Best Master's in Agricultural Teacher Education Programs by Degrees Awarded

1. 1

   California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

   San Luis Obispo, CAPublic

   • 60Master's/yr
   • Master of Agricultural Education
   • Not publicly listed on the program page-accredited
   • On-campus
   About the program

   California Polytechnic State University offers a Master of Agricultural Education built for people already teaching agriculture who want to grow professionally without stepping away from their classrooms. The degree is a non-thesis, terminal program that follows Cal Poly's signature learn by doing philosophy, and it requires at least one year of successful high school or community college teaching experience, which confirms it is aimed at working agricultural educators rather than newcomers. That experience prerequisite and the practical, project-oriented design mark it as continued professional development for practitioners preparing to strengthen their careers as agricultural education teachers. Delivered on campus, it keeps candidates connected to the applied, hands-on culture of the field. This master's-level agricultural teacher education program prepares graduates for work as career in California.

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

   School site
2. 2

   Murray State University

   Murray, KYPublic

   • 50Master's/yr
   • $60,610State teacher pay
   • Master of Science in Agriculture with a concentration in Agricultural Education
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Murray State University offers a Master of Science in Agriculture in which agricultural education is one of four concentrations, sitting alongside agribusiness economics, sustainable agriculture, and veterinary hospital management within a shared graduate degree. That framing places education-focused students in a broad agricultural sciences program rather than a standalone teaching track, so they build disciplinary depth in agriculture while specializing in education. Candidates choose a thesis or non-thesis route, with the non-thesis path culminating in a comprehensive written exam, an oral exam, and a research presentation that keep applied inquiry central. For those who want to go further, Murray State also offers an Educational Specialist degree in Agricultural Education that transitions into its Ed.D. in P-20 and Community Leadership. The result is a laddered set of options for agriculture professionals building toward instructional and leadership roles. As a master's degree in agricultural teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as career in Kentucky.

   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 50 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
3. 3

   University of Florida

   Gainesville, FLPublicOnline available

   • 18Master's/yr
   • $56,430Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Science in Agricultural Education and Communication
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   The University of Florida offers a Master of Science in Agricultural Education and Communication that spans four specialization areas, agricultural education, agricultural communication, extension education, and agricultural leadership education, letting students shape the degree toward classroom teaching, outreach, or industry communication. Coursework runs both on campus and online through the AEC e-Learning Institute, so the program accommodates residential students and working professionals within the same catalog. That reach is reinforced by stackable graduate certificates in Teaching and Learning in Agricultural and Life Sciences, Leadership in Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Agriscience Secondary Teaching Preparation, which students can layer onto the master's or pursue on their own. The breadth of concentrations and delivery options reads as a program serving several audiences at once, from future secondary instructors to extension and communication specialists across the agricultural and life sciences. This master's-level agricultural teacher education program prepares graduates for work as career in Florida.

   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 18 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Gainesville, FL, where elementary teachers earn a median $56,430, roughly $58,336 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

   Texas A&M University-College Station

   College Station, TXPublicOnline available

   • 18Master's/yr
   • Master of Education in Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications
   • Not publicly listed on the program page-accredited
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   Texas A&M University offers a Master of Education in Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications as a non-thesis, 36 semester-credit-hour degree for professionals moving into applied roles across the field. The department frames this M.Ed. alongside a thesis-oriented M.S. and a separate non-thesis M.Agr., so students can pick the coursework-driven, practice-focused route the M.Ed. represents. Its coverage of formal and informal agricultural education points toward careers in teaching, extension, and communications rather than pure research. Candidates interested in Texas agricultural science teacher certification can pursue the degree in conjunction with the department's Graduate and Accelerate Online certification pathway, adding a route into the classroom for those who want it. The hybrid delivery keeps the program flexible for working students building toward leadership. Graduates of this agricultural teacher education program at the master's level often go on to work as career.

   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.

