Hakia Education

Best Master's in Education Programs by Local Teacher Pay

Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology

Published ·Last updated

Ranked by the median wage for elementary teachers in each program metro area, from BLS. The top 25 out of 349 programs reviewed from the IPEDS database.

  1. 1

    University of Washington-Tacoma Campus

    Tacoma, WAPublic

    • 17Master's/yr
    • $102,920Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education (MEd) for Practicing Educators
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    The University of Washington Tacoma offers a Master of Education for Practicing Educators, a part-time program whose evening classes are shaped around the schedules of working professionals. A teaching certificate is not required to enroll, but certified teachers can use the degree to embed Special Education or English Language Learner endorsements onto their certificate, provided they pass the relevant WEST-E/NES exam. The five areas of emphasis include Special Education and Teaching English Language Learners, reflecting a focus on high-need classroom specialties. Students choose between two culminating experiences, a Project Pathway or a Practicum Pathway, matching the degree to either research-minded or applied interests. The Washington state employee tuition exemption covers 12 credits, keeping the program accessible to in-service educators. Graduates of this education program at the master's level often go on to work as instructional coordinators.

    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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $102,920, roughly $92,610 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

    Antioch University-Seattle

    Seattle, WAPrivate nonprofit

    • 13Master's/yr
    • $102,920Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Education
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Antioch University Seattle offers a Master of Arts in Education built for educators who want to shape learning environments rather than pursue a classroom teaching license. The hybrid program lets students chart their own path through concentrations as varied as Sexuality Education, Adult Education, Leadership for Social Justice, Play Therapy, Leadership in Edible Education, and a five-quarter Urban Environmental Education specialization, alongside a fully individualized, student-designed option. In place of a conventional thesis, the degree culminates in an Inquiry Project, an original research effort that reflects the program's emphasis on self-directed scholarship. Full-time students finish in 21 months or less, while part-time students take two to three years. Antioch University is regionally accredited by the NWCCU, and the program points graduates toward leadership, policy, and program-development roles. A master's-level path in education, it builds toward a career among instructional coordinators in Washington.

    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 13 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $102,920, roughly $92,610 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

    Loyola Marymount University

    Los Angeles, CAPrivate nonprofit

    • 17Master's/yr
    • $101,860Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Educational Studies
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Loyola Marymount University's School of Education offers a Master of Arts in Educational Studies built for broad, self-directed study rather than classroom certification. In place of formal tracks, students assemble the degree from four core courses and six electives chosen with an academic advisor, shaping a program around their own interests in education. The school is explicit that this is not the path for those who want to work as credentialed classroom teachers, framing it instead as an academic and professional degree in the study of education. Most students complete it in a standard two-year format on campus, while qualifying LMU undergraduates in teacher-credential programs can pursue an accelerated one-year option through the Center for Undergraduate Teacher Preparation. It suits students seeking flexible graduate study in education outside the licensure track. A master's-level path in education, it builds toward a career among instructional coordinators in California.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 17 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 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

    California State University-Fullerton

    Fullerton, CAPublic

    • 36Master's/yr
    • $101,860Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Curriculum & Instruction
    • Online
    About the program

    California State University, Fullerton offers a Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction delivered fully online and asynchronously, structured as a five-semester cohort with no summer classes. The cohort design moves students through the program together on a predictable schedule, a format that fits teachers balancing graduate study against full teaching loads. Candidates choose a focus among Social Justice, Early Childhood Education, Math and Science Education, or Bilingual and Bicultural Education in Spanish and English, tailoring the degree to their subject and student population. This is a standalone master's rather than a credential pathway, so it is aimed at educators who already teach and want to sharpen their craft. With no GRE or GMAT required, the program keeps the entry point clear for working professionals. As a master's degree in education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as instructional coordinators in California.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 36 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 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

    Saint Mary's College of California

    Moraga, CAPrivate nonprofit

    • 33Master's/yr
    • $101,860Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching
    • Online
    About the program

    Saint Mary's College of California offers a fully online Master of Arts in Teaching built for practicing elementary, secondary, and special education teachers who want an inquiry-driven graduate degree they can finish quickly. The project-based curriculum can be completed in as few as seven months, typically around eleven, and accepts up to 15 transfer units, signaling a program designed to fit around a working teacher's schedule. It does not by itself lead to a California teaching credential, though the college offers an integrated pathway in which candidates can earn the credential and this degree together. An optional Catholic Educator Emphasis lets interested students explore the integration of faith and learning. Coursework concludes with a capstone project that ties the degree back to the student's own teaching. The online, transfer-friendly structure makes it a flexible option for educators already in the field. Earning a master's degree in education is a common route toward becoming one of California's instructional coordinators.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 33 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $88,104 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  6. 6

