Hakia Education

Best Master's in Biology Teacher Education Programs by Local Teacher Pay

Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology

Published ·Last updated

Ranked by the median wage for elementary teachers in each program metro area, from BLS. The top 25 out of 40 programs reviewed from the IPEDS database.

  1. 1

    Boston College

    Chestnut Hill, MAPrivate nonprofit

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Secondary Education (STEM: Biology)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Boston College's Lynch School offers a Master of Education in Secondary Education with a STEM concentration in Biology that leads to Massachusetts licensure in grades 8-12. The 37-credit program pairs nine courses with four practicum courses, and its full-time track runs a single year plus two summers, while part-time candidates take two to three years, a range that accommodates both career-changers and those balancing other commitments. A school-based practicum with mentor teachers and a capstone teacher research project anchor the degree in real classrooms and reflective inquiry rather than theory alone. Biology sits within a STEM track alongside chemistry, mathematics, and physics, with an optional Teaching English Language Learners certificate available. Candidates drawn to urban education can pursue the Donovan Urban Teaching Scholars pathway, extending the program's classroom focus into high-need schools. It is a master's degree in biology teacher education at the master's level, based in Massachusetts.

    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 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 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

    Merrimack College

    North Andover, MAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 3Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • M.Ed. in Middle School (5-8) and High School (8-12) Education, Biology (8-12) concentration
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Merrimack College offers an M.Ed. in Middle School and High School Education with a Biology (8-12) concentration, a licensure track shaped for candidates entering the profession rather than only deepening existing practice. Because it embeds a full-time student teaching practicum and leads to an Initial teaching license in Massachusetts, the program reads as a genuine preparation pathway, complete with MTEL exams and a Sheltered English Instruction endorsement. The flexible delivery, with courses available online or on campus, lets students fit the coursework to their circumstances, and completion can come in as few as 13 months full-time or over two to three years part-time. Biology sits among a broad menu of content areas that includes chemistry, physics, general science, and math, so the program serves a wide range of aspiring science teachers. Institutional accreditation through NECHE underpins the degree. This program offers a master's degree in biology teacher education in Massachusetts.

    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 3 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 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

    Gordon College

    Wenham, MAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Biology Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Gordon College offers a fully online Master of Education in Biology Education built around the reality of the working classroom. The design is unusually accommodating to teachers already in the field, since candidates may teach under a provisional license while completing the degree in as little as one year, and the program leads to Initial or Professional licensure in Biology for grades 8-12 in Massachusetts. What distinguishes it is the depth of the science itself, with advanced coursework spanning radiobiology, nutritional biochemistry, forensics, quantitative and instrumental analysis, and even astrobiology. That emphasis signals a program interested in strengthening subject-matter command rather than only pedagogy, appealing to educators who want to teach biology with genuine command of the discipline. Approval by the Massachusetts DESE and NASDTEC membership anchor its credential recognition. It is a master's degree in biology teacher education at the master's level, based in Massachusetts.

    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 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 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

    Bridgewater State University

    Bridgewater, MAPublic

    • 3Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching in Biology
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Bridgewater State University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Biology built specifically for practicing middle and high school biology teachers who already hold an initial license and are working toward Massachusetts professional licensure. Because it assumes a teacher already in the classroom, the degree reads as an advancement step rather than an entry point, aimed at educators consolidating their careers rather than career-changers seeking a first credential. Its structure is designed to meet the state's professional-licensure master's degree requirement, aligning the program directly with the next stage of a biology teacher's certification. This clear focus on the initial-to-professional transition sets it apart from initial-certification routes. It is a master's degree in biology teacher education at the master's level, based in Massachusetts.

    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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 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

    State University of New York at New Paltz

    New Paltz, NYPublic

    • 6Master's/yr
    • $97,920Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Education (MSEd) in Adolescence Education: Biology
    • On-campus
    About the program

    SUNY New Paltz offers a Master of Science in Education in Adolescence Education: Biology built for secondary teachers who already hold NYS Initial certification and are working toward the Professional level. Because admission requires that initial credential in biology for grades 7-12, the 30-credit program reads as an advanced degree for practicing science teachers rather than an entry route into the classroom. A two-semester research-based inquiry sequence and a portfolio capstone anchor the coursework, pushing candidates to study their own teaching rather than absorb general theory. Elective flexibility lets already-certified teachers steer the degree toward their own interests and grade-level needs, and the same structure supports parallel tracks in chemistry, earth science, English, mathematics, and social studies. The hybrid format keeps it manageable for teachers balancing full-time work with graduate study. As a master's degree in biology teacher education, it adds to the master's-level biology teacher education options 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 6 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Kingston, NY, where elementary teachers earn a median $97,920, roughly $97,231 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
  6. 6