   School site
5. 5

   University of Arkansas

   Fayetteville, ARPublicOnline available

   • 14Master's/yr
   • $61,010Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Science in Agricultural and Extension Education
   • Not publicly listed on the program page-accredited
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   The University of Arkansas offers a Master of Science in Agricultural and Extension Education that lets students build the degree around faculty specializations and their own career direction. The 33-semester-hour program pairs a shared core with an emphasis area in agricultural education, communications, leadership, or system technology management, plus a technical area, so students can weight the degree toward research or toward applied professional work. A thesis option devotes credits to independent research, while a non-thesis option trades those hours for additional electives and a communication course, and both routes close with a comprehensive oral or written exam. That thesis-or-not structure signals a program serving both future scholars and practitioners heading into extension, industry, or teaching. The hybrid delivery adds flexibility for students balancing study with work in agricultural fields. Earning a master's degree in agricultural teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Arkansas's career.

   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 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,010, roughly $66,785 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

   New Mexico State University-Main Campus

   Las Cruces, NMPublicOnline available

   • 14Master's/yr
   • Master of Arts in Agricultural and Extension Education
   • On-campus
   About the program

   New Mexico State University offers an online Master of Arts in Agricultural and Extension Education that spans the many settings where agricultural knowledge is taught, from public school classrooms to Cooperative Extension offices and international development work. Students can emphasize public school agriculture education, extension education, international extension and development, or adult non-formal education, which makes the degree flexible for both classroom teachers and community educators. The 30-hour program offers a six-credit thesis for those leaning toward research or a four-credit Creative Component for those focused on applied practice. Delivered online, it fits working professionals who cannot relocate, and its participation in NMSU's Master's Accelerated Program lets qualified undergraduates begin up to twelve graduate credits before finishing their bachelor's. The breadth of emphases signals a program built to serve agricultural educators across formal and informal contexts. As a master's degree in agricultural teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as career in New Mexico.

   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
7. 7

   University of Missouri-Columbia

   Columbia, MOPublicOnline available

   • 13Master's/yr
   • Master of Science in Agricultural Leadership, Communication and Education
   • Online
   About the program

   The University of Missouri offers a fully online Master of Science in Agricultural Leadership, Communication and Education delivered through the Innovative Digital Education Alliance, a consortium of twenty public universities in which students apply to and graduate from Mizzou while taking courses taught by faculty across the partner institutions. The program requires no campus visits and is typically completed in under three years at two classes per semester, a cadence designed for working adults. Students select among three options, a creative component for those teaching high school or adults, a creative component paired with teacher certification, and a thesis route. The certification track can lead to initial secondary teacher certification in Missouri for candidates who already hold a related bachelor's degree. Backed by Higher Learning Commission institutional accreditation, the consortium model gives distance students unusual breadth of instruction. Graduates of this agricultural teacher education program at the master's level often go on to work as career.

   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.

   School site
8. 8

   California State University-Chico

   Chico, CAPublicOnline available

   • 13Master's/yr
   • Master of Science in Agricultural Education
   • Online
   About the program

   California State University, Chico offers a Master of Science in Agricultural Education delivered fully online through the AG*IDEA consortium, which pools courses from accredited universities so students draw on a wider range of faculty than any single campus could provide. The curriculum moves across teaching methods, curriculum development, global leadership, and the recruitment and retention of non-traditional agriculture students rather than sorting into named tracks, giving the degree a broad professional-development feel. It is built for educators who already hold a credential and want to deepen their practice, since the program advances beyond initial credentialing rather than substituting for it. Students can accept up to nine transfer units and choose among a traditional thesis, a comprehensive exam, or an applied culminating project to finish. That flexible online structure and menu of endings suit working professionals fitting graduate study around a teaching career. As a master's degree in agricultural teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as career in California.

