Hakia Education

Best Master's in Educational Administration and Supervision 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 52 programs reviewed from the IPEDS database.

  1. 1

    University of Washington-Seattle Campus

    Seattle, WAPublic

    • 39Master's/yr
    • $102,920Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Foundations, Leadership, and Policy
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Washington offers a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Foundations, Leadership, and Policy for students who want to study schooling as a system rather than pursue a single administrative credential. Its structure is unusually flexible, asking students to pair a primary and secondary cognate drawn from Educational Policy, Organization and Leadership; Social and Cultural Foundations; and Early Childhood Policy, so each degree reflects a distinct intellectual emphasis. A first-year professional seminar spans three quarters and gives the incoming class a shared cohort experience before the work branches out. Students cap the degree with their choice of an academic thesis, an independent study, or an internship project, a range that accommodates both scholarly and applied interests. The program totals 45 credits and typically takes about two years of full-time study, positioning graduates for research, policy, and organizational roles across education. It is a master's degree in educational administration and supervision at the master's level, based in Washington.

    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 39 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

    Mercy University

    Dobbs Ferry, NYPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 7Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Educational Administration
    • NCATE and CAEP-accredited
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Mercy University offers a Master of Science in Educational Administration that prepares New York educators for building- and district-level leadership through a single unified track. The 33-credit program builds toward the New York School Building Certificate and School District Leader Certificate, and candidates complete the state's leadership examinations as part of qualifying. Two semesters of internship placed within a partner-school network across New York City and Westchester anchor the coursework in real administrative settings, while a Taskstream e-portfolio capstone asks candidates to document their growth as leaders. Nationally accredited through NCATE and CAEP, and available online as well as at the Bronx, Manhattan, and Westchester campuses, the program balances rigor with access for working teachers. The heavy fieldwork and portfolio requirement frame it as a hands-on, practice-tested route into school administration. This program offers a master's degree in educational administration and supervision in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 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
  3. 3

    Bank Street College of Education

    New York, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 10Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Educational Leadership (Progressive Leadership track), MSEd/EdM
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Bank Street Graduate School of Education offers Educational Leadership master's degrees, including a Progressive Leadership track, that carry the school's distinctive philosophy into how leaders are formed. The programs are grounded in Bank Street's reflective practice approach, which weaves human development and learning theory together with sustained clinical work, so candidates learn to lead by continually examining their own practice in real school settings. Alongside the 31-credit Progressive Leadership track, students can pursue Early Childhood Leadership or Leadership in Mathematics Education, with the Early Childhood track offering a path to School Building Leader certification. Registered with the New York State Department of Education, most tracks lead to state certification, and 87 percent of graduates report increased confidence in their specialty. Offered online and in person, the degree reads as one for reflective educators who want a values-driven, developmentally minded route into leadership. This program offers a master's degree in educational administration and supervision 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 10 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
  4. 4

    State University of New York at Cortland

    Cortland, NYPublicOnline available

    • 8Master's/yr
    • $85,760State teacher pay
    • Educational Leadership - School Building Leader / School District Leader
    • Online
    About the program

    SUNY Cortland's Educational Leadership program is a certification-focused Certificate of Advanced Study designed for experienced educators stepping into administration. Delivered fully online with scheduled synchronous meetings on weekday evenings, Saturdays, and over the summer, it accommodates candidates who continue teaching while they study. The curriculum is deliberately practitioner-oriented and project-based, anchored by an administrative internship that grounds theory in real school settings. Three tracks let students target the role they are pursuing: School Building Leader at 30 credits, School District Leader at 30 credits, and School District Business Leader at 36 credits. Because admission requires a prior master's degree and New York teaching certification, the program functions as an advanced credential that leads to New York State Education Department recommendation for building-level, district-level, and district business leader certification. As a master's degree in educational administration and supervision, it adds to the master's-level educational administration and supervision options in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 8 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $85,760, roughly $79,466 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  5. 5

    Neumann University

    Aston, PAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 17Master's/yr
    • $78,570Metro teacher pay
    • PK-12 Administrative I (Principal) Certification, Education Leadership, M.S.
    • Online
    About the program

    Neumann University offers a Master of Science in Education with a Leadership track that carries PK-12 Administrative I (Principal) Certification, built explicitly for teachers ready to move into school administration. Delivered 100% online and completable in as little as 12 to 18 months, it fits the schedules of educators who remain in the classroom while they study. The certification qualifies graduates to serve as elementary, middle, and secondary school principals and as supervisors of an instructional or pupil-services area. The leadership option sits within a broader MS in Education that also houses Teaching and Learning and Dual Teaching Certification tracks, signaling a program that serves both aspiring leaders and classroom specialists. Its design, aimed squarely at currently certified teachers, makes it a focused pathway from teaching into the principalship. As a master's degree in educational administration and supervision, it adds to the master's-level educational administration and supervision options in Pennsylvania.

