Best Master's in Education Programs by Local Teacher Pay

1. 1

   Heritage University

   Toppenish, WAPrivate nonprofit

   • 4Master's/yr
   • $98,330Metro teacher pay
   • Master in Teaching
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   Heritage University offers a Master in Teaching designed to move candidates into Washington State teaching certification, with pathways ranging from a traditional Theory to Practice route to state residency and accelerated options, plus a 5-12 English and Language Arts credential. The hybrid schedule concentrates classes over the summer and on Friday evenings and Saturdays during fall and spring, and the degree can be completed in as little as eleven months, a design that reads as built for candidates already working or rooted in their communities. Every pathway pairs coursework with mentored student teaching or a residency alongside an experienced classroom instructor, and the Accelerate route offers paid teaching positions during training. Most tracks lead to a K-8 endorsement, with English and Language Arts leading to a 5-12 credential and optional endorsements in English language learners and special education. The overall shape is a fast, field-embedded route into certification for aspiring teachers. It is a master's degree in education at the master's level, based in Washington.

   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 Yakima, WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,330, roughly $102,915 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

   Endicott College

   Beverly, MAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

   • 30Master's/yr
   • $98,060Metro teacher pay
   • Education Fifth Year Master's Degree Program
   • Online
   About the program

   Endicott College offers an Education Fifth Year Master's Degree Program, a fully online M.Ed. that lets candidates study part-time or full-time while counting toward initial or professional teaching licensure in Massachusetts. Concentrations span Reading and Literacy, Moderate and Severe Disabilities, Elementary Education, Early Childhood, and Secondary Education, so candidates can align the degree with a specific grade band or specialization. Licensure candidates complete a supervised practicum and pass the MTEL Communication and Literacy exam, keeping the program tied to state requirements and real classroom experience. Its signature Teaching Fellows Program offers a tuition-free M.Ed. in exchange for a year of teaching in a partner district, an appealing arrangement for new educators. A study-abroad option in Ireland focused on trauma-informed practice rounds out the experience. As a master's degree in education, it adds to the master's-level education options 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 30 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

   Framingham State University

   Framingham, MAPublic

   • 63Master's/yr
   • $98,060Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts with a Concentration in Educational Leadership
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Framingham State University offers a Master of Arts with a Concentration in Educational Leadership, an on-campus program built around three core courses and eight concentration courses delivered in an intensive format. Rather than attaching a state administrator credential, it is a non-licensure degree aimed at educators who want to deepen their leadership thinking without pursuing formal certification. The design leans heavily on practice, since every course incorporates field-based experiences in place of a single separate practicum. Students close the program with a portfolio and a self-reflective statement instead of a thesis, which keeps the emphasis on demonstrated growth and applied judgment. The concentrated course sequence and reflective capstone together read as a program shaped for working professionals who learn best by connecting study directly to their own settings. As a master's degree in education, it adds to the master's-level education options 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 63 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

   Lesley University

   Cambridge, MAPrivate nonprofit

   • 17Master's/yr
   • $98,060Metro teacher pay
   • Individually Designed Program for Educators, M.Ed.
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Lesley University offers an Individually Designed Program for Educators, an M.Ed. that lets practicing teachers construct their own course of study rather than follow a fixed curriculum. Working with an advisor, students build a five-course concentration in an area such as ESL, educational technology, autism, early childhood, curriculum development, assessment, or literacy, then add five electives drawn from across the university. Because it is a non-licensure degree, the program is aimed at in-service teachers seeking advanced study instead of initial certification. The self-directed structure signals a program for educators who already know where they want to grow and want the freedom to go deep on one or two chosen topics. That flexibility makes it a natural fit for professionals shaping graduate work around their classroom interests. It is a master's degree in 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 17 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

   New York University

   New York, NYPrivate nonprofit

   • 16Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Specialized Studies in Education
   • On-campus
   About the program

   New York University's Steinhardt School offers a Master of Arts in Specialized Studies in Education for people who work in and around education outside the traditional classroom, including community organizers, nonprofit leaders, and education advocates. Rather than a fixed curriculum, the 30-credit program is individualized, with students building a customized course of study alongside a faculty advisor, which signals a degree meant to fit each student's mission rather than a standard track. It deliberately does not lead to teacher certification, reinforcing that its audience is professionals shaping education through policy, advocacy, and community work rather than by teaching. Students can enroll full-time or part-time on campus, giving working advocates room to pace the degree. At the time of research the program was not accepting applications pending a program review, so prospective students should confirm its status with the school. This program offers a master's degree in 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 16 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
6. 6