   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
9. 9

   Ohio State University-Main Campus

   Columbus, OHPublic

   • 11Master's/yr
   • Agricultural and Extension Education, Master of Education
   • On-campus
   About the program

   The Ohio State University offers a Master of Education in Agricultural and Extension Education housed in its Department of Agricultural Communication, Education and Leadership, serving both future teachers and agriculture professionals through two paths. A general track suits those aiming at extension and professional roles, while a Teacher Education focus adjusts coursework, including any needed remedial or conditional courses, to help qualified candidates meet Ohio teaching licensure requirements. Graduates often go on to teach agriculture in high schools or move into agricultural and extension education positions, reflecting the department's dual mission. Admission runs on an annual cycle, with applications opening in August and closing December 1, so the program takes in a single cohort each year. The structure reads as a flexible degree that can point toward the classroom or toward broader professional practice depending on the student's focus. Earning a master's degree in agricultural teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Ohio's career.

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

   School site
10. 10

    North Carolina A & T State University

    Greensboro, NCPublicHBCUOnline available

    • 10Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Agricultural Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    North Carolina A&T State University offers an online Master of Science in Agricultural Education that splits cleanly between two audiences through its concentration structure. The Professional Licensure track prepares candidates to teach agriscience in North Carolina middle and high schools and to pursue advanced graduate-level state licensure, while the Professional Service track serves those headed into agribusiness, Cooperative Extension, government, or legal careers. The 30 credit-hour degree offers both thesis and non-thesis options, and each student works with an individual graduate committee, giving the online experience a mentored feel. Delivered at a distance and available across state lines through NC-SARA, it reaches practicing agriculture teachers who cannot step away from their jobs. Candidates outside North Carolina should note that the program is approved for North Carolina licensure only and does not meet licensure requirements in other states. Graduates of this agricultural teacher education program at the master's level often go on to work as career.

    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.

    School site
11. 11

    Texas Tech University

    Lubbock, TXPublicOnline available

    • 9Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Agricultural Education
    • Not publicly listed on the program page-accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    Texas Tech University offers a Master of Science in Agricultural Education delivered online for professionals shaping educational and training programs in agriculture. Students choose between a thesis track of 30 credit hours anchored by an original research project and a non-thesis track of 36 credit hours capped by a comprehensive project or exam, a fork that serves both future scholars and applied practitioners. Coursework in designing educational and training programs, teaching and training methods, leadership development, and agricultural communication gives the degree a hands-on, program-building orientation. The online delivery signals a program built to reach working educators, extension staff, and industry trainers wherever they are. That combination of flexible format and dual capstone options reads as a degree meant to adapt to each student's career direction. Earning a master's degree in agricultural teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Texas's career.

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

    School site
12. 12

    Oregon State University

    Corvallis, ORPublic

    • 9Master's/yr
    • Agricultural Education, Master of Science
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Oregon State University offers a Master of Science in Agricultural Education that concentrates the whole path to becoming a secondary agriculture teacher into an accelerated one-year, 45-credit degree. Students choose among emphasis areas in formal school-based education, non-formal education, leadership, communications, and extension and outreach, and the formal track builds in Oregon teacher licensure for those preparing to lead secondary agriculture programs. As the only agriculture teacher education program in the state, Oregon State gives candidates direct access to partners such as the Oregon FFA Association and the Oregon Agriculture Teachers' Association, connecting coursework to the professional community they will join. The compressed timeline and licensure emphasis read as a focused, fast route for people committed to teaching agriculture in Oregon classrooms. Students drawn to research or non-formal work can instead lean into the leadership, communications, or extension emphases within the same degree. This master's-level agricultural teacher education program prepares graduates for work as career in Oregon.