    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 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
  6. 6

    Concordia University-Chicago

    River Forest, ILPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 35Master's/yr
    • $78,390Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Educational Administration
    • Online
    About the program

    Concordia University Chicago offers a Master of Arts in Educational Administration, a thirty-credit-hour online program spanning ten courses that build a broad foundation in school leadership and operations. The coursework surveys the core domains an administrator manages, including supervision, school finance, human resources, school law, and instructional leadership, and it closes with a master's capstone that ties the study together. The program is explicitly not a principal preparation licensure track, which frames it as a degree for educators seeking administrative knowledge and career advancement rather than a state credential. Its fully online delivery makes it workable for teachers and staff continuing to work while they study. The result is a flexible, knowledge-focused path into the administrative side of education. It is a master's degree in educational administration and supervision at the master's level, based 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 35 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
  7. 7

    Canisius University

    Buffalo, NYPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 4Master's/yr
    • $76,490Metro teacher pay
    • Educational Leadership and Supervision, M.S.
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Canisius University offers a Master of Science in Educational Leadership and Supervision that gives New York educators several distinct routes into building- and district-level roles. The 41-credit online, asynchronous program supports School Building Leader, School District Leader, and School District Business Leader certification, along with a consolidated Administrator and Superintendent Extension track arriving in fall 2026, plus elective concentrations in areas such as Educational Technologies, Athletics Administration, and Instructional Leadership. Substantial field work, 600 internship hours for most tracks and 350 for the business leader path, keeps the degree tied to actual school practice. Accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and reporting a 99 percent pass rate on state licensing exams, it pairs strong outcomes with flexibility. Multiple entry points and a pathway to continue into an Ed.D. through D'Youville University make it well suited to working professionals planning a long leadership arc. It is a master's degree in educational administration and supervision at the master's level, based in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 4 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY, where elementary teachers earn a median $76,490, roughly $79,807 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  8. 8

    Niagara University

    Niagara University, NYPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 4Master's/yr
    • $76,490Metro teacher pay
    • Educational Leadership, M.S.Ed.
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Niagara University offers a Master of Science in Education in Educational Leadership that moves already-certified New York educators toward both School Building Leader and School District Leader certification. The fully online, 36-credit program runs on a 24-month timeline and is delivered through synchronous video conferencing, so candidates learn together in real time while keeping their teaching careers intact. One-on-one faculty advising provides career coaching along the way, a sign the program is built to guide teachers individually toward the specific leadership role they envision. Admission requires existing NYS educator certification and a graduate GPA of at least 3.0, confirming that this is an advancement degree for practicing educators. Accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and offering rolling fall, spring, and summer starts, it reads as a flexible, mentorship-minded pathway into school and district leadership. It is a master's degree in educational administration and supervision 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 4 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY, where elementary teachers earn a median $76,490, roughly $79,807 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  9. 9

    University of Rochester

    Rochester, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 3Master's/yr
    • $62,840Metro teacher pay
    • Master's in Educational Leadership
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    The University of Rochester's Warner School of Education offers a Master's in Educational Leadership built for professionals who want to shape organizations rather than earn a state administrator credential. The 30-credit program is unusually flexible, pairing 18 credits of leadership electives in areas like program evaluation, leading change, managing resources, and securing funding with 12 credits of open electives students can steer toward their own goals. An optional thesis and an optional supervised internship of up to six credits, sited in the student's own workplace, let candidates go as deep into scholarship or practice as they choose. Optional Advanced Certificates in Program Evaluation, Online Teaching, or Digitally-Rich K-12 Teaching extend the design further. Deliberately distinct from Warner's certification-bearing school and district leadership tracks, it reads as a leadership degree for people already embedded in an organization, completable in two years part-time or three semesters full-time. This program offers a master's degree in educational administration and supervision in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 3 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Rochester, NY, where elementary teachers earn a median $62,840, roughly $64,760 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  10. 10

    Morningside University

    Sioux City, IAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 5Master's/yr
    • $62,270Metro teacher pay
    • Online
    About the program

    This institution is listed as offering an online master's program in educational administration and leadership. It is a master's degree in educational administration and supervision at the master's level, based in Iowa.