    Fordham University

    Bronx, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Adolescence Biology (M.S.T.)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Fordham University offers a 30-credit Master of Science in Teaching in Adolescence Biology, a clinically-rich preparation program that leads to New York State certification to teach Biology in grades 7-12. The clinical emphasis and the school's track record, with initial teacher education graduates posting over 95 percent pass rates on the NYSTCE exams each year, characterize a program confident in its ability to move candidates through certification successfully. That combination of hands-on classroom preparation and strong exam outcomes positions it as a dependable route into secondary biology teaching. Prospective applicants should note that admissions were placed on hold for the 2025-2026 cycle while the program underwent a redesign. The program is authorized by NYSED under the biology teacher education classification. This program offers a master's degree in biology teacher 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 1 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
  7. 7

    CUNY Hunter College

    New York, NYPublic

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Adolescent Biology (MA)
    • NYSED-registered program (CIP 13.1322)-accredited
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Hunter College, CUNY offers a Master of Arts in Adolescent Biology that blends serious biology study with hands-on clinical preparation for the classroom. Offered jointly with the Biology Department, the 42-to-44-credit program pairs 14 to 16 credits of graduate biology coursework with a full-time student teaching placement running five days a week for at least a semester, an immersive practicum that marks it as a full preparation pathway toward New York State certification in Biology, grades 7-12. That balance of departmental science depth and extended field experience suits candidates who want to be strong both in the subject and in front of students. Afternoon and evening scheduling, with some online and hybrid courses, accommodates students juggling other obligations. The program is registered with NYSED under the biology teacher education classification. This program offers a master's degree in biology teacher 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 1 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
  8. 8

    Hofstra University

    Hempstead, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 2Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Education in Biology (Science) Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Hofstra University offers a Master of Science in Education in Biology (Science) Education, a 37-semester-hour program aimed at candidates preparing to lead a secondary science classroom. On-campus coursework moves steadily toward practice, with field experiences that build to a full-time student teaching placement so candidates learn the discipline and the craft of teaching it in tandem. Threads of literacy, multicultural education, and instructional technology run throughout, signaling a program that treats biology teaching as more than content delivery. Completion leads to New York State initial teacher certification in Biology for adolescence education, grades 7-12, and also opens a pathway toward additional certification in general science. The result reads as a rounded preparation for teachers who want both depth in biology and the breadth to grow across the science curriculum. As a master's degree in biology teacher education, it adds to the master's-level biology teacher education options 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 2 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
  9. 9

    CUNY City College

    New York, NYPublic

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Science Education, Master of Arts / Master of Science Education - Biology (Grades 7-12)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The City College of New York offers a Science Education master's, available as an M.A. or M.S.Ed., with a Biology concentration for grades 7-12 that leans hard into inquiry-based teaching. Developed in partnership with the American Museum of Natural History, the program equips future teachers with classroom-ready investigations, a hallmark that signals a pedagogy rooted in doing science rather than only reciting it. Flexible scheduling, with hybrid, in-person, and online options plus evening classes, makes it approachable for working adults, and biology sits alongside earth science, chemistry, and physics as concentration choices. Graduates earn New York State certification to teach middle and high school science. Institutional accreditation through MSCHE and NYSED program registration ground the credential. This program offers a master's degree in biology teacher education 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 1 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
  10. 10

    CUNY Queens College

    Queens, NYPublic

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Adolescent Science Education (7-12), M.A.T.
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Queens College, CUNY offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Adolescent Science Education for grades 7-12, structured as a single 42-credit program that carries candidates from Initial through Professional certification in one continuous arc. Students choose a science discipline, with biology alongside chemistry, geosciences, and physics, and the combined design means the first part of the coursework qualifies them for Initial certification to begin teaching while the later part completes the Professional credential. That staged structure reads as a program built to launch a teaching career and then sustain its advancement without a separate second degree. The outcome is New York State certification to teach Science in grades 7-12. NYSED approval as an initial teacher preparation program anchors the credential. It is a master's degree in biology teacher education at the master's level, based 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 1 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
  11. 11