   Adelphi University

   Garden City, NYPrivate nonprofit

   • 20Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Educational Technology
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Adelphi University offers a fully online Master of Arts in Educational Technology for educators who want to design digital learning rather than earn an initial teaching credential. Students can shape the degree through optional tracks in instructional design and educational technology, letting them lean toward either building learning experiences or leading technology in schools. The program is hands-on at its core, culminating in a multimedia studio capstone followed by independent study, with two optional paid internships available through Adelphi's Faculty Center for Professional Excellence for those who want applied experience. It is not itself a certification program, but it satisfies the master's degree requirement for the New York State Professional Certificate for teachers who already hold Initial Certification, and it offers up to 32 Continuing Teacher and Leader Education hours. With no GRE requirement and a fully online format, it fits practicing teachers and instructional professionals who want to advance their careers while working. As a master's degree in education, it adds to the master's-level 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 20 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

   Pace University

   New York, NYPrivate nonprofit

   • 5Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Science in Educational Studies
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Pace University offers an online Master of Science in Educational Studies for people who want graduate study across the field of education without pursuing New York State teacher certification. The 30-credit program pairs a core with electives drawn from areas such as childhood and adolescent education, early childhood education, literacy education, special education, TESOL, and higher education, so students can sample broadly or lean toward a focus that fits their interests. Candidates finish with a choice of capstone, either the applied Elementary Methods course, Learning to Teach, or the inquiry-oriented Teacher as Researcher, letting them tilt the degree toward practice or research. Because it does not lead to certification and NYSED certification requirements do not apply, it suits professionals in education-adjacent roles rather than aspiring classroom teachers. Its fully online delivery makes it accessible to working adults across settings. As a master's degree in education, it adds to the master's-level 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 5 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

   Long Island University

   Brookville, NYPrivate nonprofit

   • 1Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Science in Educational Leadership
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Long Island University Post offers a Master of Science in Educational Leadership designed for experienced classroom teachers stepping into school administration, with admission expecting a professional teaching certificate and three years of teaching experience. The 36-credit program centers on the School Building Leader track and offers additional School District Leader coursework as electives, so candidates can aim at leading a building and begin reaching toward district-level roles. Its defining feature is a 400-hour hands-on administrative internship capped by a portfolio culmination experience, which pushes candidates to lead in real school settings and document their growth rather than learn leadership only in the abstract. Completion plus a passing New York State School Leadership Assessment score leads to certification as a School Building Leader. Offered on campus or fully online, the program adapts to the schedules of working educators pursuing their first administrative credential. It is a master's degree in 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
9. 9

   Felician University

   Lodi, NJPrivate nonprofit

   • 2Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Education: Educational Leadership
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Felician University offers a Master of Arts in Education in Educational Leadership built for experienced educators moving from the classroom into administration, with admission requiring at least five years of full-time teaching or educational services experience. The program is structured as flexible endorsement tracks, a 12-credit supervisor pathway, a 30-credit principal pathway, and a combined 36-credit route, so candidates can target the New Jersey supervisor endorsement, the principal endorsement and certificate of eligibility, or both. Two required internship courses put candidates into real leadership settings and pair that practice with reflection, weaving the university's mission-driven idea of caring leadership into how they learn to lead. Because it leads to state administrative endorsements, the degree functions as a clear professional step for teachers ready to supervise curriculum or run a building. The tiered credit structure lets each candidate scope the program to the credential they actually need. This program offers a master's degree in education in New Jersey.

   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
10. 10

    Bank Street College of Education

    New York, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Childhood General Education, leading to Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) or Master of Education (Ed.M.)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Bank Street College of Education offers its Childhood General Education program leading to a Master of Science in Education or Master of Education, preparing candidates to teach grades 1 through 6 and earn New York State certification in Childhood Education. The program is grounded in Bank Street's signature developmental-interaction approach, so it emphasizes understanding how children grow and learn as much as classroom technique. That philosophy shows up in the structure, with extensive supervised fieldwork, weekly advisor conferences, and peer groups that make close mentoring central to the experience, and working teachers may even use their own classroom as the fieldwork site with director approval. Students choose between a 45-credit on-campus track and a 33-credit online option, the on-campus path set to return in Fall 2027, which lets both new candidates and employed teachers find a workable route. The result is a reflective, relationship-driven preparation program for aspiring and practicing elementary educators. This program offers a master's degree in 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
11. 11