    Azusa Pacific University

    Azusa, CAPrivate nonprofit

    • 73Master's/yr
    • $101,860Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) in Teaching, with embedded Multiple Subject Teaching Credential
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Azusa Pacific University offers a Master of Arts in Education in Teaching with an embedded Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, a program that prepares candidates to teach K-8 while earning a graduate degree in a single track. Structured as a two-year, 45-unit cohort, it moves a group of aspiring elementary and middle school teachers through the credential and degree together, building the peer support that cohort models are known for. Students attend one live synchronous class night each week plus a required in-person Saturday session each semester, a hybrid rhythm that balances flexibility with hands-on connection. Supervised clinical practice in K-8 classrooms anchors the coursework in real teaching, and a capstone seminar culminates in a research project and professional ePortfolio. Graduates earn the California Multiple Subject Preliminary Teaching Credential alongside the M.A.Ed. The School of Education holds CAEP accreditation. A master's-level path in education, it builds toward a career among instructional coordinators in California.

    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 73 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 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

    California State University-Northridge

    Northridge, CAPublic

    • 29Master's/yr
    • $101,860Metro teacher pay
    • Master's Degree programs in Education (multiple M.A./M.S. tracks by department)
    About the program

    California State University, Northridge houses its master's programs in education within the Michael D. Eisner College of Education, one of the largest public colleges of education in California and a hub with unusually broad specialization. Prospective students choose across departments, from Elementary and Secondary Education tracks in curriculum and instruction, educational technology, and multicultural or multilingual teaching, to Special Education emphases such as Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Early Childhood Special Education, and Mild to Moderate or Moderate to Severe support. Additional paths run through Educational Psychology and Counseling, Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, and an online Instructional Design program. Several tracks allow candidates to complete a teaching credential concurrently with the master's, blending advanced study with licensure. The breadth makes it a single school able to serve teachers, specialists, and school leaders alike. Earning a master's degree in education is a common route toward becoming one of California's instructional coordinators.

    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 29 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 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 Massachusetts Global

    Aliso Viejo, CAPublicOnline available

    • 67Master's/yr
    • $101,860Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Education
    • Online
    About the program

    UMass Global offers a fully online Master of Arts in Education designed for working educators who value flexibility and speed. Delivered in accelerated eight-week terms, the program can be completed in as few as five months full-time or ten months part-time when students bring maximum transfer credit, and no GRE or GMAT is required. A broad menu of concentrations spans Teaching and Learning, Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Administration and Leadership, Bilingual Language and Literacy, Global and Intercultural Foundations, and several counseling-focused tracks. The degree is not framed as an initial teaching-licensure pathway, though it offers credit toward California Teacher Induction Program requirements, positioning it for teachers already in the classroom. The program is accredited by AAQEP, and the institution is accredited by WSCUC. As a master's degree in education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as instructional coordinators in California.

    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 67 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 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

    Alder Graduate School of Education

    Redwood City, CAPrivate nonprofit

    • 7Master's/yr
    • $101,860Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Education
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Alder Graduate School of Education offers a Master of Arts in Education built around a year-long paid teacher residency, an apprenticeship in which candidates teach four days a week in a partner school alongside a trained mentor while meeting weekly with an in-person cohort. Concentrations in Teaching and in Special Education and Teaching lead to a recommended California Teaching Credential, whether Multiple Subject, Single Subject, or Education Specialist, and most candidates also earn an English Learner Authorization, with a Bilingual Authorization available. The residency-plus-seminar structure, blending online coursework with in-person intensives, marks this as a program engineered to develop new teachers on the job rather than in a lecture hall. The school reports that 96 percent of graduates secure full-time teaching positions, underscoring its workforce orientation. The degree is designed as a direct route into California's classrooms. This master's-level education program prepares graduates for work as instructional coordinators in California.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 7 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $88,104 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  10. 10

    Whitworth University

    Spokane, WAPrivate nonprofit

    • 14Master's/yr
    • $98,800Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Teaching & Learning
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Whitworth University offers a Master of Education in Teaching & Learning built for teachers who already hold certification or have completed a preparation program, including holders of the AMI Montessori diploma. The 34-credit hybrid program can be finished in as little as two years, with evening classes meeting once weekly during the year and twice weekly in summer, a rhythm clearly shaped around full-time classroom work. Candidates choose among emphases such as Gifted Education, Special Needs, Cultural and Linguistic Diversity, Social Emotional Learning, and Montessori, letting them target the students and settings they teach. Optional add-on endorsements in ELL, Gifted Education, or Special Education extend the degree toward concrete credentialing. This is an advanced, non-licensure program for experienced educators sharpening their practice rather than entering the profession. Earning a master's degree in education is a common route toward becoming one of Washington's instructional coordinators.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 14 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,800, roughly $98,459 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

