Best Master's in Educational, Instructional, and Curriculum Supervision Programs by Local Teacher Pay

1. 1

   University of New Hampshire-Main Campus

   Durham, NHPublicOnline available

   • 22Master's/yr
   • $98,060Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Science in Instruction and Leadership
   • On-campus
   About the program

   The University of New Hampshire offers an online Master of Science in Instruction and Leadership aimed at already-licensed teachers who want to grow as instructional leaders inside their own classrooms and schools. Rather than confer a new principal or superintendent license, the 36-credit program deepens expertise through concentrations such as Elementary Education, Literacy, Life Sciences, Early Childhood Special Education, and mathematics at the middle and upper levels. A job-embedded action research project anchors the degree, asking each student to investigate a real problem of practice in their own school and act on what they learn. That applied focus, combined with a schedule that can be completed in as few as 12 months full-time, signals a program built for teacher-leaders rather than aspiring administrators. It suits educators who want to lead through instruction and evidence rather than move into a formal administrative post. Earning a master's degree in educational, instructional, and curriculum supervision is a common route toward becoming one of New Hampshire's education administrators.

   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 22 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

   School site
2. 2

   St. John's University-New York

   Queens, NYPrivate nonprofit

   • 4Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • School Building Leadership, Master of Science in Education
   • New York State approved/recognized program-accredited
   • On-campus
   About the program

   St. John's University offers a fully online School Building Leadership Master of Science in Education, noted as one of the first entirely online School Building Leader degrees recognized by New York State. Built for experienced educators, it requires at least three years of PreK-12 or higher education leadership experience for admission and prepares graduates for New York State School Building Leader certification. The 34-credit program lets candidates layer in focus areas such as Early Childhood Education, TESOL, Gifted and Talented Education, Instructional Technology, or the administration and supervision of services for diverse students, broadening the leadership degree with instructional depth. An internship seminar and capstone exam preparation move students toward the certification assessment. Because certification is tied to New York, the university advises those planning to work elsewhere to confirm their own state's requirements. A master's-level path in educational, instructional, and curriculum supervision, it builds toward a career among education administrators 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 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

   Long Island University

   Brookville, NYPrivate nonprofit

   • 9Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Science in Educational Leadership
   • On-campus
   About the program

   LIU Post offers a hybrid Master of Science in Educational Leadership that trains teachers to run schools and manage the systems behind them. Beyond the core, elective focus areas in School Business Administration, School Personnel Administration, Public School Finance, and School District Administration let candidates concentrate on the operational side of leadership. A 400-hour administrative internship under a mentor school administrator supplies extended hands-on practice, and a portfolio serves as the culminating experience that ties the coursework together. The program spans a minimum of 36 credits held to a 3.0 grade point average and leads to eligibility for New York State certification as a School Building Leader once candidates pass the New York State School Leadership Assessment. Its blend of finance and administration electives with a long mentored internship reads as a program for educators aiming squarely at building and district management. Earning a master's degree in educational, instructional, and curriculum supervision is a common route toward becoming one of New York's education administrators.

   Why it ranks here

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

   Mercy University

   Dobbs Ferry, NYPrivate nonprofitOnline available

   • 5Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Science in Educational Administration
   • NCATE and CAEP (national)-accredited
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Mercy University offers a Master of Science in Educational Administration that positions graduates for both building-level and district-level leadership in New York. The 33-credit program qualifies candidates to pursue the New York School Building Certificate for principal and assistant principal roles and the School District Leader Certificate for superintendent and district posts, pending passage of the required state examinations. Two semesters of internship and clinical practice, held to a 3.0 grade point average and capped by a Taskstream e-portfolio project, ground the coursework in supervised leadership work. Its national accreditation from NCATE and CAEP lends the degree recognized standing. Offered on campus in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Westchester as well as fully online, the program gives working educators several ways to fit an administrative degree around their jobs. A master's-level path in educational, instructional, and curriculum supervision, it builds toward a career among education administrators 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 5 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