    Manhattanville University

    Purchase, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 4Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching in Adolescence Education (Biology)
    • New York State Education Department approved-accredited
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Manhattanville University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Adolescence Education with a Biology concentration, a New York State approved program delivered in a hybrid format. Students enter as a fall-start cohort and move through the sequence together, a structure that pairs the flexibility of hybrid study with the shared momentum of a fixed group. Mandatory student teaching at partner schools across the Tri-State area anchors the preparation in real classrooms, and comprehensive exams mark the transition toward the profession. The program leads to New York State initial teacher certification in Adolescence Education for grades 7-12 or Middle and Adolescence Education for grades 5-12, with an optional dual certification in special education for those who want a wider mandate. An accelerated Internship Pathway offers a faster route for candidates ready to teach while they train. As a master's degree in biology teacher education, it adds to the master's-level biology teacher education options 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 4 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
  12. 12

    College of Staten Island CUNY

    Staten Island, NYPublic

    • 2Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science Education, Adolescence Education Grades 7-12, Biology
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The College of Staten Island, CUNY offers a Master of Science Education in Adolescence Education for grades 7-12 with a Biology focus, a hybrid program that thoughtfully serves two different kinds of candidates. Its two admission sequences distinguish those entering without prior certification, who complete a heavier 40-to-44-credit path toward Initial certification, from already-certified teachers pursuing the leaner 33-to-38-credit route to Professional certification. That dual structure makes the program equally sensible for a career-changer stepping into biology teaching and for a practicing teacher advancing credentials. Biology sits among four subject-area options within the broader adolescence education program, and the outcome is New York State certification to teach Biology in grades 7-12. The hybrid format supports students balancing study with other commitments. As a master's degree in biology teacher education, it adds to the master's-level biology teacher education options 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 2 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
  13. 13

    Teachers College at Columbia University

    New York, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Teaching Biology: 7-12, M.A. (Initial Certification)
    • New York State Initial Certification, Biology 7-12-accredited
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Teachers College, Columbia University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching Biology for grades 7-12 that leads to New York State initial teacher certification. The 36-credit program deliberately integrates professional education, biology content, and science methods, so candidates develop pedagogy and subject depth in tandem rather than in isolation. Required Gateway Performance Assessments and a final master's portfolio project structure the degree around demonstrated competence, giving it a milestone-driven design that tracks a candidate's growth toward classroom readiness. It suits aspiring biology teachers seeking initial certification, and alternate pathways such as Transitional B for Peace Corps participants and a Teaching Residents route extend the same preparation to nontraditional candidates. The on-campus format keeps the coursework grounded in close faculty mentorship. It is a master's degree in biology teacher education at the master's level, based 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 1 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

    State University of New York at Cortland

    Cortland, NYPublic

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $85,760State teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Teaching in Adolescence Education (Sciences: Biology)
    • Online
    About the program

    SUNY Cortland offers a Master of Science in Teaching in Adolescence Education with a Biology concentration in the sciences, a 40-credit program delivered online. Its structure splits deliberately between 27 credits of coursework and a substantial 13-credit, full-semester student teaching placement, underscoring how much weight the program places on supervised classroom practice. Field experiences and student teaching are arranged in local New York State districts, so even the online format keeps candidates grounded in real schools. Full-time students can finish in eighteen months or less, a pace that suits those who want to enter teaching without a lengthy timeline. Completion fulfills New York State Education Department requirements for initial certification in Biology for grades 7-12 and also counts toward professional certification. This program offers a master's degree in biology teacher 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 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $85,760, roughly $79,466 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

    SUNY College at Potsdam

    Potsdam, NYPublic

    • 4Master's/yr
    • $85,760State teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Teaching (M.S.T.) in Adolescence Education: Science
    • On-campus
    About the program

    SUNY Potsdam offers a fully online Master of Science in Teaching in Adolescence Education: Science that leads to Initial and Professional New York certification for grades 7-12. Candidates choose a biology, chemistry, earth science, or physics track, so the degree functions as a certification route for science specialists moving into secondary teaching. Delivered over three semesters in a small cohort, it pairs online coursework with substantial clinical demands, including 100 hours of fieldwork before a full semester of student teaching split across two placements. That heavy field emphasis, combined with the cohort model, gives the program the feel of a guided apprenticeship into the profession rather than coursework alone. NSTA program recognition and CAEP accreditation reinforce its grounding in national science-teaching standards. This program offers a master's degree in biology teacher education 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 4 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $85,760, roughly $79,466 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