    Fairfield University

    Fairfield, CTPrivate nonprofit

    • 3Master's/yr
    • $98,600Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching and Foundations
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Fairfield University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching and Foundations, a 36-credit degree positioned as advanced professional study for experienced educators rather than a first path into the classroom, distinct from the university's certification-bearing MA in Elementary and Secondary Education. The program is built around six foundational core areas and invites candidates to shape their focus through concentrations in Curriculum Studies, Literacy, Language, and Culture, Integrating Technologies, or an individualized cluster of their own design. That flexibility, combined with a capstone sequence culminating in Educating for Social Responsibility and Civic Engagement, signals a reflective, values-driven degree oriented toward the why of teaching as much as the how. Courses meet on campus, primarily in weekday late-afternoon and evening blocks that fit around a teaching day. It suits practicing educators seeking depth and a broader intellectual footing rather than a new license. Graduates of this education program at the master's level often go on to work as instructional coordinators.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 3 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,600, roughly $92,267 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

    University of Bridgeport

    Bridgeport, CTPrivate nonprofit

    • 17Master's/yr
    • $98,600Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Elementary Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Bridgeport offers a Master of Science in Elementary Education that moves candidates toward Connecticut initial teaching certification through a cohort model and a hands-on internship. Students progress together through a 33-credit sequence taught on campus in evening classes two or three nights a week, a schedule that accommodates people working or student teaching during the day. The paid internship, placed across more than 60 partner districts in Connecticut and New York, gives candidates real classroom footing while they earn the degree, and the program can be finished in as few as 15 months. Coursework prepares candidates for the Praxis II exam, the Connecticut Reading Assessment, and the edTPA, the milestones that gatekeep certification. The result reads as a fast, practice-heavy route into the elementary classroom for committed career changers and new teachers. This master's-level education program prepares graduates for work as instructional coordinators in Connecticut.

    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 17 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,600, roughly $92,267 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

    Emmanuel College

    Boston, MAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 13Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Emmanuel College offers an online Master of Education that splits cleanly into a licensure route and a set of non-licensure concentrations, letting educators choose between earning a credential and deepening expertise. The 36-credit licensure track leads to Massachusetts initial licensure for elementary teaching in grades 1-6, while a 30-credit non-licensure option supports concentrations in early childhood education, research, instructional technology, moderate disabilities, and English language learners. Synchronous seven-week courses keep the pace brisk and the cohort connected, a rhythm aimed squarely at working professionals fitting study around a job. Licensure candidates must pass the MTEL before entering the student teaching practicum, keeping the clinical path aligned with state requirements. The program suits both aspiring elementary teachers and practicing educators pursuing a specialized focus. As a master's degree in education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as instructional coordinators 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 13 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
  14. 14

    Northeastern University Professional Programs

    Boston, MAPrivate nonprofit

    • 25Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education (Boston)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Northeastern University offers an on-campus Master of Education in Boston designed for teachers who already hold an initial Massachusetts license and want to earn an additional license in a focused area. Concentrations in ESL Instruction for PreK-8 or 5-12, Learning and Instruction, and Special Education for moderate disabilities across PreK-8 and 5-12 let candidates match the degree to the grade span and specialty they intend to teach. The 45 quarter-hour program uses Gateway Performance Tasks as progression checkpoints and requires a B or better in licensure coursework to advance, a structure that keeps candidates demonstrating competency at each stage. Because the curriculum is built to Massachusetts DESE standards, it enables licensed teachers to add a license in their chosen concentration, though some pathways may require additional hours for the endorsement. The design points squarely at practicing Massachusetts educators expanding their credentials. Graduates of this education program at the master's level often go on to work as instructional coordinators.