   School site
5. 5

   University of Wisconsin-River Falls

   River Falls, WIPublic

   • 73Master's/yr
   • $79,730Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Science in School Supervision and Instructional Leadership
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   The University of Wisconsin-River Falls offers a Master of Science in School Supervision and Instructional Leadership that is clearly built for experienced teachers stepping into administration. The licensure track requires six semesters of successful full-time classroom teaching, and it leads to Wisconsin administrator licensure as a principal or director of instruction, while a separate Teacher Leadership track serves those who want to lead from within the classroom. An accelerated cohort completes 33 credit hours in a single year, meeting in locations across Wisconsin through two weeks in each of two summers plus one weekend a month during the school year. An internship seminar and a required action-research course keep the work grounded in real school settings. The hybrid cohort design and embedded practicum mark this as a program for working educators moving deliberately into school leadership. As a master's degree in educational, instructional, and curriculum supervision, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as education administrators in Wisconsin.

   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 73 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, where elementary teachers earn a median $79,730, roughly $76,062 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

   Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia

   Philadelphia, PAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

   • 43Master's/yr
   • $78,570Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction
   • Middle States Commission on Higher Education-accredited
   • Online
   About the program

   Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia offers a Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction built for certified teachers, curriculum specialists, and literacy professionals who want to deepen expertise without pursuing a new teaching license. The fully online program spans 30 to 31 credit hours and is typically completed in two years, with concentrations in STEM Education, English as a Second Language, Literacy, and Supervisor of Special Education that let candidates align study with their professional path. Because the program does not lead to teacher licensure, its orientation is toward advancement for those already in the field rather than entry into it. Accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education underpins the degree. The mix of specialized tracks and flexible online delivery reads as a practice-focused credential for educators refining a particular specialty. Graduates of this educational, instructional, and curriculum supervision program at the master's level often go on to work as education administrators.

   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 43 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
7. 7

   National Louis University

   Chicago, ILPrivate nonprofit

   • 3Master's/yr
   • $78,390Metro teacher pay
   • M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with Advanced Professional Specializations
   • On-campus
   About the program

   National Louis University offers an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction that asks teachers to build depth in two chosen specializations rather than a single broad concentration. The menu is unusually wide, spanning Technology Specialist, Elementary Math Specialist, ESL/Bilingual Education, Learning Behavior Specialist I and II, Early Childhood Special Education, Mathematics Education, Reading Teacher, Teacher Leader, Learning Sciences, and a Personalized Option, and several of these routes lead to Illinois state endorsements in specialized content areas. Program length scales with the pairing, running 32 to 40 semester hours depending on the specializations selected. On-campus and online options let working educators choose the format that fits their lives. For those who already hold a master's degree, the university offers a parallel Ed.S. in Curriculum and Instruction, so the credential can meet teachers at different points in their careers. Earning a master's degree in educational, instructional, and curriculum supervision is a common route toward becoming one of Illinois's education administrators.

   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 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
8. 8

   The College of New Jersey

   Ewing, NJPublic

   • 2Master's/yr
   • $77,850Metro teacher pay
   • Educational Leadership, M.Ed.
   • On-campus
   About the program

   The College of New Jersey offers an online Educational Leadership M.Ed. for experienced educators moving toward the principal's office, requiring at least three years of prior teaching or educational work and a valid teaching certificate for entry. Accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation, the 33-credit program spans twelve courses and fulfills New Jersey Principal Administrative Certificate requirements while also preparing graduates for New Jersey Supervisor Certification. A 300-hour administrative internship runs across three courses, pairing leadership practice with a professional portfolio assessment that documents each candidate's growth. That combination of an experience requirement, an extended internship, and a portfolio signals a program built for practicing educators rather than newcomers. A related Educational Leadership: Instruction variant gives candidates a second way to focus the degree. A master's-level path in educational, instructional, and curriculum supervision, it builds toward a career among education administrators in New Jersey.

