Best Master's in Educational Administration and Supervision Programs by Degrees Awarded

1. 1

   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

   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 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
2. 2

   Colorado State University-Fort Collins

   Fort Collins, COPublicOnline available

   • 79Master's/yr
   • Master of Education in Education and Human Resource Studies, Educational Leadership with K-12 Principal Licensure Specialization
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   Colorado State University offers a Master of Education in Education and Human Resource Studies with an Educational Leadership, K-12 Principal Licensure Specialization, a 33-credit hybrid program that leads directly to Colorado P-12 principal and administrator licensure. The structure signals its audience clearly, with a fifteen-month cohort designed around the schedules of full-time working educators who intend to stay employed while they train. Coursework is anchored by a substantial field component, a six-credit principal internship totaling a 300-hour placement, so candidates practice leadership inside a real building rather than only studying it. The cohort pacing and embedded internship read as a deliberate bridge from teaching into a principalship, keeping theory tethered to on-the-ground supervision and mentoring. Graduates finish positioned to step into building-level administrative roles across Colorado schools. This program offers a master's degree in educational administration and supervision in Colorado.

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

   School site
3. 3

   Pennsylvania Western University

   California, PAPublicOnline available

   • 47Master's/yr
   • Master of Education in Educational Leadership
   • Online
   About the program

   PennWest offers a Master of Education in Educational Leadership through its Global Online division, and the program is built to move experienced educators into formal administrative roles. Two certification tracks anchor it, one preparing K-12 principals and the other preparing supervisors of special education, both leading graduates to the Praxis exam and to Pennsylvania certification. The design pairs asynchronous coursework with internships and action research projects, a structure that keeps working teachers in their schools while grounding the degree in real leadership practice. That practicum-driven approach, combined with a certification-focused endpoint, marks the program as career preparation for aspiring administrators rather than a survey of theory. Graduates can continue toward the Superintendent's Letter of Eligibility or an Ed.D. in Education Administration and Leadership, and the program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. 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 47 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

   School site
4. 4

   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

   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 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
5. 5

   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

   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 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
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

   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

   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 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN, where elementary teachers earn a median $60,510, roughly $63,231 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

   School site
8. 8

   Strayer University-Global Region

   Washington, DCPrivate for-profitOnline available

   • 33Master's/yr
   • Master of Educational Design and Technology, Educational Administration concentration
   • Online
   About the program

   The Master of Educational Design and Technology with an Educational Administration concentration at Strayer University is an online degree paced in 11-week terms, a rhythm suited to adults who need graduate study to bend around work and life. With up to four transfer courses accepted and one-on-one academic coaching built in, the program signals a clear orientation toward experienced professionals returning to school with specific goals. The administration concentration sets this path apart from the adult education and K-12 tracks, directing the curriculum toward leadership and the design of learning systems. Strayer notes plainly that the degree is not a licensure program and that completing it does not guarantee a graduate has met the requirements to apply for teacher or administrator certification in any state. The university holds institutional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. It is a master's degree in educational administration and supervision at the master's level, based in Washington, D.C..

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

   School site
9. 9

   Chadron State College

   Chadron, NEPublicOnline available

   • 27Master's/yr
   • Master of Arts in Education, Educational Administration
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Chadron State College offers a Master of Arts in Education with a concentration in Educational Administration, aimed at teachers preparing to lead Nebraska schools. Delivered fully online, the program builds candidates toward the state's Educational Administration endorsement and offers focus areas for the Elementary and Secondary Principal role or the Special Education Supervisor role, letting students align coursework with the specific leadership post they seek. The curriculum is trained to National Educational Leadership Preparation (NELP) program recognition standards, and candidates must pass the Praxis II content test before graduating. Because applicants must document prior teaching experience and hold or qualify for a teaching certificate before full admission, the degree functions as an advancement step for established educators. The combination of endorsement alignment and required field experience frames it as a practical route from the classroom into administration. As a master's degree in educational administration and supervision, it adds to the master's-level educational administration and supervision options in Nebraska.

