham, WAPublic

   • 10Master's/yr
   • $101,230Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Education in Adult and Higher Education
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Western Washington University offers a Master of Education in Adult and Higher Education through its Woodring College of Education, a hybrid program that pairs Monday through Thursday evening online sessions with two mandatory Saturday residencies on campus each quarter. That schedule, combined with a 48-credit part-time structure, makes it a deliberate fit for working adults building careers in postsecondary and adult education. The curriculum carries an explicit emphasis on accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, policy, and advocacy, giving the degree a clear commitment to equity-minded leadership rather than a generic survey of the field. A tuition benefit lets Washington State employees apply a waiver to 44 of the 48 credits, further signaling a program aimed at public-sector and institutional professionals. It is not a K-12 teacher-licensure program, focusing instead on adult and higher education settings. Earning a master's degree in adult and continuing education is a common route toward becoming one of Washington's adult basic education.

   Why it ranks here

   For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 10 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Bellingham, WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,230, roughly $97,964 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
3. 3

   Rutgers University-New Brunswick

   New Brunswick, NJPublic

   • 13Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Ed.M. in Adult and Continuing Education
   • CAEP-accredited
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   Rutgers University offers an Ed.M. in Adult and Continuing Education whose four concentrations map onto the range of settings where adults learn, from Adult ESL and Literacy Education to Educational Technology, Higher Education Teaching, and Human Resources Development. That spread lets students specialize toward literacy instruction, instructional technology, college teaching, or workplace development while sharing a common foundation. The 30-credit program is capped by a capstone project spread across its final two courses, giving students a substantial applied culmination rather than a traditional thesis. It is clear that the degree does not include coursework resulting in a New Jersey school personnel license, keeping its focus on adult and continuing education rather than K-12 certification. Offered in a hybrid format that requires a minimum of three credits completed in person and backed by CAEP accreditation, it reads as built for practitioners advancing across the adult education field. Graduates of this adult and continuing education program at the master's level often go on to work as adult basic education.

   Why it ranks here

   A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 13 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
4. 4

   Teachers College at Columbia University

   New York, NYPrivate nonprofitOnline available

   • 18Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Adult Learning and Leadership
   • Online
   About the program

   Teachers College, Columbia University offers a fully online Master of Arts in Adult Learning and Leadership that connects the study of how adults learn with the practice of leading them, drawing electives from areas including Leadership, Coaching, Applied Workshops, and Societal Transformation. That elective spread signals a program interested in leadership as a craft, whether students aim to coach, facilitate, or drive organizational change. Across its 36 credits the degree culminates in an integrative project in which students apply a literature review to a real practice-based question, tying scholarship directly to their own professional context. Although delivered online, it keeps a door open to on-campus study, allowing up to fourteen credits to be taken in person for students who want that experience. Recognized by New York State as a fully online master's, it reads as built for reflective practitioners moving into adult learning and leadership roles. Graduates of this adult and continuing education program at the master's level often go on to work as adult basic education.

   Why it ranks here

   A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 18 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
5. 5

   University of Pennsylvania

   Philadelphia, PAPrivate nonprofit

   • 36Master's/yr
   • $78,570Metro teacher pay
   About the program

   Prospective students should consult the offering institution directly for current curriculum, format, and admission information. This master's-level adult and continuing education program prepares graduates for work as adult basic education in Pennsylvania.

   Why it ranks here

   For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 36 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, where elementary teachers earn a median $78,570, roughly $76,613 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
6. 6

   University of Georgia

   Athens, GAPublic

   • 48Master's/yr
   • $76,600Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Education in Learning, Leadership, and Organization Development
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   The University of Georgia offers a Master of Education in Learning, Leadership, and Organization Development, a two-year cohort program aimed at early- and mid-career professionals rather than classroom teachers seeking licensure. Its curriculum blends adult learning, leadership, organization development, and coaching, framing the degree as preparation for people who guide change and develop talent inside organizations. The cohort structure means students move through the program as a group, building a professional network alongside the coursework, which reads as intentional for those growing into leadership roles. It is offered both online and on the UGA Gwinnett campus, giving working professionals flexibility in how they attend. The combination of a fixed cohort, a leadership-and-coaching focus, and hybrid access makes it well suited to employees stepping up into organizational learning and development positions. A master's-level path in adult and continuing education, it builds toward a career among adult basic education in Georgia.