    Lewis & Clark College

    Portland, ORPrivate nonprofit

    • 2Master's/yr
    • $82,330Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching, Secondary Education (Science: Biology endorsement)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Lewis & Clark College offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education with a Biology endorsement, a compressed 13-month, full-time program that leads to an Oregon Preliminary Teaching License for grades 6-12 transferable to other states. Built around a cohort of roughly 25 students, it immerses candidates in about 1,000 hours of K-12 field practicum, culminating in a yearlong placement where they gradually assume full teaching responsibility for the final six weeks. That structure reads as a demanding, practice-first design meant to move candidates quickly but thoroughly from student to lead teacher. Beyond biology, the science endorsement extends to chemistry, integrated science, and physics, and the wider program covers art, English language arts, mathematics, and social science. CAEP accreditation and Oregon TSPC approval anchor the credential in recognized standards. It is a master's degree in biology teacher education at the master's level, based 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 2 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $82,330, roughly $78,096 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

    University at Albany

    Albany, NYPublic

    • 3Master's/yr
    • $79,240Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Secondary Education (Biology concentration)
    • AAQEP (accredited through June 30, 2028)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University at Albany offers a Master of Science in Secondary Education with a Biology concentration, an on-campus program accredited by AAQEP through June 2028. Sitting among concentrations spanning the humanities and sciences, the biology track typically takes about eighteen months and places candidates in full-time student teaching during the final semester, a rhythm that lets coursework and classroom practice reinforce one another. The program leads to New York State initial certification for grades 7-12 and also meets the requirements for professional certification, with candidates completing the Educating All Students exam and the Content Specialty Test. A Great Dane Teacher Pathway lets current UAlbany undergraduates begin graduate coursework in their senior year, offering an early on-ramp for students who already know they want to teach. Together these features read as a structured, credential-focused preparation with a clear head start for the university's own undergraduates. It is a master's degree in biology teacher education at the master's level, based 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 3 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY, where elementary teachers earn a median $79,240, roughly $79,585 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

    Syracuse University

    Syracuse, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 9Master's/yr
    • $78,560Metro teacher pay
    • Science/Biology Education: Preparation (7-12), M.S.
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Syracuse University's School of Education offers a Master of Science in Science/Biology Education: Preparation for grades 7-12, an intensive one-year, full-time route into secondary science teaching. Because no prior teaching experience or certification is required for entry, the 35-credit program is designed for biology-minded candidates making a deliberate move into the profession. Field placements each semester, a mentored science research experience, and a culminating professional portfolio give the year a hands-on, immersive character that blends classroom practice with authentic scientific work. Completing the degree meets the academic requirements for both New York initial and professional certification in biology for grades 7-12. The Baldanza Fellows Program adds full-tuition scholarships, easing the cost of the accelerated full-time format, and parallel tracks exist for chemistry, earth science, and physics. It is a master's degree in biology teacher education at the master's level, based 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 9 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
  19. 19

    Western Governors University

    Salt Lake City, UTPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 57Master's/yr
    • $77,920Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching, Secondary Biology (for aspiring teachers) / Master of Arts, Secondary Biology (for currently licensed teachers)
    • Online
    About the program

    Western Governors University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching, Secondary Biology for aspiring teachers alongside a Master of Arts, Secondary Biology for those already licensed, a two-track structure that lets the same content core serve very different starting points. The M.A.T. path leads to initial teaching licensure in secondary biology, while the M.A. path adds a biology endorsement for teachers who already hold a license, so candidates can enter at whichever stage matches their career. Coursework moves through the content areas a biology teacher needs, including human anatomy and physiology, molecular and cellular biology, heredity and genetics, and zoology. The fully online, competency-based model is self-paced and priced at a flat rate per six-month term, rewarding students who can move quickly through material they already know. Home science lab kits shipped to students and a dedicated Program Mentor round out a design clearly built for working adults balancing study with other commitments. This program offers a master's degree in biology teacher education in Utah.

    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 57 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Salt Lake City-Murray, UT, where elementary teachers earn a median $77,920, roughly $77,249 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

    University at Buffalo

    Buffalo, NYPublic

    • 12Master's/yr
    • $76,490Metro teacher pay
    • Biology Education (Initial/Professional), Ed.M.
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University at Buffalo offers an Ed.M. in Biology Education with tracks for initial certification, professional certification, or a combined initial and professional path, delivered on campus. At 57 credits across four to five full-time semesters, it is a substantial commitment that reflects its ambition to prepare biology teachers thoroughly rather than quickly. A full year of mentored student teaching sits at the center of the experience, giving candidates extended time under guidance in real classrooms. The program pairs that practice with a research orientation toward assessment, equity, inclusion, inquiry, and technology, signaling a view of science teaching that is reflective and evidence-informed. Completion earns an institutional recommendation for New York State initial certification in Biology Education for grades 7-12, and, on the combined track, professional certification as well. This program offers a master's degree in biology teacher 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. 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
  21. 21

