Hakia Education

Best Master's in Adult and Continuing Education Programs by Degrees Awarded

Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology

Published ·Last updated

Ranked by the number of master's degrees awarded each year, the most established programs. The top 25 out of 40 programs reviewed from the IPEDS database.

  1. 1

    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
  2. 2

    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

    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 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
  3. 3

    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

    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 35 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
  4. 4

    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
  5. 5

    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
  6. 6

    Pennsylvania State University-World Campus

    University Park, PAPublicOnline available

    • 32Master's/yr
    • Master of Education in Lifelong Learning and Adult Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Pennsylvania State University's World Campus offers a Master of Education in Lifelong Learning and Adult Education, delivered fully online and asynchronously so professionals can study from anywhere on their own time. The 30-credit non-thesis program stands out for its choice of specialization options, letting students pursue a general M.Ed., a Global Online and Distance Education focus, or a Medical and Health Professions focus depending on the setting they serve. That flexibility, along with the option to earn a related postbaccalaureate certificate alongside the degree, reads as a program built to fit adult learners into distinct professional niches. Coursework culminates in ADTED 588, a Professional Seminar tying research to adult education practice. No teaching license is granted, but the coursework is Act 48-approved for Pennsylvania educator professional-development hours, adding value for practicing educators. 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

    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 32 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
  7. 7

    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

    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 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
  8. 8

    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
  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

    Waldorf University

    Forest City, IAPrivate for-profitOnline available

    • 24Master's/yr
    • Master of Education, Teaching and Learning Concentration
    • Online
    About the program

    Waldorf University offers an online Master of Education with a Teaching and Learning concentration aimed at educators who are already in the profession and want to strengthen their practice. The 36-credit program pairs a 24-credit major with 12 concentration credits and is built around personal leadership development and twenty-first-century digital teaching strategies, framing it as professional growth rather than a first step into the classroom. It does not itself provide state educator certification, and for candidates who need licensure the university partners with TeacherReady, keeping the degree focused on already-licensed teaching professionals. Delivered fully online, it fits working educators who want to study while continuing to teach. Waldorf University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, so the credential carries recognized standing. A master's-level path in adult and continuing education, it builds toward a career among adult basic education in Iowa.

    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 24 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
  11. 11

    University of Southern Maine

    Portland, MEPublicOnline available

    • 19Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Adult and Higher Education
    • Online
    About the program

    The University of Southern Maine offers an online Master of Science in Adult and Higher Education whose breadth of concentrations makes it a hub for several distinct career paths at once. Students can steer toward student affairs, teaching and learning in higher education, nonprofit and corporate training, or adult education, with an Adult Education Director Certification available as a focus area for those seeking a formal credential. That certification option gives the degree a licensure-style outcome for adult education leaders, while the other tracks stay squarely professional. The 36-credit program lets students choose between an internship and a directed-study project, matching either applied field experience or a scholarly capstone to their goals. With no GRE required and fully online delivery, it reads as an accessible route for working adults moving into higher education and adult learning leadership. 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 Maine.

    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 19 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
  12. 12

    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
  13. 13

    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
  14. 14

    Northwestern Oklahoma State University

    Alva, OKPublic

    • 16Master's/yr
    • Master of Education, Adult Education Management and Administration option
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Northwestern Oklahoma State University offers a Master of Education with an Adult Education Management and Administration option, a 36-credit-hour on-campus program built for those who lead rather than enter the K-12 classroom. Its emphasis on management and administration, paired with a general electives pathway and a Sports Administration specialization pathway, positions the degree for faculty and administrators working in community and junior colleges, career-technical schools, and adult education programs. The program culminates in a comprehensive exam with an oral defense, with an optional three-to-six-hour thesis for students who want a research component, so it accommodates both practitioner and scholarly ambitions. It does not lead to elementary or secondary teacher certification, which keeps the focus on postsecondary and adult leadership settings. The result is a flexible credential for educators moving into program and institutional roles. Earning a master's degree in adult and continuing education is a common route toward becoming one of Oklahoma'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.