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

    School site
13. 13

    Oklahoma State University-Main Campus

    Stillwater, OKPublicOnline available

    • 8Master's/yr
    • Agricultural Education and Leadership, Master of Science
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Oklahoma State University offers a Master of Science in Agricultural Education and Leadership delivered fully asynchronously online, requiring no campus visits and running through the Desire2Learn or Moodle platforms. The program is designed for people entering or advancing careers in both formal and non-formal teaching, so it speaks to classroom agriculture teachers and community and industry educators alike. Its non-thesis Formal Report option requires 32 approved credit hours, including a two-credit formal report that lets students apply their learning to a practical project rather than a full thesis. The GRE is waived for applicants who hold at least a 3.25 undergraduate GPA, lowering a common barrier for working professionals returning to school. The self-paced, entirely remote structure marks this as a program built for flexibility and career growth across the agricultural education field. A master's-level path in agricultural teacher education, it builds toward a career among career in Oklahoma.

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

    School site
14. 14

    North Dakota State University-Main Campus

    Fargo, NDPublicOnline available

    • 8Master's/yr
    • Agricultural Education (Master of Education or Master of Science)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    North Dakota State University offers Agricultural Education as either a Master of Education or a Master of Science, aimed squarely at current school-based agricultural educators who want to advance their practice while continuing to teach. Students can concentrate in vocational and extension education or international extension, with individualized pathways that adapt to whether they are classroom teachers or other agriculture professionals. Offered fully online, though also available on campus, and paired with personalized academic advising, the program is structured around the realities of educators already working in the field. Its participation in the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance, an eleven-university consortium, broadens the coursework students can access from a distance. The degree is accredited by CAEP and approved by the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board, which anchors it within the state's educator preparation framework. As a master's degree in agricultural teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as career in North Dakota.

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

    School site
15. 15

    Michigan State University

    East Lansing, MIPublic

    • 7Master's/yr
    • Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Education Master of Arts
    • Online
    About the program

    Michigan State University offers an online Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Education Master of Arts through its Department of Community Sustainability, aimed squarely at certified teachers and other educators pursuing continued professional study. The program runs at least thirty credits under a non-thesis Plan B option, signaling a practice-oriented degree meant to strengthen teaching rather than launch a research career. Coursework centers on youth leadership, experiential learning, and laboratory learning within agriculture, food, and natural resources contexts, the hands-on domains that define the field. Undergraduates at MSU can accelerate through a Dual-Linked BS/MA option that folds graduate study into the bachelor's timeline. Delivered online and framed around applied learning, the degree fits working educators who want to deepen their AFNR instruction without leaving the classroom. A master's-level path in agricultural teacher education, it builds toward a career among career in Michigan.

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

    School site
16. 16

    South Dakota State University

    Brookings, SDPublic

    • 7Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Agricultural Education
    • Not publicly listed on the program page-accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    South Dakota State University offers a Master of Science in Agricultural Education delivered online through the interdisciplinary IDEA online alliance, an arrangement that charges a common per-credit price regardless of where a student lives. That shared-alliance model and flat tuition frame the degree as an accessible option for professionals across state lines rather than a residents-only program. Coursework spans formal and informal agricultural education, postsecondary education, nonprofit organizations, and agriculture-industry leadership, giving students room to steer the degree toward teaching, outreach, or organizational work. The breadth of those focus areas suggests a program serving a mix of classroom educators, extension staff, and industry professionals. The fully online format keeps it within reach of working adults balancing careers with study. Earning a master's degree in agricultural teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of South Dakota's career.

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

    School site
17. 17

    University of Arizona

    Tucson, AZPublic

    • 6Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Agricultural Education
    • Not publicly listed on the program page-accredited
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    The University of Arizona offers a Master of Science in Agricultural Education that splits into two clearly different tracks for two different kinds of students. A campus-based Research Emphasis in Tucson supports full-time students pursuing scholarly work and is eligible for graduate assistantship funding, while a Professional Agriculture Emphasis delivered through Arizona Online serves working professionals already established in agricultural fields. That fork lets the department house both an academic, research-oriented path and a practitioner path under one degree, and students shape their studies around an emphasis area either way. The hybrid design reflects that dual audience, with in-person research training on one side and flexible online delivery on the other. The result is a program that can move a student toward a research career or toward advancement in agricultural industry and outreach. Earning a master's degree in agricultural teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Arizona's career.