    Niagara University

    Niagara University, NYPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 14Master's/yr
    • $76,490Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Elementary and Secondary Education (Secondary Education, Biology certification track)
    • CAEP-accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    Niagara University offers a Master of Science in Education in Elementary and Secondary Education, with a secondary Biology certification track delivered fully online. The 39-credit program is cohort-based and CAEP-accredited, combining the convenience of remote coursework with the accountability of a nationally recognized teacher-preparation standard. What distinguishes it is the emphasis on paid pre-student-teaching field placements arranged through district partnerships, which let candidates earn while they build classroom experience before a final-semester student teaching practicum. That arrangement reads as a program built for working adults who need income and access to schools while they prepare. Graduates qualify for New York State initial and professional educator certification after passing the Educating All Students test and the Content Specialty Test. As a master's degree in biology teacher education, it adds to the master's-level biology teacher education options 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 14 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
  22. 22

    University of Rochester

    Rochester, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $62,840Metro teacher pay
    • MS in Adolescence Education: Biology (Grades 7-12)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Rochester's Warner School offers an MS in Adolescence Education: Biology for grades 7-12, positioned as the school's most direct route into secondary science teaching. With a summer start and a full-time schedule, candidates can finish in about fifteen months, making this an efficient on-campus option for those ready to commit intensively. The compressed timeline still carries candidates to both New York State initial and professional certification, a dual outcome that usually requires more time elsewhere. A capstone project focused specifically on science education gives the degree an applied finish, asking candidates to synthesize their learning around the teaching of biology. The overall design suits career changers and recent graduates who want to move quickly and decisively into the classroom. As a master's degree in biology teacher education, it adds to the master's-level biology teacher education options 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 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Rochester, NY, where elementary teachers earn a median $62,840, roughly $64,760 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

    University of Louisville

    Louisville, KYPublic

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $61,610Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education (Biology)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Louisville offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education with a Biology concentration that leads to Kentucky teaching certification in grades 8-12. Biology sits among a wide slate of content areas including chemistry, earth and space science, English, mathematics, physics, social studies, and world languages, so candidates prepare within a broad secondary-teaching program. The minimum 30-credit design is heavily field-oriented, requiring nine hours of supervised student teaching and 200 documented field-experience hours before a midpoint assessment, a structure that puts candidates in classrooms early and often. Certification requires the state PRAXIS content and principles of learning and teaching exams. An Early Start pathway lets undergraduate biology, chemistry, and math majors earn the MAT within five years, making it an efficient route for science students committed to teaching. As a master's degree in biology teacher education, it adds to the master's-level biology teacher education options 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 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,610, roughly $66,195 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

    American College of Education

    Indianapolis, INPrivate for-profitOnline available

    • 10Master's/yr
    • $60,510Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Biology Education
    • Higher Learning Commission (institutional)-accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    American College of Education offers a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Biology Education, an online program that concentrates on biology content rather than the path to K-12 certification. Its 18 hours of biology coursework can be selected by focus area and are often used to meet the credit thresholds for community college or dual-credit teaching, marking this as a program for educators aiming at postsecondary and dual-enrollment classrooms. The institution holds Higher Learning Commission accreditation, and the degree is explicitly positioned toward instruction beyond the K-12 licensure track. At 34 semester credits and completable in roughly 12 to 16 months, it moves at a brisk pace suited to working professionals. Multiple flexible start dates and a capstone with a research-methods component let students fit the degree around their schedules while still producing a culminating scholarly project. It is a master's degree in biology teacher education at the master's level, based 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 10 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
  25. 25

    Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global

    Marion, INPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $59,700State teacher pay
    • Master of Science (M.S.) in Biology Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Indiana Wesleyan University offers a Master of Science (M.S.) in Biology Education built for teachers who are already in the classroom and want to go deeper in their subject. Applicants must hold a valid state teaching license with a biology or life science endorsement plus at least one year of P-12 experience, so the program functions as content enrichment rather than a route to initial licensure. The integrated coursework spans cell biology, genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, ecology, and evolution without breaking into separate named tracks, giving practicing teachers a broad refresh of the discipline. The 33-credit program locks in a per-credit tuition rate at enrollment, a practical reassurance for working educators managing costs over time. A faith-based, Christ-centered framing runs throughout the coursework, shaping the institutional character of the experience. As a master's degree in biology teacher education, it adds to the master's-level biology teacher education options 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 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Indiana statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $59,700, roughly $63,967 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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