   Why it ranks here

   Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 48 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Athens-Clarke County, GA, where elementary teachers earn a median $76,600, roughly $82,063 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
7. 7

   SUNY Buffalo State University

   Buffalo, NYPublicOnline available

   • 10Master's/yr
   • $76,490Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Science in Adult Education
   • Online
   About the program

   Buffalo State University offers an online Master of Science in Adult Education that hands students unusual control over their specialization, letting them build a nine-credit field concentration with an advisor in areas ranging from literacy and ESL to human resource development, workplace learning, and student personnel administration. That advisor-designed focus reads as built for professionals who already know the adult education niche they want to grow into. The degree culminates in an online portfolio and a portfolio defense, so students leave with a documented body of applied work rather than a single exam result. Adding to its practical value, students can earn up to three no-cost microcredentials in Grant Writing, Human Resource Development, Instructional Design, and Online Teaching alongside the degree. Delivered fully online, it suits working adults assembling a tailored, credential-rich path through adult education. As a master's degree in adult and continuing education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as adult basic education in New York.

   Why it ranks here

   Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 10 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY, where elementary teachers earn a median $76,490, roughly $79,807 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
8. 8

   Drake University

   Des Moines, IAPrivate nonprofit

   • 12Master's/yr
   • $61,650Metro teacher pay
   About the program

   Drake University is a private university in Des Moines, Iowa, with graduate offerings through its School of Education. Earning a master's degree in adult and continuing education is a common route toward becoming one of Iowa's adult basic education.

   Why it ranks here

   A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 12 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,650, roughly $67,229 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
9. 9

   University of West Alabama

   Livingston, ALPublic

   • 25Master's/yr
   • $61,380State teacher pay
   • Master of Science in Adult and Continuing Education
   • Online
   About the program

   The University of West Alabama offers a Master of Science in Adult and Continuing Education, a fully online program accredited by SACSCOC and available across SARA member states. Delivered in eight-week terms and often completed in about a year, its 33 credit hours devote most of the coursework, 24 of the 33 credits, to customizable concentration study, with General and Library Media options available. The program does not lead to Alabama teaching certification, positioning it instead for educators and trainers working with adult learners in non-K-12 settings. Up to nine transfer credit hours are accepted, easing the path for students with prior graduate work. The flexible, self-directed structure reads as preparation for careers in workforce training, continuing education, and adult program administration. A master's-level path in adult and continuing education, it builds toward a career among adult basic education in Alabama.

   Why it ranks here

   Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 25 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Alabama statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,380, roughly $69,104 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
10. 10

    Troy University

    Troy, ALPublicOnline available

    • 31Master's/yr
    • $61,380State teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Adult Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Troy University offers a fully online Master of Science in Adult Education built for professionals who teach and train adults rather than children, with concentrations in Curriculum Design and Instructional Technology and in Leadership in Workforce Development. Delivered in 9-week sessions across five terms, the degree can be finished in about a year, a pace that signals a program tuned to working adults who want to move quickly. It is not a licensure program; instead it prepares graduates for roles such as instructional designer, workforce development specialist, and college, corporate, or military instructor. Both thesis and non-thesis options let students lean toward research or toward applied practice, and four related post-master's certificates give a path to keep specializing after graduation. Taken together, the concentrations and certificate ladder read as a practical, career-focused credential for people already working in adult and workplace learning. A master's-level path in adult and continuing education, it builds toward a career among adult basic education in Alabama.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 31 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Alabama statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,380, roughly $69,104 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
11. 11

    Texas State University

    San Marcos, TXPublicOnline available

    • 6Master's/yr
    • $61,270Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Adult, Professional and Community Education, Workplace, Community, and Continuing Education Concentration
    • Online
    About the program

    Texas State University offers a Master of Arts in Adult, Professional and Community Education with a Workplace, Community, and Continuing Education concentration, delivered online and established as a program back in 1989. Its long history and community-facing framing position it for educators working across workplace training, community organizations, and continuing education settings rather than the K-12 classroom, and an Adult ESL concentration extends that reach to language instruction for adults. Students choose between a thesis path of 36 to 39 credit hours and a non-thesis path of 30 to 33 hours, so the degree accommodates both those bound for doctoral study and those focused on applied practice. A supervised internship anchors either route in real professional experience. The program is not a licensure program, keeping its emphasis on adult and community learning contexts. Graduates of this adult and continuing education program at the master's level often go on to work as adult basic education.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 6 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,270, roughly $62,478 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
12. 12