    Johnson & Wales University-Providence

    Providence, RIPrivate nonprofit

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $86,720Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Teaching and Learning
    • Aligned to National Board Standards-accredited
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Johnson & Wales University offers a Master of Education in Teaching and Learning at its Providence campus, a cohort program in which a professional learning community moves together through a fixed course sequence over two years and four semesters. Meeting for one evening course per week across 36 credits and eight courses, the structure is built for current teachers who study while continuing to work, using their own classrooms as a learning laboratory. Coursework is aligned to National Board Standards and can lead to an advanced teaching certificate and salary advancement, signaling a program aimed at deepening the practice of already-employed educators. The experience ends in a capstone project that ties reflection and inquiry back to the candidate's teaching. Taken together, the cohort model, evening schedule, and classroom-embedded work read as a program designed for practicing teachers advancing their craft and credentials. As a master's degree in education, it adds to the master's-level education options in Rhode Island.

    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 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA, where elementary teachers earn a median $86,720, roughly $85,209 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

    Rhode Island College

    Providence, RIPublic

    • 15Master's/yr
    • $86,720Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education, Individualized Master of Education option
    About the program

    Rhode Island College offers a Master of Education whose defining feature is breadth, with named concentrations spanning advanced studies in teaching and learning, early childhood education, health education, reading, special education, and TESOL alongside an Individualized M.Ed. option. The special education track alone branches into sub-concentrations from early childhood and elementary or secondary needs to severe intellectual disabilities and urban multicultural settings, signaling a program built to meet practicing educators where their classrooms actually are. The Individualized option is the clearest expression of that philosophy, letting students design a program of study that does not fit any of the college's named tracks. This flexibility reads as a program serving working teachers who want graduate depth aligned to a specific role rather than a single prescribed path. Educational leadership and elementary education tracks are listed but not currently accepting applications. It is a master's degree in education at the master's level, based in Rhode Island.

    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 15 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Providence-Warwick, RI-MA, where elementary teachers earn a median $86,720, roughly $85,209 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

    Southern Connecticut State University

    New Haven, CTPublic

    • 5Master's/yr
    • $79,820Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Education
    • Connecticut state-approved master's degree program-accredited
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Southern Connecticut State University offers a Master of Science in Education designed for teachers who already hold certification and want a state-approved graduate credential rather than an entry into the classroom. The program is built around flexible elective coursework rather than fixed named tracks, letting educators steer their study toward the questions that matter most in their own practice. That openness is anchored by a capstone action research project, in which candidates investigate a topic of interest and produce a tangible deliverable such as a research-based curriculum unit or a professional handbook. Delivered in a hybrid format, it fits working professionals balancing graduate study with a full teaching schedule. The result reads as a reflective, practice-driven master's for certified teachers deepening their expertise. This program offers a master's degree in education in Connecticut.

    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 5 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New Haven, CT, where elementary teachers earn a median $79,820, roughly $76,340 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

    George Washington University

    Washington, DCPrivate nonprofit

    • 49Master's/yr
    • $79,470Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Education and Human Development, Individualized Program
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    The George Washington University's Graduate School of Education and Human Development offers a Master of Arts in Education and Human Development through an Individualized Program that candidates design themselves. Working with a faculty advisor, students build a plan of study drawing across GSEHD departments including Counseling and Human Development, Curriculum and Pedagogy, Educational Leadership, Human and Organizational Learning, and Special Education and Disability Studies, and can even pull coursework from other GW schools and Consortium of Universities partner institutions. The 30-credit structure devotes three credits to research and the remaining twenty-seven to the student's chosen focus, making it a strong fit for professionals whose goals do not map onto a single fixed track. Offered in a hybrid format with no application fee, it rewards learners who already know the specific expertise they want to assemble. It is a master's degree in education at the master's level, based in Washington, D.C..

    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 49 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, where elementary teachers earn a median $79,470, roughly $72,986 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

    University of Pennsylvania

    Philadelphia, PAPrivate nonprofit

    • 18Master's/yr
    • $78,570Metro teacher pay
    • Education, Culture, and Society, M.S.Ed.
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education offers the Education, Culture, and Society M.S.Ed., an on-campus, cohort-based program that studies schooling through the lenses of the social sciences rather than classroom methods. Instead of fixed tracks, students build individualized programs of study, drawing electives from sociology, law, anthropology, public administration, political science, social work, and nonprofit leadership. The degree culminates in a master's paper, a thesis-style capstone that signals its scholarly, research-oriented character, and it can be completed in 12 to 15 months full-time or over two years part-time. Dual-degree options with Penn's MPA, MSW, and Nonprofit Leadership programs extend its reach for students bridging education with policy, social work, or the nonprofit sector. The overall shape reads as an interdisciplinary, academically ambitious program for those examining education as a social and cultural force. It is a master's degree in education at the master's level, based in Pennsylvania.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 18 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, where elementary teachers earn a median $78,570, roughly $76,613 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
16. 16