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

   School site
10. 10

    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

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

    School site
11. 11

    University of Maryland Global Campus

    Adelphi, MDPublicOnline available

    • 18Master's/yr
    About the program

    A current master's program in educational administration or leadership is not part of University of Maryland Global Campus's active offerings. UMGC's education master's degrees center on Instructional Technology, Learning Design and Technology, and Teaching. Prospective administration candidates would need to look to another institution. As a master's degree in educational administration and supervision, it adds to the master's-level educational administration and supervision options in Maryland.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 18 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
12. 12

    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

    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 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
13. 13

    Strayer University-Georgia

    Chamblee, GAPrivate for-profitOnline available

    • 17Master's/yr
    • Master of Educational Design and Technology, Educational Administration concentration
    • Online
    About the program

    Strayer University offers the Master of Educational Design and Technology with a concentration in Educational Administration as a fully online degree, structured around 11-week terms that favor steady, year-round progress. The combination of generous transfer allowances, up to four courses, and built-in one-on-one academic coaching points to a program engineered for adult learners who are already working in schools, training, or related settings. Choosing the administration concentration, rather than the adult education or K-12 tracks, orients the coursework toward leadership and the design of learning systems. The university makes clear that this is not a licensure program and that completion does not by itself satisfy the requirements to apply for teacher or administrator certification in any state. Strayer holds institutional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. This program offers a master's degree in educational administration and supervision in Georgia.

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

    School site
14. 14

    Strayer University-North Carolina

    Greensboro, NCPrivate for-profitOnline available

    • 16Master's/yr
    • Master of Educational Design and Technology, Educational Administration concentration
    • Online
    About the program

    Strayer University's Master of Educational Design and Technology, taken with its Educational Administration concentration, is an online program organized around fast-moving 11-week terms rather than a conventional semester. That cadence, paired with up to four accepted transfer courses and one-on-one academic coaching, signals a degree aimed squarely at busy professionals who need to fit graduate study around full-time work. The administration focus is one of several concentrations available, joining adult education and K-12 tracks, so students can steer the credential toward leadership and program-design goals. Strayer states plainly that the program is not a licensure route and that finishing it does not by itself qualify a graduate to apply for teacher or administrator certification in any state. The university holds institutional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. As a master's degree in educational administration and supervision, it adds to the master's-level educational administration and supervision options in North Carolina.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 16 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
15. 15

    University of Central Arkansas

    Conway, ARPublic

    • 14Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in School Leadership, Management, and Administration (SLMA)
    • Online
    About the program

    The University of Central Arkansas offers a Master of Science in School Leadership, Management, and Administration for teachers moving into building and program leadership. The 30-credit program builds a 24-hour core around six hours of advanced study and a personalized internship, keeping the experience grounded in each candidate's own school setting. Two tracks let students focus on either building-level administration or curriculum and program administration, matching the degree to the role they are targeting. Delivered through a mix of synchronous and asynchronous online instruction, it can be completed in about two years while candidates keep working. Arkansas has authorized UCA to recommend qualifying graduates for administrator licensure without the School Leadership Series Praxis exam, and the program is CAEP-accredited, making it a practical, licensure-oriented step into Arkansas school leadership. This program offers a master's degree in educational administration and supervision in Arkansas.

    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.

    School site
16. 16

    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

    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.

    School site
17. 17

    University of Kansas

    Lawrence, KSPublicOnline available

    • 12Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (Educational Administration, PK-12)
    • Online
    About the program

    The University of Kansas offers a Master of Science in Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies with a PK-12 Educational Administration track, delivered fully online through its Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. The track leads to building-level principal licensure in PK-12 educational systems, making it a clear pathway for teachers preparing to move into school administration. KU deliberately separates this online PK-12 track from the department's campus-based higher-education-administration master's, so applicants can align the degree with either the school or the college sector. The online format opens the program to working educators across the state and beyond who need to keep teaching while they earn the credential. Graduates finish positioned for principal and building-leadership roles in PK-12 schools. This program offers a master's degree in educational administration and supervision in Kansas.

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

    School site
18. 18

    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

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

    School site
19. 19

    Northern State University

    Aberdeen, SDPublicOnline available

    • 10Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Education in Leadership and Administration
    • Online
    About the program

    Northern State University offers a Master of Science in Education in Leadership and Administration aimed at preparing building-level principals for South Dakota schools. The 33-credit program runs entirely online and is typically completed in about two years, with faculty specifically trained and certified for online instruction. Its curriculum focuses on P-12 principal preparation and meets National Educational Leadership Preparation Standards, aligning candidates with recognized expectations for the role. The program's track record is a defining feature, having produced more than 70 school administrators across the state. For working educators in the region who aspire to lead a school, it reads as a proven, licensure-oriented pathway into the principalship delivered without requiring a move to campus. It is a master's degree in educational administration and supervision at the master's level, based in South Dakota.

    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.

    School site
20. 20

    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
21. 21

    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

    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
22. 22

    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

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 8 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
23. 23

    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

    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 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
24. 24

    Strayer University-Maryland

    Suitland, MDPrivate for-profitOnline available

    • 8Master'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. It is a master's degree in educational administration and supervision at the master's level, based in Maryland.

    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
25. 25

    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

    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 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

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