    Morehead State University

    Morehead, KYPublicOnline available

    • 12Master's/yr
    • $60,610State teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Adult & Higher Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Morehead State University offers an online Master of Arts in Adult & Higher Education that lets students shape the degree around where they want to work, whether that means teaching, administration, student personnel, or developmental studies. Rather than fixing a single track, the program is planned with an advisor so the coursework points toward a chosen role in adult or postsecondary settings. It is explicitly not approved for rank change for public school teachers, signaling that its audience is adult educators and higher education professionals rather than K-12 staff seeking salary advancement. Admission testing is kept flexible, with the GRE or MAT requirement waived once students complete nine program hours at a strong GPA. The fully online delivery reads as built for working adults who want to move into leadership or instructional roles across colleges and community education. As a master's degree in adult and continuing education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as adult basic education in Kentucky.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 12 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Kentucky statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $60,610, roughly $67,226 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
13. 13

    American College of Education

    Indianapolis, INPrivate for-profitOnline available

    • 33Master's/yr
    • $60,510Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Adult Education and Training
    • Online
    About the program

    American College of Education offers a Master of Education in Adult Education and Training, an online degree engineered for speed and affordability for professionals already working in training and development. The 31 semester-credit, non-thesis program advertises a completion window of roughly ten to fifteen months and a low total program cost, signaling a design tuned for adults who want an efficient, budget-conscious credential. It leaves tracks unnamed but lets students select elective focus areas, giving some room to tailor the coursework to their setting. A one-credit capstone in Adult Education and Training caps the program with an applied culmination rather than a research thesis. Offered by an institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, it is not a K-12 teacher-licensure program and instead prepares practitioners who train and develop adult learners. This master's-level adult and continuing education program prepares graduates for work as adult basic education in Indiana.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 33 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN, where elementary teachers earn a median $60,510, roughly $63,231 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
14. 14

    Northwestern State University of Louisiana

    Natchitoches, LAPublicOnline available

    • 16Master's/yr
    • $58,770State teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Adult Learning and Development
    • SACSCOC (institutional)-accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    Northwestern State University of Louisiana offers an online Master of Arts in Adult Learning and Development aimed at professionals who teach or train adults outside the traditional classroom. Its two concentrations, E-learning and Adult and Workforce Development, let students lean toward either designing online instruction or building programs for the workplace and community. The degree culminates in a choice between a capstone research course and a practicum, so students can either deepen their scholarship or apply theory directly in a real adult education setting. That flexibility reads as built for a mix of aspiring researchers and hands-on practitioners already working in training and development. Delivered fully online and backed by the university's SACSCOC institutional accreditation, it fits adults balancing study with a career in workforce and continuing education. Earning a master's degree in adult and continuing education is a common route toward becoming one of Louisiana's adult basic education.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 16 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Louisiana statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $58,770, roughly $66,627 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
15. 15

    Ball State University

    Muncie, INPublicOnline available

    • 14Master's/yr
    • $58,610Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Adult and Community Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Ball State University offers an online Master of Arts in Adult and Community Education, one of the few programs nationally to foreground community education alongside adult learning. That community emphasis distinguishes it from workplace-only training degrees and points toward roles in nonprofit, civic, and community-based learning settings. It is not a licensure program, so its value lies in professional preparation rather than state certification. Students can add a dual major with Executive Development for Public Service by taking a single additional three-credit course, an efficient way to broaden the credential toward public-sector leadership. Courses are taught primarily by full-time, tenure-line faculty in small cohorts, which signals close faculty contact and a cohesive student experience despite the online format. Earning a master's degree in adult and continuing education is a common route toward becoming one of Indiana's adult basic education.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 14 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Muncie, IN, where elementary teachers earn a median $58,610, roughly $66,490 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
16. 16