   Why it ranks here

   A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 2 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Trenton-Princeton, NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $77,850, roughly $75,451 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

   School site
9. 9

   Chaminade University of Honolulu

   Honolulu, HIPrivate nonprofitOnline available

   • 30Master's/yr
   • $73,080Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Education (MEd) - Instructional Leadership
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Chaminade University of Honolulu offers a fully online Master of Education (MEd) in Instructional Leadership built to fit around the schedules of working educators, with four 10-week terms a year and a path that can be finished in about 18 months. Its 30 credit hours flex across three emphases, an Instructional Leadership track that includes a Teach for America Hawai'i cohort, Child Development, and a Montessori Emphasis, so candidates can aim at classroom impact or specialized practice. The Instructional Leadership and TFA cohort route folds in coursework leading to Elementary, Secondary, and Special Education licensure, which frames it as an entry into the profession as much as an advanced credential. Regional WASC accreditation covers the university, and the Montessori emphasis carries separate MACTE accreditation for teacher preparation. Applicants who are already Montessori-certified can transfer up to 12 credits, shortening the road to the degree. The cohort structure and embedded licensure make it especially suited to career changers and new teachers entering through alternative pathways. Graduates of this educational, instructional, and curriculum supervision program at the master's level often go on to work as education administrators.

   Why it ranks here

   A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 30 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Urban Honolulu, HI, where elementary teachers earn a median $73,080, roughly $65,861 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

    Wayne State University

    Detroit, MIPublic

    • 18Master's/yr
    • $65,210Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Teaching and Learning
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Wayne State University offers a Master of Education in Teaching and Learning that lets educators specialize deeply in the subject or population they teach. Its concentrations reach across Bilingual Education, Early Childhood, ESL, English, Mathematics, Science/STEM, Special Education tracks in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Cognitive Impairment, and Visual Art Education, so teachers can align the degree tightly with their content area. Most concentrations meet on campus while Bilingual Education and ESL run online, giving the program a hybrid footprint. Some concentrations may lead to or partially fulfill a teaching endorsement, and the Special Education route requires an existing teaching certificate for admission, marking it as advanced study for credentialed teachers. The minimum 30-credit degree follows a master's plan B, with at least 24 credits earned at Wayne State and a terminal seminar essay or project in place of a thesis. CAEP accreditation of the university's teacher education programs backs the coursework. A master's-level path in educational, instructional, and curriculum supervision, it builds toward a career among education administrators in Michigan.

    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 18 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI, where elementary teachers earn a median $65,210, roughly $65,016 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
11. 11

    Eastern Kentucky University

    Richmond, KYPublic

    • 32Master's/yr
    • $60,610State teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Education (MAEd)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Eastern Kentucky University offers a Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) built to advance the careers of teachers already working in Kentucky classrooms. A broad set of concentrations, from Elementary Education, Middle Grades, and Literacy P-12 to School Leadership, School Librarian, and several Special Education tracks, lets educators sharpen the exact niche they teach, with a Secondary Education option available on campus. The 30 to 36 credit-hour program runs on an EPSB-approved curriculum, and completing it drives rank advancement in Kentucky's teacher rank system while several tracks lead to specific certifications; the School Leadership concentration, for instance, fulfills requirements for Level I and II principal certification. Online courses move quickly through accelerated 7-week terms with six start dates a year, so teachers can begin close to when they decide to enroll. The mix of on-campus and online delivery and the direct tie to salary rank make it a practical next step for practicing educators seeking both credentials and pay progression. This master's-level educational, instructional, and curriculum supervision program prepares graduates for work as education administrators 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 32 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
12. 12