    Northwestern University

    Evanston, ILPrivate nonprofit

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $78,390Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Education – Educational Studies
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Northwestern University offers a Master of Science in Education in Educational Studies, a one-year, in-person program that pairs a social-justice orientation with a highly customizable course of study. Students explore equitable teaching and instructional design while shaping much of the curriculum around their own interests, an approach that suits reflective educators rather than those seeking an initial credential. Although the degree is not itself a licensure program, licensed Illinois teachers can add ESL or Bilingual endorsements through it. Rolling admission deadlines in January, March, and May give applicants flexibility in when they begin. Compact and individualized, it reads as a program for educators who want an intensive year to rethink their practice. This program offers a master's degree in education in Illinois.

    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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, where elementary teachers earn a median $78,390, roughly $75,670 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

    DePaul University

    Chicago, ILPrivate nonprofit

    • 5Master's/yr
    • $78,390Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts / Master of Education in Education, Culture and Society
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    DePaul University offers a Master of Arts or Master of Education in Education, Culture and Society, an interdisciplinary degree centered on educational policy and the foundations of education. Rather than preparing teachers for licensure, it serves educators, administrators, and non-educators alike who want to think broadly about the social and political dimensions of schooling. The two paths differ in emphasis, since the M.A. requires seven core courses, five electives, and a thesis, while the M.Ed. offers a route without the thesis for those who prefer a coursework-focused degree. Small class sizes carry through even in the fully online option, keeping the experience discussion-driven. Graduates leave prepared for doctoral study or for work in media, nonprofits, museums, and higher education, making it a versatile foundation for socially engaged careers. As a master's degree in education, it adds to the master's-level education options in Illinois.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 5 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, where elementary teachers earn a median $78,390, roughly $75,670 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

    Johns Hopkins University

    Baltimore, MDPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 35Master's/yr
    • $76,400Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Education, Educational Studies
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Johns Hopkins University offers a Master of Science in Education in Educational Studies through its School of Education, a program for educators who want graduate-level grounding in the study of teaching and schooling. It sits alongside related MS tracks in Education Policy, Special Education, and Gifted Education, letting students situate their study within a broader family of specializations. A distinctive fully online, asynchronous version of the Educational Studies pathway is built specifically for Teach For America corps members and alumni and TNTP alumni, extending the degree to mission-driven teachers already in high-need classrooms. The on-campus track offers a more traditional residential experience of the same specialization. Together the pathways let candidates choose the format that fits their teaching commitments and career stage. This program offers a master's degree in education in Maryland.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 35 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD, where elementary teachers earn a median $76,400, roughly $73,119 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

    Rivier University

    Nashua, NHPrivate nonprofit

    • 3Master's/yr
    • $73,380Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Education Studies with a Concentration in Counseling and School Psychology
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Rivier University offers a Master of Education in Education Studies with a Concentration in Counseling and School Psychology, a 37-credit program completed over about two years for people drawn to the mental health and counseling side of schooling. The curriculum is aligned with the American School Counselor Association National Model and New Hampshire's Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling Model, so students study the frameworks that shape school support systems rather than train narrowly for a single job. Instead of a full internship, the program builds in 50 hours of job shadowing across mental health counseling, school counseling, or school psychology settings, giving candidates a grounded look at the field before they commit to a licensure path. Importantly, the degree does not itself lead to certification as a school guidance counselor or licensure as a clinical mental health counselor, and Rivier steers those goals into its separate credential-track programs. It reads best as a foundational, on-campus degree for someone exploring counseling and psychology roles in education before pursuing a specific license. This program offers a master's degree in education in New Hampshire.

    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 Manchester-Nashua, NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $73,380, roughly $69,451 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

    Oakland University

    Rochester Hills, MIPublicOnline available

    • 5Master's/yr
    • $65,210Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Teacher Leadership
    • Online
    About the program

    Oakland University offers a fully online Master of Education in Teacher Leadership, a 30-credit sequence of ten courses that keeps a single unified focus rather than splitting into concentrations. Titles such as Collaborative Leadership, Teacher Leader as Change Agent for Equitable Schools, and Action Research in Your Classroom point to a program grounded in the realities of the schools where students already work. That applied orientation carries through to an action-research project conducted in the student's own classroom and a culminating transformational change project. This is not an initial-licensure route, but the first fifteen credits supply the coursework required for Michigan's Advanced Professional Educator certificate designation, and the university markets it as the first fully online Michigan M.Ed. qualifying graduates for that designation. Together the features read as a program built for practicing teachers stepping into leadership. As a master's degree in education, it adds to the master's-level education options in Michigan.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 5 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI, where elementary teachers earn a median $65,210, roughly $65,016 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

