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

1. 1

   Grand Canyon University

   Phoenix, AZPrivate for-profitOnline available

   • 98Master's/yr
   • $59,180Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Science in Biology with an Emphasis in Education
   • Online
   About the program

   Grand Canyon University offers an online Master of Science in Biology with an Emphasis in Education, a 34-credit degree that strengthens biology content knowledge while introducing the tools of teaching rather than leading to a state license. Delivered in an eight-week online course format, it moves candidates through ecology, cellular and molecular biology, physiology, and microbiology alongside curriculum design and adult-learning theory, a blend well suited to educators and professionals who want deeper science and the ability to convey it. The absence of a thesis or capstone keeps the emphasis on coursework and content mastery, making it a practical option for working students. As a non-licensure program it does not by itself grant a teaching credential. Institutional accreditation comes through the Higher Learning Commission. This program offers a master's degree in biology teacher education in Arizona.

   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 98 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ, where elementary teachers earn a median $59,180, roughly $57,281 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

   School site
2. 2

   Western 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

   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 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
3. 3

   Miami University-Oxford

   Oxford, OHPublic

   • 27Master's/yr
   • Science Education, M.A.T.
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Miami University in Ohio offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Science Education for candidates who hold a bachelor's degree in another field and want to enter secondary teaching. Seven subject-area licensure options, including Life Science, Life Science/Chemistry, Life Science/Earth Science, Chemistry, Earth Science, Earth Science/Chemistry, and Physical Science, let candidates map existing coursework onto an Ohio teaching license for grades 7-12, with the Life Science option covering biology content. The flexible timeline, typically about two and a half years but completable in as few as three semesters depending on background, marks it as a career-changer program that adjusts to what a candidate already knows. The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program helps fund candidates committed to teaching in high-need schools. The on-campus format supports the close clinical preparation that Ohio licensure requires. As a master's degree in biology teacher education, it adds to the master's-level biology teacher education options in Ohio.

   Why it ranks here

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

   School site
4. 4

   Stony Brook University

   Stony Brook, NYPublic

   • 25Master's/yr
   • Master of Arts in Teaching Biology
   • New York State registered and approved program-accredited
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Stony Brook University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching Biology, a 44-credit, New York State registered program built for candidates with little or no prior education coursework or classroom experience. That framing makes it a genuine career-change route, welcoming scientists and biology graduates who want to move into secondary teaching. The degree is offered jointly by the School of Professional Development, the Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, and the university's STEM education initiatives, an arrangement that keeps disciplinary rigor close to pedagogical training. Candidates complete 100 hours of field experience before student teaching, easing newcomers into schools gradually before they take full responsibility. Completion leads to New York State certification to teach Biology in secondary schools for grades 7-12, with an available extension option for grades 5-6. 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 25 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

   School site
5. 5

   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

   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. 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
6. 6

   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

   Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 12 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. 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
7. 7

   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
8. 8

   University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

   Champaign, ILPublic

   • 9Master's/yr
   • Master of Science in Teaching of Biological Science
   • Online
   About the program

   The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers a Master of Science in the Teaching of Biological Science, a 32-hour online degree built for people who already hold teacher certification in science or biology rather than for those seeking a first license. Five eight-week online biology courses combine with three curriculum-and-instruction courses, pairing advanced content with pedagogy in a way that reads as professional development for practicing science teachers. The program culminates in an action research project that asks candidates to integrate what they study about teaching with their own science knowledge. Conferral of the degree is tied to completing certification requirements, reinforcing its focus on already-certified educators. Prospective applicants should note that program admissions are suspended effective Spring 2027. As a master's degree in biology teacher education, it adds to the master's-level biology teacher education options in Illinois.