    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 Sioux City, IA-NE-SD, where elementary teachers earn a median $62,270, roughly $72,027 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

    Bellarmine University

    Louisville, KYPrivate nonprofit

    • 6Master's/yr
    • $61,610Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Education in Instructional Leadership and School Administration
    • Online
    About the program

    Bellarmine University offers a Master of Arts in Education in Instructional Leadership and School Administration, a thirty-credit-hour online program completed in four semesters through a cohort model. Because admission requires prior initial teacher certification, the program clearly targets practicing teachers stepping up to lead, and it prepares graduates for Kentucky principal or assistant principal certification for P-12 schools. Its accreditation carries weight, with recognition from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board, and Bellarmine holds institutional accreditation from SACSCOC. The cohort structure keeps candidates moving together through a defined sequence, reinforcing the practice-oriented character of the training. For educators who already hold a master's degree, Bellarmine offers an Education Specialist pathway into the same leadership preparation. As a master's degree in educational administration and supervision, it adds to the master's-level educational administration and supervision options in Kentucky.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 6 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,610, roughly $66,195 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  12. 12

    Converse University

    Spartanburg, SCPrivate nonprofit

    • 3Master's/yr
    • $60,990Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Administration and Supervision
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Converse University's Master of Education in Administration and Supervision is one of six M.Ed. tracks in a program clearly organized around working educators. The 30-hour curriculum schedules most classes after 4 p.m., a deliberate accommodation for teachers who lead classrooms by day and study by evening. Sequential clinical experiences in partner public schools thread hands-on administrative practice through the coursework, and the program accepts up to nine transfer hours to ease the path for candidates arriving with prior graduate credit. Accredited through SACS and CAEP, it leads toward South Carolina administrator certification with reciprocity recognized in many other states. Alongside tracks in areas like Gifted Education and Special Education, the administration option positions Converse as a regional preparer of school and district leaders. As a master's degree in educational administration and supervision, it adds to the master's-level educational administration and supervision options in South Carolina.

    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 Spartanburg, SC, where elementary teachers earn a median $60,990, roughly $66,984 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

    Idaho State University

    Pocatello, IDPublic

    • 7Master's/yr
    • $60,840Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Educational Leadership
    • Online
    About the program

    Idaho State University offers a Master of Education in Educational Leadership, a thirty-credit program delivered fully online for professionals aiming at postsecondary and higher-education leadership roles. Its orientation toward the college and university sector rather than K-12 principalships sets it apart from most administration master's, positioning it for those already working in student services, program coordination, or campus administration. Admission expects a year of professional experience and a solid upper-division record, signaling a cohort of practitioners building on existing careers. The online format keeps the program accessible to working staff who cannot pause employment to study. Graduates leave prepared to take on broader leadership responsibilities within higher-education institutions. As a master's degree in educational administration and supervision, it adds to the master's-level educational administration and supervision options in Idaho.

    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 Pocatello, ID, where elementary teachers earn a median $60,840, roughly $68,432 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

    Murray State University

    Murray, KYPublic

    • 40Master's/yr
    • $60,610State teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Education Administration
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Murray State University offers a Master of Arts in Education Administration that moves certified teachers through a shared cohort toward Kentucky principal certification. Students take 6 credit hours per semester across four consecutive semesters, a steady 24 to 30 credit-hour pace delivered by Zoom and anchored at the main campus and regional sites in Paducah, Hopkinsville, Madisonville, and Henderson. The cohort format, paired with a required internship and a capstone project defense, reads as a program built to keep a group of working educators progressing together while applying leadership skills in real schools. It leads to Level I School Principal certification, with Level II expected within five years, and connects onward to central-office and Career and Technical Education roles such as Instructional Supervisor and Director of Pupil Personnel. The result is a practice-oriented, regionally rooted pathway into Kentucky school leadership. This program offers a master's degree in educational administration and supervision in Kentucky.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 40 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Kentucky statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $60,610, roughly $67,226 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  15. 15

    Morehead State University

    Morehead, KYPublic

    • 3Master's/yr
    • $60,610State teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Advanced Educational Leadership
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Morehead State University offers a Master of Arts in Advanced Educational Leadership that prepares experienced Kentucky teachers to step into school and district leadership roles. The 33 credit-hour online program maps directly onto certification tracks for Principal, Supervisor of Instruction, and Director of Pupil Personnel, giving candidates a defined route toward the specific administrative post they intend to hold. Admission requirements, which include a valid teaching certificate, a Rank II or III credential, at least three years of full-time teaching, and a written statement demonstrating leadership competency, make clear this is a program for practicing educators with a record in the classroom. The emphasis on a leadership statement at entry suggests the faculty want candidates who can already articulate a vision, not just accumulate credits. Together these features characterize a focused, certification-driven degree for teachers ready to lead. As a master's degree in educational administration and supervision, it adds to the master's-level educational administration and supervision options in Kentucky.