    University of South Alabama

    Mobile, ALPublicOnline available

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $60,970Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Instructional Design and Development
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of South Alabama offers a fully online Master of Science in Instructional Design and Development, housed in the Department of Counseling and Instructional Sciences and aimed at people who design learning rather than teach in K-12 classrooms. The curriculum centers on analyzing instructional tasks and designing and delivering instructional programs, skills that transfer readily to corporate training, higher education, and other settings beyond the school. Because this is a non-licensure program, it draws professionals who want to build learning experiences and educational technology rather than pursue a teaching credential. The online delivery makes it accessible to working adults across locations. In sum, it reads as a practice-oriented path into the instructional design field. It is a master's degree in education at the master's level, based in Alabama.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Mobile, AL, where elementary teachers earn a median $60,970, roughly $69,207 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

    Grambling State University

    Grambling, LAPublicHBCUOnline available

    • 3Master's/yr
    • $58,770State teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching
    About the program

    Grambling State University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching designed as an alternative certification route, pairing a master's degree with initial teaching licensure in a single program. Its STEM teacher preparation emphasis targets the science and mathematics shortages facing high-need districts across north Louisiana, and the design speaks directly to mid-career changers and recent graduates who enter the field without a teaching background. By combining graduate coursework with the classroom credential, the program lets candidates move into licensed teaching while earning an advanced degree at the same time. That single-program structure removes the need to complete separate certification and degree tracks, a practical draw for those transitioning from other careers. Together these features position the M.A.T. as a workforce pipeline aimed at placing qualified STEM educators in the region's schools. As a master's degree in education, it adds to the master's-level education options in Louisiana.

    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 Louisiana statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $58,770, roughly $66,627 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
23. 23

    Northwestern State University of Louisiana

    Natchitoches, LAPublicOnline available

    • 3Master's/yr
    • $58,770State teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Adult Learning and Development
    • SACSCOC-accredited
    About the program

    Northwestern State University of Louisiana offers a Master of Arts in Adult Learning and Development, a single-track degree oriented toward educators and trainers who work with adults rather than K-12 classrooms. Its coursework moves through the theory and discipline of adult learning and culminates in a hands-on capstone research project or practicum set in real workforce, business, or community-agency settings. That applied emphasis signals a program built for professionals in workplace training, community education, and organizational development who want to ground advanced study in the environments where they practice. The degree does not lead to teacher licensure, keeping its focus squarely on adult and workforce education. It is offered by a SACSCOC-accredited institution. This program offers a master's degree in education in Louisiana.

    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 Louisiana statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $58,770, roughly $66,627 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
24. 24

    Queens University of Charlotte

    Charlotte, NCPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 8Master's/yr
    • $58,680Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Queens University of Charlotte offers an online Master of Education built around three concentrations, Literacy K-12, Special Education in the general curriculum, and Academically and Intellectually Gifted, that let educators deepen expertise in a chosen area of practice. Spanning 33 credit hours across eleven courses, the program uses flexible non-cohort enrollment that students can complete in as little as twelve months or stretch across up to three years. That self-paced structure, paired with a dedicated Harriet James Hopkins Leadership in Education Fund scholarship for summer-term applicants, marks it as a program shaped around working teachers balancing study with the classroom. Rather than a broad survey, the concentration model reads as a targeted way for practicing educators to build specialized skills. The online delivery keeps it accessible for teachers advancing their careers while employed. This program offers a master's degree in education in North Carolina.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 8 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC, where elementary teachers earn a median $58,680, roughly $60,279 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 University-Bloomington

    Bloomington, INPublicOnline available

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $58,410Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) in Adult Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Indiana University Bloomington offers a Master of Science in Education in Adult Education, a fully online degree delivered through its School of Education for professionals who work with adult learners. The curriculum grounds students in the history of the adult education field and the major learning theorists and theories that shape it, building a strong conceptual foundation. Organized as a single unified track rather than branching concentrations, it keeps candidates on a common path through the discipline. It is a non-licensure program, preparing graduates instead for roles such as human resource training specialists, community college educators, e-learning specialists, and continuing education administrators. The online delivery makes it well suited to working professionals moving into adult and workforce learning. It is a master's degree in 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 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Bloomington, IN, where elementary teachers earn a median $58,410, roughly $61,430 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site

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