   Why it ranks here

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

   School site
9. 9

   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
10. 10

    SUNY Old Westbury

    Old Westbury, NYPublic

    • 7Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts in Teaching in Adolescence Education: Biology (7-12)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    SUNY Old Westbury offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Adolescence Education: Biology for grades 7-12, jointly delivered by the School of Education and the Biological Sciences Department. That partnership shapes the whole degree, dividing 42 credits across pedagogy, linked content and pedagogy, and substantial biology coursework, with advanced electives such as Developmental Biology, Immunology, Limnology, and Biological Pharmacology. The balance signals a program that treats deep subject knowledge as inseparable from how it is taught, aimed at candidates who want strong content preparation alongside teaching skill. A 6-credit student teaching practicum caps the degree and grounds it in real classroom practice. Graduates earn NYS initial certification in biology for grades 7-12, with professional certification available after the required paid full-time teaching experience. 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 7 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
11. 11

    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
12. 12

    SUNY Brockport

    Brockport, NYPublic

    • 4Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Education: Adolescence Biology
    • Online
    About the program

    SUNY Brockport offers a Master of Science in Education in Adolescence Biology, a 30-credit program delivered fully online for teachers who already hold or will soon hold New York State initial certification in Biology for grades 7-12. Rather than preparing newcomers, it serves practicing educators advancing their credentials, and its online delivery fits the schedules of teachers already working in classrooms. The curriculum includes four liberal arts graduate courses in disciplinary content across biology, chemistry, earth science, geology, or physics, deepening subject knowledge beyond a single field. That content emphasis reflects a program interested in strengthening what teachers know as much as how they teach. Completion satisfies the master's degree requirement for New York State professional certification in Biology, grades 7-12, marking a clear step up the certification ladder. 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.

    School site
13. 13

    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

    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 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
14. 14

    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

    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-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
15. 15

    Binghamton University

    Vestal, NYPublic

    • 3Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts in Teaching in Adolescence Education (Biology)
    • AAQEP-accredited
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Binghamton University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Adolescence Education with a Biology focus, an on-campus program aligned with AAQEP standards and built for candidates entering the profession for the first time. Its minimum 35 credits are deliberately balanced across teaching and educational leadership, disciplinary study in biology, and supervised internships, a distribution that keeps content knowledge and pedagogy in close conversation. The culminating experience is a full teaching unit that candidates plan, implement, and evaluate during the internship, turning the degree's final stretch into evidence of real classroom capability. Because the program targets initial New York State certification for grades 7-12 rather than already-certified teachers, it functions squarely as an entry point into the field. A 4+1 accelerated pathway lets select undergraduate majors fold the master's into their studies and reach certification sooner. 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 3 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
16. 16

    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

    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 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
17. 17

    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

    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
18. 18

    Maryville College

    Maryville, TNPrivate nonprofit

    • 3Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) Secondary STEM
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Maryville College offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary STEM designed for candidates who hold a biology, chemistry, or related degree but lack teacher licensure. Running as an accelerated one-year cohort from May to April, the 35 to 37 credit-hour program leads to initial Tennessee licensure for grades 6-12, with concentrations in secondary biology, secondary chemistry, and secondary mathematics. Two semesters of clinical practice paired with a mentor teacher give the compressed year a strong apprenticeship character, moving candidates steadily toward independent teaching. The cohort structure and tight timeline mark it as a focused, immersive route for STEM graduates changing course into the classroom. Its emphasis on subject-area depth suits candidates who want to carry their science background directly into secondary teaching. This program offers a master's degree in biology teacher education in Tennessee.

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

    School site
19. 19

    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
20. 20

    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
21. 21

    Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce

    Mercedita, PRPrivate nonprofit

    • 2Master's/yr
    • Maestria en Educacion (MEd), Especialidad en la Ensenanza en Biologia
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Inter American University of Puerto Rico offers a Maestria en Educacion (MEd), Especialidad en la Ensenanza en Biologia, a graduate program that pairs a curriculum and teaching core with a concentrated block of biology content coursework. The 30-credit design, built from 12 core credits and 18 credits of specialty study, keeps the focus squarely on preparing candidates who intend to teach the subject at the secondary level. Admission is structured around EXADEP scores and a declared concentration, signaling a program aimed at students committed to a defined teaching path rather than a general survey of education. Candidates prepare for magisterial teaching certification in Puerto Rico, so the degree carries a clear professional endpoint. Students close their studies through one of three culminating options, a comprehensive exam, an integrating seminar, or a research project, letting them weight their final work toward either practice or inquiry. As a master's degree in biology teacher education, it adds to the master's-level biology teacher education options in Puerto Rico.

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

    School site
22. 22

    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

    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 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
23. 23

    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

    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 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
24. 24

    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

    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 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
25. 25

    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

    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 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

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