    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 Kentucky statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $60,610, roughly $67,226 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  16. 16

    University of the Cumberlands

    Williamsburg, KYPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 282Master's/yr
    • $60,610State teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    University of the Cumberlands offers a Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.) built for educators who already hold a license and want to add a specialized credential. The fully online, 30 credit-hour program lets candidates choose a focus in Literacy Specialist, School Counseling, or Teacher Leader, so the path a student takes depends on the role they are moving toward rather than a single fixed sequence. Because it is designed around certification in these concentrations, the degree reads as a targeted advancement step for working teachers, not an entry route into the profession. The compact structure, advertised as completable in just over a year, signals a program shaped around practitioners balancing coursework with full teaching schedules. For those aiming at school administration specifically, the university routes candidates to a separate post-master's Ed.S. certification rather than this degree. As a master's degree in educational administration and supervision, it adds to the master's-level educational administration and supervision options in Kentucky.

    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 282 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Kentucky statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $60,610, roughly $67,226 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  17. 17

    American College of Education

    Indianapolis, INPrivate for-profitOnline available

    • 33Master's/yr
    • $60,510Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Educational Leadership
    • Online
    About the program

    American College of Education offers a Master of Education in Educational Leadership built for teachers preparing to lead schools, and it is delivered online through an institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The curriculum pairs six core courses in areas like classroom management, literacy, assessment, and community engagement with six leadership courses covering law and policy, school improvement, developing teachers, and resource management, so candidates deepen instructional grounding while adding the management skills of a principal. The program is aligned with the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders and includes a capstone and internship experiences that connect study to real school settings. Its 34 credits are structured to finish in 14 to 17 months at an average total cost near ten thousand dollars, an efficient and affordable path. The degree is approved for principal licensure in Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, and Texas, while other states may add requirements such as service years or internship hours. This program offers a master's degree in educational administration and supervision in Indiana.

    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 33 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN, where elementary teachers earn a median $60,510, roughly $63,231 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  18. 18

    Harding University

    Searcy, ARPrivate nonprofit

    • 3Master's/yr
    • $52,700State teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction Administration
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Harding University offers a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction Administration for experienced teachers preparing to lead curriculum and instruction at the school or district level. The 30-hour program is built around two semesters of internship and a professional portfolio defense, signaling an emphasis on demonstrated practice rather than coursework alone. Admission expects a settled professional, requiring a principal's recommendation and a minimum 3.00 GPA, while Arkansas licensure eligibility additionally calls for three years of licensed teaching and completion of the state's Science of Reading Awareness training. It sits alongside separate Harding tracks in Educational Leadership and Special Education Administration, letting candidates choose the leadership focus that fits their path. Described as meeting Arkansas and national accreditation standards, the degree reads as a portfolio-driven route into instructional leadership. This program offers a master's degree in educational administration and supervision in Arkansas.

    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 Arkansas statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $52,700, roughly $60,619 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

    Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

    Blacksburg, VAPublic

    • 8Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.) in Educational Leadership – Principal Preparation Program
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Virginia Tech offers a Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.) in Educational Leadership through its Principal Preparation Program, designed to move practicing educators into school leadership. The program runs as a cohort of mostly evening classes, an arrangement that lets working teachers stay in the classroom while they study, and it builds toward Virginia principal and supervisor licensure by aligning with the Professional Standards for Educational Leadership and the state's Principal Performance Standards. A defining feature is the 6-credit internship, structured around 36 standards-based objectives and mentored by a practicing principal, which grounds coursework in the daily realities of running a school. Candidates complete 30 credit hours over roughly four semesters and prepare for the School Leadership Licensure Assessment. A parallel Ed.S. track serves educators who already hold a master's degree, so the program reaches leaders at more than one career stage. This program offers a master's degree in educational administration and supervision in Virginia.