    Indiana University-Bloomington

    Bloomington, INPublicOnline available

    • 14Master's/yr
    • $58,410Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Education in Adult Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Indiana University Bloomington offers a Master of Science in Education in Adult Education, a practitioner-oriented degree housed alongside Learning Sciences and Instructional Systems Technology. That placement signals a program grounded in how adults learn and how instruction is designed, rather than in K-12 teacher licensure, which it does not provide. Coursework is delivered almost entirely online, between 80 and 99 percent, making it workable for professionals who cannot relocate. The one on-campus commitment is a three-day residency for the Participation Training course, a hands-on experience that anchors the otherwise remote program in face-to-face practice. The blend of online flexibility with a short, focused residency reads as a program built for working adults who still value some direct, in-person learning. This master's-level adult and continuing education program prepares graduates for work as adult basic education in Indiana.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 14 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Bloomington, IN, where elementary teachers earn a median $58,410, roughly $61,430 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
17. 17

    Kansas State University

    Manhattan, KSPublic

    • 18Master's/yr
    • $49,520Metro teacher pay
    • Adult Learning and Leadership (M.S.)
    • Online
    About the program

    Kansas State University offers a fully online Master of Science in Adult Learning and Leadership for professionals who teach, train, and lead adults across education, workplace, and military settings. The 33-credit program runs asynchronously in eight-week sessions and can be finished in as little as 24 months, a structure that reads as built for busy working adults. Rather than a thesis, students complete a Program Completion Portfolio, reinforcing an applied, practice-focused orientation over a research one. Electives can align with graduate certificates in Adult Learning, Leadership Dynamics for Adult Learners, and Social Justice Education, letting students stack focused credentials onto the degree. It is also offered in partnership with the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, extending its reach to military professionals, and it does not lead to K-12 licensure. Earning a master's degree in adult and continuing education is a common route toward becoming one of Kansas's adult basic education.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 18 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Manhattan, KS, where elementary teachers earn a median $49,520, roughly $54,923 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
18. 18

    Texas A&M University-College Station

    College Station, TXPublicOnline available

    • 35Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Educational Human Resource Development, Workforce, Adult, & Lifelong Education (WALE) emphasis
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Texas A&M University-College Station offers a Master of Science in Educational Human Resource Development with an emphasis in Workforce, Adult, and Lifelong Education, a program that treats adult learning as a lever for organizational and workforce development. Students can pursue it online or on campus, with virtual attendance options for some courses, which suits working professionals balancing careers in training and talent development. The 37-credit-hour path is non-thesis, and in place of a culminating exam students assemble a professional portfolio that documents their progress and applied competencies. That portfolio orientation signals a practice-focused degree, one designed to translate coursework into demonstrable skills for the workplace. The WALE emphasis anchors the curriculum in workforce, adult, and lifelong learning, preparing graduates for roles that design and lead learning across employer and community settings. Earning a master's degree in adult and continuing education is a common route toward becoming one of Texas's adult basic education.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 35 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
19. 19

    Florida International University

    Miami, FLPublic

    • 9Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Adult Education and Human Resource Development
    About the program

    Florida International University offers a Master of Science in Adult Education and Human Resource Development for professionals who design, deliver, and lead learning for adults across workplaces and communities. The curriculum meets the requirements for Florida's certified program in Adult Education Administration and aligns with the former ASTD Certified Learning Professional credential, giving the degree a clear tie to recognized professional standards even though it is not a teacher licensure track. It prepares graduates for a range of roles, including program coordinators, trainers, instructional designers, human performance consultants, and HRD researchers, spanning nonprofit, community college, and workplace-development settings. That breadth of career targets signals a program built less around a single job and more around the full field of adult and organizational learning. It suits people who want to move into or advance within training, human resource development, and adult program leadership. Earning a master's degree in adult and continuing education is a common route toward becoming one of Florida's adult basic education.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 9 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
20. 20

    James Madison University

    Harrisonburg, VAPublic

    • 10Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Education in Adult Education/Human Resource Development
    • On-campus
    About the program