    American College of Education

    Indianapolis, INPrivate for-profitOnline available

    • 166Master's/yr
    • $60,510Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction
    • Higher Learning Commission-accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    American College of Education offers a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction aimed squarely at PreK-12 educators who are already teaching and want to sharpen their practice online. The program lets candidates shape their focus through flexible elective areas such as literacy, mathematics, STEM, special education, technology integration, and instructional leadership, so the degree can bend toward a teacher's existing role or ambitions. Coursework reflects a contemporary sensibility, incorporating artificial intelligence and gamification, and a required Capstone Experience ties the learning back to the classroom. The program can be completed in roughly 12 to 16 months and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It does not carry an explicit licensure pathway, which reinforces its purpose as professional deepening for practicing educators rather than an entry route to certification. As a master's degree in educational, instructional, and curriculum supervision, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as education administrators 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 166 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
13. 13

    Grand Canyon University

    Phoenix, AZPrivate for-profitOnline available

    • 343Master's/yr
    • $59,180Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction (Non-Licensure)
    • Higher Learning Commission (HLC)-accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    Grand Canyon University offers a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction on a non-licensure track, a 32-credit degree delivered fully online and accredited through the Higher Learning Commission. Because it is designed for educators who already hold a teaching license, the program deepens instructional and curriculum expertise rather than granting a new credential. Coursework unfolds in focused six-week online terms, a rhythm suited to teachers studying while they continue to work. A capstone project that includes field-experience hours grounds the degree in classroom application, connecting theory to the settings where graduates already teach. The result reads as a professional-growth degree for licensed teachers who want to strengthen how they design and deliver instruction. Earning a master's degree in educational, instructional, and curriculum supervision is a common route toward becoming one of Arizona's education administrators.

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

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

    School site
14. 14

    William Carey University

    Hattiesburg, MSPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 30Master's/yr
    • $47,650Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Educational Leadership
    • On-campus
    About the program

    William Carey University offers a Master of Education in Educational Leadership built for classroom teachers ready to step into administrative roles. The single administrative certification pathway prepares candidates for the School Leadership Licensure Assessment and for state administrative certification, keeping every student on one clear track toward the principalship. Its schedule reflects the realities of working educators, pairing two fully online classes each term with a single course that meets virtually on three Saturday mornings, so studying fits around a teaching day. Three hundred internship hours run across four terms, embedding leadership practice in a real school rather than saving it for the end. Because the program can be finished in roughly 12 to 15 months, it reads as an efficient, practice-heavy route from teaching into school leadership. As a master's degree in educational, instructional, and curriculum supervision, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as education administrators in Mississippi.

    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 30 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Hattiesburg, MS, where elementary teachers earn a median $47,650, roughly $54,374 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
15. 15

    University of Illinois Chicago

    Chicago, ILPublic

    • 16Master's/yr
    • Master of Education (MEd) in Instructional Leadership - Educational Studies
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Illinois Chicago offers a Master of Education (MEd) in Instructional Leadership with an Educational Studies focus designed for practicing teachers who want to shape their own scholarly direction rather than follow a fixed curriculum. Working with an adviser, students design an individual area of study out of fields such as mathematics education, science education, bilingual education, or curriculum theory, anchored by nine hours of core coursework within a 32 semester-hour program. The evening schedule, with classes generally one night a week between 5 and 8 p.m., signals a program built around full-time educators already in the field. It does not grant initial teaching licensure, but current holders of an Illinois Professional Educator License can layer on endorsements in areas like Bilingual/ESL, Learning Behavior Specialist 1, Middle School, and Reading. The degree culminates in an optional internship or independent study rather than a required thesis, keeping the emphasis on applied inquiry tied to a teacher's own practice. This master's-level educational, instructional, and curriculum supervision program prepares graduates for work as education administrators in Illinois.