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

    School site
18. 18

    University of Idaho

    Moscow, IDPublic

    • 6Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Agricultural Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Idaho offers a 30-credit Master of Science in Agricultural Education through its Department of Agricultural Education, Leadership and Communications, with the option to complete the degree at either the Moscow or Boise location. Housed in an agricultural education department, the program carries teacher licensure preparation alongside its graduate coursework, positioning it for those aiming at school-based agriculture instruction. Students choose between a thesis and a non-thesis path, and the non-thesis option concentrates on advanced study by requiring at least eighteen credits at the 500 level. That structure gives the degree two clear identities, one geared toward research and one toward applied professional depth. The dual-campus delivery and department focus make it a practical choice for Idaho educators and agriculture professionals staying close to home. Graduates of this agricultural teacher education program at the master's level often go on to work as career.

    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.

    School site
19. 19

    Montana State University

    Bozeman, MTPublic

    • 6Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Agricultural Education
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Montana State University offers a Master of Science in Agricultural Education that gives students three distinct routes to completion, reflecting a program comfortable serving both researchers and practitioners. A thesis option pairs twenty coursework credits with ten thesis credits, a professional paper option shifts the balance toward coursework with a shorter written project, and a professional master's option relies on thirty coursework credits capped by a comprehensive exam instead of a written product. Through cooperation with the College of Education, Health and Human Development, students can add specialization coursework in adult education, educational administration, higher education, and curriculum coordination. That cross-college reach lets the degree extend beyond secondary agriculture into administrative and postsecondary interests. The graduated set of culminating options makes it adaptable to educators at different career stages and goals. This master's-level agricultural teacher education program prepares graduates for work as career in Montana.

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

    School site
20. 20

    State University of New York at Oswego

    Oswego, NYPublicOnline available

    • 5Master's/yr
    • $78,560Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Education, major in Agricultural Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    SUNY Oswego offers a fully online Master of Science in Education in Agricultural Education that carries the same faculty and rigor as its campus program while fitting the schedules of working educators. Students choose between a track for grades 7-12 subject specialists and an all-grades track for generalists, and both lead to initial and professional certification to teach agricultural education in New York State. The 36-credit program is delivered through live, instructor-led online classes rather than self-paced modules, and it embeds internships, clinical placements, and service-learning field experiences so candidates gain supervised classroom time. A personal concierge point of contact guides students through the process, reinforcing the sense of a supported online pathway. With CAEP accreditation of the School of Education and Middle States accreditation of the university, the degree offers a recognized, licensure-bearing route into agriculture teaching. This master's-level agricultural teacher education program prepares graduates for work as career in New York.

    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 5 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Syracuse, NY, where elementary teachers earn a median $78,560, roughly $82,054 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
21. 21

    Mississippi State University

    Mississippi State, MSPublic

    • 4Master's/yr
    • $49,790State teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Agricultural and Extension Education
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Mississippi State University offers a Master of Science in Agricultural and Extension Education organized into three tracks, Community and Extension Education, Teaching and Learning, and Agriculture Teacher Licensure, so students can aim at outreach, instructional practice, or a formal path into the classroom. The licensure concentration is the most structured, requiring two eight-week teaching internship placements and comprehensive exams, and graduates may apply for Mississippi teaching licensure after completing requirements and submitting Praxis II scores. Across tracks the 33-hour degree offers both thesis and non-thesis creative-component pathways, balancing research and applied work. A related fully online Master of Agriculture with an agricultural and extension education concentration extends access for those who cannot come to campus. The internship-anchored licensure route in particular reads as built for future secondary agriculture teachers in the state. This master's-level agricultural teacher education program prepares graduates for work as career in Mississippi.