    James Madison University offers a Master of Science in Education in Adult Education/Human Resource Development, a hybrid program that blends online and face-to-face instruction for professionals working across sectors. The curriculum functions as a single integrated track rather than a set of separate concentrations, weaving together adult learning theory, instructional technology, and talent development. That combination points the degree toward people who design and run learning programs in business, industry, government, military, and healthcare settings rather than the K-12 classroom. Graduates are prepared to lead, design, implement, and evaluate those programs, reflecting a practical orientation toward organizational learning and performance. Because it is not a teacher-licensure program, its value lies in workplace and adult-learning contexts where instructional expertise drives development. As a master's degree in adult and continuing education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as adult basic education in Virginia.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 10 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
21. 21

    University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus

    Norman, OKPublic

    • 33Master's/yr
    • Master of Education in Adult and Higher Education, Workforce, Adult and Continuing Education emphasis
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    The University of Oklahoma offers a Master of Education in Adult and Higher Education with a Workforce, Adult and Continuing Education emphasis, a 36-credit hybrid program organized around 12 core, 15 emphasis, and 9 elective hours. The non-thesis-only structure and defined emphasis mark it as a practice-focused degree for professionals who want applied preparation rather than a research trajectory. A telling design choice is the optional three-credit practicum required only of students without at least a year of relevant field experience, which shows the program calibrating hands-on learning to a candidate's existing career stage. Students complete a comprehensive exam after their core coursework, and the emphasis sits alongside companion tracks in Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, and Intercollegiate Athletics Administration. Together these features read as a program tuned to working adults advancing within continuing and workforce education. This master's-level adult and continuing education program prepares graduates for work as adult basic education in Oklahoma.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 33 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
22. 22

    University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

    Minneapolis, MNPublic

    • 3Master's/yr
    • Master of Education in Human Resource Development
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    The University of Minnesota offers a Master of Education in Human Resource Development built as a non-thesis, coursework-based degree for people who develop and train talent inside organizations. Across its 33 credits the program keeps the emphasis on applied practice rather than research writing, and a required four-credit internship anchors that learning in a real workplace before graduation. That embedded field experience, paired with the practice-first structure, reads as designed for professionals moving into training, organizational development, and workforce learning roles. Delivered in a hybrid format, it accommodates students who are already working while they study. The result is a practical, career-oriented credential for those who want to lead adult learning and development within companies and institutions. As a master's degree in adult and continuing education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as adult basic education in Minnesota.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 3 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
23. 23

    Oregon State University

    Corvallis, ORPublicOnline available

    • 12Master's/yr
    • Master of Education in Adult and Higher Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Oregon State University offers a Master of Education in Adult and Higher Education, a cohort-based, fully online program of 45 quarter credits delivered over roughly two years through OSU Ecampus. The cohort model paired with a required internship suggests a program built to move working professionals through together while grounding the degree in real practice, and the internship can be tailored to individual interests such as instructional design or workplace training rather than forcing a fixed track. That flexibility extends to how students assemble the degree, since up to 22 graduate credits from related certificates and microcredentials can be stacked toward it. The absence of formal tracks reinforces a build-your-own-focus philosophy suited to adults who already know the direction they want to grow. It is not a teacher licensure program, keeping its aim on adult and postsecondary settings. As a master's degree in adult and continuing education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as adult basic education in Oregon.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 12 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
24. 24

    University of Idaho

    Moscow, IDPublic

    • 27Master's/yr
    • Adult, Organizational Learning and Leadership (M.S.)
    • Online
    About the program

    The University of Idaho offers an online Master of Science in Adult, Organizational Learning and Leadership designed for working professionals who develop and lead learning for adults. Students shape the degree around areas of emphasis in adult learning and literacy education, organizational learning, and human resource development, letting them align coursework with the direction they want their careers to take. It is not a licensure program; its focus is on adult and workplace learning rather than K-12 certification. Flexible online delivery across fall, spring, or summer terms, together with both thesis and non-thesis options, makes it manageable for people balancing study with a job. That mix of emphases and pacing choices reads as a program built to fit around adult students who are already employed in education, training, or organizational roles. Earning a master's degree in adult and continuing education is a common route toward becoming one of Idaho's adult basic education.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 27 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
25. 25

    Widener University

    Chester, PAPrivate nonprofit

    • 1Master's/yr
    About the program

    Prospective students should confirm the degree name, delivery format, and requirements with the institution directly. A master's-level path in adult and continuing education, it builds toward a career among adult basic education in Pennsylvania.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site

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