    Why it ranks here

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

    School site
16. 16

    University of Mary

    Bismarck, NDPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 14Master's/yr
    • Master of Education in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    The University of Mary offers a Master of Education in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment that gives educators two clear paths, a licensure track leading to North Dakota secondary teaching licensure and a non-licensure track for those focused on professional growth. Delivered primarily online with summer coursework on the Bismarck campus, the program can be finished in as little as a year and a half, a pace suited to working teachers. Its dual-track structure lets candidates choose between earning a credential and simply strengthening their practice in curriculum, instruction, and assessment. The coursework is grounded in the university's Christian, Catholic, and Benedictine mission, giving the program a distinct values framework. Recognized by the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board and meeting CAEP Advanced standards, it advises students to confirm their own state's licensure requirements before enrolling. A master's-level path in educational, instructional, and curriculum supervision, it builds toward a career among education administrators in North 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 14 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
17. 17

    Concordia University-Wisconsin

    Mequon, WIPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 2Master's/yr
    • Online
    About the program

    This institution offers an online master's program in curriculum and instruction. Earning a master's degree in educational, instructional, and curriculum supervision is a common route toward becoming one of Wisconsin's education administrators.

    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
18. 18

    Western Carolina University

    Cullowhee, NCPublic

    • 16Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.) - Comprehensive Education
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Western Carolina University offers a Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.) in Comprehensive Education that lets already-licensed K-12 teachers deepen their expertise across a wide menu of concentrations, from Special Education tracks and Literacy Education to STEM and English Education. The 30 to 33 credit structure pairs a shared 12-hour professional core with a chosen concentration, so candidates build common ground in advanced teaching practice before specializing. For most tracks the program leads to Advanced Competencies (SP2) licensure from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, while an Educational Studies option serves those who want the study without the credential. Most concentrations run online, though English Education is hybrid with face-to-face sessions at the Cullowhee campus. Accredited by CAEP and supportive of National Board Certification preparation, it reads as a program for practicing teachers advancing toward specialist and leadership roles. This master's-level educational, instructional, and curriculum supervision program prepares graduates for work as education administrators in North Carolina.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 16 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
19. 19

    Manhattan University

    Riverdale, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 2Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Education in School Building Leadership
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Manhattan College offers an on-campus Master of Science in Education in School Building Leadership that prepares candidates for New York State certification as a School Building Leader, with additional coursework opening the School District Leader credential. The program pairs 18 credits of core coursework, held to a minimum 3.0 grade point average, with 100 hours of course-related field experience and two internship seminars that together total 400 hours of administrative activity. That heavy fieldwork requirement places leadership practice at the center of the degree rather than treating it as an afterthought. Accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and approved by New York State, it carries recognized standing for aspiring principals. An Advanced Certificate variant serves educators who already hold a master's degree and need only the leadership credential. As a master's degree in educational, instructional, and curriculum supervision, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as education administrators in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 2 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
20. 20

    Samford University

    Birmingham, ALPrivate nonprofit

    • 15Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Instructional Leadership
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Samford University offers a Master of Science in Instructional Leadership through its Orlean Beeson School of Education, a 30-credit degree that candidates complete as a cohort in about eighteen months. The program leads to Alabama Class A instructional leadership certification and is open to educators who already hold at least three years of classroom teaching experience. A three-hour internship, typically completed at the student's own school, anchors the coursework in real administrative practice rather than theory alone. The cohort structure, the experience requirement, and the embedded workplace internship together read as a program built for practicing teachers stepping into principal and school-leadership roles. It offers a focused, credential-bearing route from the classroom into instructional leadership. As a master's degree in educational, instructional, and curriculum supervision, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as education administrators in Alabama.

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

    School site
21. 21

    Bethel University

    Saint Paul, MNPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 13Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts in Education K-12
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Bethel University offers a fully online, asynchronous Master of Arts in Education K-12 designed for teachers who already hold a K-12 license and want to grow without leaving the classroom. It does not lead to initial licensure, but its concentrations in Educational Leadership, International Baccalaureate, Special Education, and Work-Based Learning let practicing teachers move toward the roles or endorsements they are aiming for. The program can be finished in as few as 18 months plus a thesis, with courses taken in sequence alongside a paired faculty mentor who guides students through the work. A Christian worldview foundation runs through the coursework, shaping how the material is framed. Approved by Minnesota's PELSB and offered by an HLC-accredited university, the degree fits credentialed educators seeking a flexible, mentored path to advanced study. Earning a master's degree in educational, instructional, and curriculum supervision is a common route toward becoming one of Minnesota's education administrators.