    Why it ranks here

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

    School site
  20. 20

    University of San Diego

    San Diego, CAPrivate nonprofit

    • 8Master's/yr
    • Master of Education (MEd) with a School Leadership specialization
    • Online
    About the program

    The University of San Diego offers a Master of Education (MEd) with a School Leadership specialization, delivered fully online over roughly twenty months for educators ready to move from the classroom into administrative roles. Because admission requires two years of prior teaching experience, the cohort is built for practicing teachers, and the five specialization courses reflect the daily work of a school leader, covering data-driven decision-making, instructional leadership, professional learning communities, family and community engagement, and ethical professional norms. A social-justice framing runs through the curriculum, which culminates in a required action research capstone tied to the student's own school context. The program is not approved for the California Administrative Services Credential, so it prepares graduates to pursue administrative credential exams and performance assessments in states outside California. USD also offers Higher Education Leadership and Curriculum and Instruction specializations within the same MEd. This program offers a master's degree in educational administration and supervision 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 8 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
  21. 21

    Oregon State University

    Corvallis, ORPublicOnline available

    • 13Master's/yr
    • Master of Education in Adult and Higher Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Oregon State University's Master of Education in Adult and Higher Education looks past the K-12 classroom to leadership in colleges and universities. The two-year, fully online program is delivered in partnership with OSU Ecampus, making it accessible to working professionals across the country. Rather than preparing school principals, it readies graduates for administrative and leadership roles at four-year universities and community colleges, from student affairs to program administration. Within the OSU College of Education it stands as the closest match to a general educational-administration degree, since the university does not offer a distinct K-12 school-administration master's. For candidates whose ambitions lie in postsecondary settings, it offers a leadership pathway that carries no K-12 licensure but centers the adult learner. This program offers a master's degree in educational administration and supervision in Oregon.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 13 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
  22. 22

    Miami Regional University

    Miami Springs, FLPrivate for-profitOnline available

    • 21Master's/yr
    • Master of Educational Administration
    About the program

    Miami Regional University offers a Master of Educational Administration through its graduate academic programs. The institution is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and is licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education. Its public listings describe the administration degree without detailing concentrations, format, or a specific certification pathway. This program offers a master's degree in educational administration and supervision in Florida.

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

    School site
  23. 23

    Strayer University-Florida

    Tampa, FLPrivate for-profitOnline available

    • 6Master's/yr
    • Master of Educational Design and Technology, Educational Administration concentration
    • Online
    About the program

    Strayer University offers a Master of Educational Design and Technology with an Educational Administration concentration, delivered fully online to working adults. Administration is one of several tracks under the degree, sharing the program with options such as Instructional Design and Technology, Teacher Leadership, and Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, which frames the administration path as one route through a broader technology-focused education program. The format is built around flexibility, with 10 courses running in an 11-week structure, acceptance of up to four transfer credits, and an alumni scholarship. Strayer is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The university is explicit that completion does not by itself guarantee eligibility for public school teacher or administrator licensure in any state, so prospective leaders confirm requirements with their state education office. As a master's degree in educational administration and supervision, it adds to the master's-level educational administration and supervision options in Florida.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 6 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
  24. 24

    Northern Illinois University

    Dekalb, ILPublicOnline available

    • 11Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) in Educational Administration
    • Online
    About the program

    Northern Illinois University offers a Master of Science in Education in Educational Administration, a thirty-six-credit online program that leads to a principal endorsement on the Illinois Professional Educator License. Admission requires a current, valid Illinois PEL, confirming that the program is built for licensed Illinois educators moving toward a building-level role. The delivery model is distinctive in its structure, a part-time synchronous cohort that meets in two classes each semester on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and progresses over six consecutive semesters. That steady, predictable rhythm suits full-time teachers who need to plan years ahead while continuing to work. Required in-person internship courses anchor the coursework in supervised field practice, so candidates lead within real schools before finishing the endorsement. As a master's degree in educational administration and supervision, it adds to the master's-level educational administration and supervision options in Illinois.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 11 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
  25. 25

    Duquesne University

    Pittsburgh, PAPrivate nonprofit

    • 2Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Educational Leadership
    • Online
    About the program

    Duquesne University offers a Master of Science in Educational Leadership structured for busy professionals who want to advance without pausing their careers. The 30-credit program runs across six semesters as accelerated eight-week online courses taken one at a time, a rhythm that lets students concentrate fully on each subject before moving to the next. Three concentrations, Higher Education Administration, PreK-12 Education, and Community Engaged Research, let candidates align the degree with the setting where they intend to lead. The sequence culminates in a leadership practicum and a capstone project, tying coursework to applied problem-solving in the student's own context. With rolling fall and spring admissions, the program reads as a flexible, practice-oriented route into leadership across both school and postsecondary environments. This program offers a master's degree in educational administration and supervision in Pennsylvania.

    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.

    School site

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