    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 4 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Mississippi statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $49,790, roughly $57,261 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
22. 22

    University of Nebraska-Lincoln

    Lincoln, NEPublic

    • 4Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Leadership Education (Teaching and Extension Education Specialization)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Nebraska-Lincoln offers a Master of Science in Leadership Education with a Teaching and Extension Education Specialization for professionals who work in agricultural and extension settings and want to strengthen how they lead and instruct. The 30 credit-hour degree pairs leadership scholarship with focused study in research methods and program evaluation, so students learn both to teach and to measure whether their programs work. An optional thesis or individual project lets candidates tailor the work toward research or applied practice depending on their goals. Because it can be taken through distance, hybrid, or on-campus formats, the program accommodates people already established in extension or teaching roles. It is worth noting that this specialization does not confer public school teaching certification, and students seeking that pathway are directed to the agricultural education graduate faculty instead. The result reads as a leadership credential for educators outside the K-12 licensure track. A master's-level path in agricultural teacher education, it builds toward a career among career in Nebraska.

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

    School site
23. 23

    Northwest Missouri State University

    Maryville, MOPublic

    • 4Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Education with a concentration in teaching secondary agricultural education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Northwest Missouri State University offers a Master of Science in Education with a concentration in teaching secondary agricultural education, administered jointly by the College of Education and the School of Agricultural Sciences so students draw on both pedagogy and agricultural content. The 32-credit program, with at least sixteen hours taken at the 600 level, prepares graduates for high school teaching, community college instruction, extension services, or educational program coordination. Because admission expects a B.S.Ed. background, the degree reads as an advanced step for those already grounded in education rather than a first entry into teaching. Its joint administration keeps agricultural subject matter and instructional theory in close contact throughout the coursework. The range of intended roles signals a program preparing versatile agricultural educators for classrooms and beyond. A master's-level path in agricultural teacher education, it builds toward a career among career in Missouri.

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

    School site
24. 24

    University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

    Minneapolis, MNPublic

    • 3Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Agricultural Education and Communication
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Minnesota offers a Master of Science in Agricultural Education and Communication built around two distinct sub-plans, one leading to initial teaching licensure and one focused on professional studies, so a single degree serves both aspiring teachers and practicing professionals. The Initial Licensure sub-plan prepares candidates to teach school-based agricultural education in Minnesota, carrying Ag Ed 5-12 licensure along with a Teacher Coordinator of Work-based Learning 9-12 endorsement, and the university notes it is the only institution in the state offering this post-baccalaureate pathway. Now housed in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, the program pairs that education focus with agriculture's disciplinary home. The customizable structure lets students weight the degree toward classroom certification or toward communication and professional advancement. That split makes it a clear destination for Minnesotans entering agricultural teaching. A master's-level path in agricultural teacher education, it builds toward a career among career 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
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    University of Wisconsin-River Falls

    River Falls, WIPublic

    • 3Master's/yr
    • $79,730Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Agricultural Education
    • Not publicly listed on the program page-accredited
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    The University of Wisconsin-River Falls offers a Master of Science in Agricultural Education that serves two clearly distinct audiences through parallel tracks. A Professional Development track deepens the practice of those already teaching agriculture, while an Initial Teaching Licensure track opens the classroom to candidates who hold a non-teaching bachelor's degree and can document 2,000 hours of agriculture, food, and natural-resources work experience alongside additional undergraduate and graduate credits. That licensure route makes the program a genuine on-ramp into secondary agricultural education for career changers, not just an advancement credential. Both tracks offer three completion plans, a thesis, a research paper, or a capstone portfolio, each at least 30 semester credits, so students can weight the degree toward research or applied practice. The hybrid blend of online and face-to-face coursework keeps it workable for students already in the field. Earning a master's degree in agricultural teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Wisconsin's career.

    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. Its graduates step into Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, where elementary teachers earn a median $79,730, roughly $76,062 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

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