    School site
  15. 15

    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
  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

    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

    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 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
  18. 18

    University of Houston-Victoria

    Victoria, TXPublicOnline available

    • 14Master's/yr
    • Master of Education in Adult and Higher Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Texas A&M University-Victoria offers a Master of Education in Adult and Higher Education, a 30-credit-hour program delivered completely online. Its two tracks give the degree a clear split in purpose, with a Higher Education track oriented toward student affairs and higher education administration leadership and a Discipline track that prepares graduates to teach a specific subject at the postsecondary level. That structure lets the program serve both the administrator and the aspiring college instructor within a single credential. The fully online delivery makes it accessible to working professionals across the region and beyond. The institution was formerly the University of Houston-Victoria and is now Texas A&M University-Victoria, with its former uhv.edu web address redirecting to tamuv.edu. This master's-level adult and continuing education program prepares graduates for work as adult basic education in Texas.

    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 14 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
  19. 19

    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
  20. 20

    Park University

    Parkville, MOPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 13Master's/yr
    • Master of Education in Organizational Leadership and Adult Learning
    • Higher Learning Commission (institutional)-accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    Park University offers an online Master of Education in Organizational Leadership and Adult Learning organized around a scholar-practitioner model, meaning students are trained to ground leadership decisions in evidence while working through problems drawn from their own settings. The program moves students through its 30 credits in small cohorts, a design that builds a close professional community and keeps the learning collaborative rather than isolated. A culminating capstone project asks students to synthesize their studies into applied work, reinforcing the practical, workplace-facing orientation of the degree. That combination of cohort structure and capstone reads as built for working adults stepping into leadership across organizations and adult education. Backed by the university's Higher Learning Commission accreditation, it suits professionals who want a focused, applied path into organizational and adult learning leadership. This master's-level adult and continuing education program prepares graduates for work as adult basic education in Missouri.

    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 13 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
  21. 21

    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

    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.

    School site
  22. 22

    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

    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 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
  23. 23

    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

    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 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
  24. 24

    Empire State University

    Saratoga Springs, NYPublicOnline available

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

    SUNY Empire State University offers an online Master of Arts in Adult Education with three concentrations, General, Workplace Learning, and Community Education, that let students orient the degree toward corporate training, community programming, or a broad foundation. The program closes with a two-course capstone sequence in which students choose among a Professional Project, a Practicum of at least 120 supervised field hours, or a Policy Brief, so the finish line can be applied, research-based, or policy-focused depending on the career ahead. That menu of exit options reads as built for adults with varied professional goals rather than a single prescribed path. Recognizing that many enter with substantial experience, the program accepts up to twelve credits of prior learning assessment toward the degree. Delivered fully online, it fits working adults who want a flexible, experience-friendly route through adult education. This master's-level adult and continuing education program prepares graduates for work as adult basic education in New York.

    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.

    School site
  25. 25

    Cleveland State University

    Cleveland, OHPublic

    • 12Master's/yr
    • Master of Education in Adult, Professional & Higher Education
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Cleveland State University offers a Master of Education in Adult, Professional & Higher Education with two tracks that pull the degree in complementary directions, one centered on adult, professional, and higher education broadly and the other on Instructional Design and Technology. That pairing lets students choose between leadership across adult and postsecondary settings and the more technical work of building learning experiences. The 30-credit program offers a choice of exit option, a three-credit thesis or a three-credit ALD Portfolio Capstone, so students can lean research-oriented or portfolio-based depending on their goals. Rolling admissions and a hybrid format signal a program designed to accommodate working professionals who need to start when they are ready. It reads as a flexible, practice-minded path for those advancing in adult, professional, and higher education. This master's-level adult and continuing education program prepares graduates for work as adult basic education in Ohio.

    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.

    School site

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