    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

    Southern Adventist University

    Collegedale, TNPrivate nonprofit

    • 4Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Education (MSEd), Instructional Leadership emphasis
    • Online
    About the program

    Southern Adventist University offers a Master of Science in Education (MSEd) with an Instructional Leadership emphasis, along with concentrations in Literacy Education and Outdoor Education, giving experienced teachers several routes into advanced practice. The Instructional Leadership track requires two years of teaching experience and includes an administration option that prepares candidates for principal and superintendent roles, signaling a program aimed at educators ready to lead. Courses run year-round in flexible three to six credit terms, and candidacy is formalized only after 24 completed credit hours, a structure that lets students demonstrate readiness as they progress. Delivered online, the program accommodates working professionals who are advancing while they teach. The teaching-experience requirement and leadership-oriented options together characterize it as a step toward instructional and administrative leadership for practicing educators. As a master's degree in educational, instructional, and curriculum supervision, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as education administrators in Tennessee.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 4 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
23. 23

    Georgian Court University

    Lakewood, NJPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 31Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts in Administration and Leadership
    About the program

    Georgian Court University offers a Master of Arts in Administration and Leadership that prepares educators for a range of New Jersey administrative posts, spanning school principal, school supervisor, school business administrator, and school administrator. The 36-credit program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation through Fall 2028 and is aligned with the New Jersey Professional Standards for Educational Leaders and the ISLLC standards. Its two-part capstone internship, six credits carried across two semesters and requiring 150 clinical hours, gives candidates sustained leadership practice under real school conditions. Graduates become eligible for a New Jersey Certificate of Eligibility as Principal, with additional coursework and testing opening the School Administrator and School Business Administrator credentials. Because certification hinges on passing the applicable Praxis II examination, the degree functions as a structured, standards-driven route into New Jersey school administration. A master's-level path in educational, instructional, and curriculum supervision, it builds toward a career among education administrators in New Jersey.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 31 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
24. 24

    Valdosta State University

    Valdosta, GAPublic

    • 29Master's/yr
    • Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction in Accomplished Teaching
    • NCATE-accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    Valdosta State University offers a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction in Accomplished Teaching, an NCATE-accredited online program delivered jointly with Columbus State and Georgia Southern universities. Spanning 36 hours across twelve courses, the collaborative degree can be completed in about sixteen months of full-time study and draws on faculty from three University System of Georgia institutions. It leads to Georgia Curriculum and Instruction certification at Level 5 for candidates who already hold a teaching, service, or leadership certificate, marking it clearly as an advancement path for practicing educators. The shared-university model gives students a broader pool of expertise than a single campus while keeping the format fully online. Together these features read as a program for accomplished Georgia teachers seeking to deepen their craft and elevate their certification. A master's-level path in educational, instructional, and curriculum supervision, it builds toward a career among education administrators in Georgia.

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

    School site
25. 25

    Mount Saint Mary's University

    Los Angeles, CAPrivate nonprofit

    • 1Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Education: Individually Designed Program (Instructional Leadership focus)
    • California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC)-accredited
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Mount Saint Mary's University in Los Angeles offers a Master of Science in Education through an Individually Designed Program, a 30-unit hybrid degree approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Its mix-and-match structure lets practicing teachers assemble coursework across Instructional Leadership, Special Education, and elective options, with the choice of adding a Certificate in Inclusive and Responsive Teaching. Depending on the courses selected, the program can lead to a California Preliminary or Clear Teaching Credential, giving experienced educators a flexible path to advance their credentialing. A master's project completed in the student's own classroom keeps the degree tied directly to daily teaching practice. This customizable, teacher-centered design reads as a program built for working educators shaping graduate study around their own goals and students. This master's-level educational, instructional, and curriculum supervision program prepares graduates for work as education administrators 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 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site

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