    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. 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
  15. 15

    Cambridge College

    Boston, MAPrivate nonprofit

    • 16Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Cambridge College offers a Master of Education that spans both classroom teaching and school leadership, giving educators several routes through a single degree. Concentrations reach from elementary and early childhood teaching to general science, mathematics, educational leadership and administration, and teaching students with moderate disabilities, and most carry both initial-licensure and non-licensure options. That design lets candidates pursue a Massachusetts credential in fields like elementary or early childhood education, or substitute electives for the practicum and seminar sequence when licensure is not the goal. Courses blend scheduled remote Zoom sessions with self-paced online work, a hybrid rhythm aimed at adults managing jobs and family. With NECHE accreditation and state authorization behind it, the program fits working educators looking to move into new teaching roles or leadership positions. A master's-level path in education, it builds toward a career among instructional coordinators 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 16 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
  16. 16

    Rutgers University-New Brunswick

    New Brunswick, NJPublic

    • 4Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Rutgers University offers a Master of Education through its Graduate School of Education, a broad, campus-based degree whose scale is its defining feature. More than fifty areas of study span early childhood education, literacy and language education, special education, mathematics and science education, school counseling, and dance education, giving candidates room to specialize tightly within a common framework. The program accommodates both those seeking credentials, including initial teaching certification, Teacher of Students with Disabilities, Reading Specialist, and Principal or Supervisor certification, and those pursuing non-licensure study for professional growth. Candidates complete a minimum of 30 credits, with up to 6 credits available for a thesis and oral defense, and the school's Community School Partnership Network connects study to eight New Jersey districts. Accredited by CAEP, it serves aspiring and practicing educators alike. This master's-level education program prepares graduates for work as instructional coordinators in New Jersey.

    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
  17. 17

    Adelphi University

    Garden City, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 72Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Childhood Education
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Adelphi University offers a Master of Arts in Childhood Education that leads to New York State teacher certification for grades 1 through 6, delivered in a hybrid format. The program places student teachers in classrooms across Nassau County, Suffolk County, and New York City districts, giving candidates varied field settings within the region's schools. Its structure welcomes those who already hold an alternate teaching certification and are working toward a second credential, positioning the degree as a bridge for teachers formalizing their preparation. A suite of post-degree advanced certificates, including TESOL, literacy education at the birth-to-grade-six and grades five-to-twelve levels, special education, autism and severe or multiple disabilities, middle school extension, and educational theatre, lets graduates keep extending their reach. The design suits both new and transitioning educators building toward elementary certification. Graduates of this education program at the master's level often go on to work as instructional coordinators.

    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 72 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
  18. 18

    Drew University

    Madison, NJPrivate nonprofit

    • 8Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education (M.Ed.)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Drew University offers a 30-credit on-campus Master of Education aimed at practicing and reflective educators rather than newcomers seeking a first teaching certificate. The program does not lead to initial certification, but currently certified teachers who meet the requirements can earn New Jersey endorsements as a Teacher of Students with Disabilities or in English as a Second Language. Its wide menu of specializations, spanning ESL, teaching students with disabilities, literacy and technology, equity and culture, conflict resolution, and religion, theology and society, lets candidates shape the degree around their own questions, and students may also finish without a specialization. The curriculum combines nine required credits, six elective credits, and fifteen credits in a chosen area, culminating in a Master's Inquiry Project in Education. That capstone signals a program that treats teachers as researchers into their own practice. This master's-level education program prepares graduates for work as instructional coordinators in New Jersey.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 8 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. 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
  19. 19

    Manhattanville University

    Purchase, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 7Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Studies
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Manhattanville University offers a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Studies for people who want to work in and around education without stepping into a certified teaching role. The program is explicit that it does not lead to New York State initial certification, and instead points graduates toward government agencies, nonprofits, cultural institutions, publishing, and media. Its 30 credits combine 12 core courses with six electives that students can angle toward teacher education, TESOL, literacy, physical education, special education, or education leadership interests. A capstone lets candidates choose between a site-based teaching internship and a field-based educational research project, so the degree can lean either applied or scholarly depending on the direction a student wants. The hybrid format and non-certification framing make this a fit for professionals building education-adjacent careers rather than classroom licensure. Graduates of this education program at the master's level often go on to work as instructional coordinators.

    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. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  20. 20

    Mercy University

    Dobbs Ferry, NYPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 24Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science (M.S.) in Educational Studies
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Mercy University offers a Master of Science (M.S.) in Educational Studies through a School of Education that holds national CAEP accreditation, yet the degree itself is deliberately built for careers outside traditional public-school teaching. Students are exempt from New York State certification tests, and the program does not lead to a teaching license, a signal that its audience is drawn to education without classroom licensure as the goal. The 30-credit structure moves through a nine-credit foundation core, an eighteen-credit concentration, and a three-credit capstone thesis, with concentration choices spanning early education, secondary education, literacy, STEM education, students with disabilities, and TESOL or bilingual education. Requiring a thesis rather than student teaching reinforces the scholarly, study-oriented character of the program. In its hybrid format, it reads as a research-minded degree for educators pursuing specialized knowledge rather than a state credential. As a master's degree in education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as instructional coordinators 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 24 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

    Felician University

    Lodi, NJPrivate nonprofit

    • 5Master'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 with an Educational Leadership focus, an on-campus program built for veteran educators stepping into supervisory and administrative roles. Admission requires at least five years of successful full-time teaching or educational-services experience, a threshold that shapes the cohort into seasoned professionals rather than early-career students. Candidates pursue a Supervisor Endorsement track, a Principal Endorsement track, or a combined concentration, with credit loads ranging from twelve for the supervisor route to thirty-six for the full combined pathway, and each culminates in New Jersey supervisor and principal endorsements. Two administrative internship courses ground the coursework in the realities of leading schools. Related M.A. tracks in Special Education, Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism Studies, and English as a Second Language round out the department, marking it as a hub for educators specializing or moving into leadership. As a master's degree in education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as instructional coordinators in New Jersey.

    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 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
  22. 22

    Bank Street College of Education

    New York, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 7Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Studies in Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Bank Street College of Education offers a master's in Studies in Education, awarded as an M.S.Ed. or Ed.M., a campus-based program whose breadth sets it apart from single-track teaching degrees. Candidates shape 30 credits around concentrations such as curriculum development, bilingual education, leadership, mathematics, museum studies, or special education, and the program spans all age ranges rather than a single grade band, inviting educators from many settings. In keeping with every Bank Street master's, students complete an Integrative Master's Project capstone that draws their study into a culminating piece of work. No teaching certification is attached, so the degree reads as advanced professional study for educators, museum and community teachers, and specialists who want to deepen expertise. Its flexibility makes it a fit for those defining their own focus within education. A master's-level path in education, it builds toward a career among instructional coordinators 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 7 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
  23. 23

    Worcester State University

    Worcester, MAPublic

    • 16Master's/yr
    • $82,810Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Worcester State University offers a hybrid Master of Education that splits cleanly into two purposes, giving practicing educators and aspiring teachers each their own version of the degree. A general Education Studies track is designed for students who are not seeking Massachusetts public school licensure and want advanced knowledge across areas such as Leadership, Curriculum, Language and Culture, and Inclusive Practices and Differentiation, while separate licensure-specific concentrations in Elementary, Early Childhood, Middle School, Secondary, and Moderate Disabilities serve those pursuing certification. The 36-credit program offers both a thesis option and a portfolio-evaluation capstone, so students can lean toward research or applied reflection depending on their goals. With no GRE required and a full-time completion window as short as one year, admission and pacing stay approachable for working adults. That parallel licensure and non-licensure design characterizes a flexible degree meant to meet educators at different career stages. Earning a master's degree in education is a common route toward becoming one of Massachusetts's instructional coordinators.

    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 16 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Worcester, MA, where elementary teachers earn a median $82,810, roughly $80,772 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

    Fitchburg State University

    Fitchburg, MAPublicOnline available

    • 19Master's/yr
    • $82,810Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Curriculum and Teaching (Non-Licensure)
    • New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)-accredited
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Fitchburg State University offers an online Master of Education in Curriculum and Teaching designed for educators who want advanced study without pursuing a teaching license. The single, non-specialized track keeps the focus on curriculum and pedagogy, and its 36-credit design runs in accelerated seven-week courses that a motivated student can finish in as few as twelve months. No GRE or MTEL is required, removing common barriers for working professionals returning to graduate study. The program culminates in a Reflective Seminar with a synthesis journal, asking candidates to connect their coursework back to their own practice. Backed by NECHE accreditation, it reads as a streamlined, practice-oriented degree for teachers building expertise on credentials they already hold. As a master's degree in education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as instructional coordinators 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 19 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Worcester, MA, where elementary teachers earn a median $82,810, roughly $80,772 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

    Lewis & Clark College

    Portland, ORPrivate nonprofit

    • 2Master's/yr
    • $82,330Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Lewis & Clark College offers a Master of Arts in Teaching designed as an intensive, front-loaded route into the profession, moving candidates from coursework to a classroom-ready credential in roughly 12 to 13 months. Students pursue either Elementary Education toward a multiple-subjects endorsement or Secondary Education toward a single content endorsement, and the program pairs sustained coursework with field experiences throughout. Completion brings both the master's degree and an Oregon Preliminary Teaching License, marking this as an entry pathway rather than an advancement credential for current teachers. A part-time Elementary Cohort option opens the same preparation to people already employed in schools who need a slower pace. The compressed, licensure-focused structure reads as a program for career-changers and recent graduates committed to becoming licensed teachers quickly. Graduates of this education program at the master's level often go on to work as instructional coordinators.

    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

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