Hakia Education

Best Master's in Educational Leadership and Administration Programs by Local Teacher Pay

Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology

Published ·Last updated

Ranked by the median wage for elementary teachers in each program metro area, from BLS. The top 25 out of 572 programs reviewed from the IPEDS database.

  1. 1

    University of Washington-Seattle Campus

    Seattle, WAPublic

    • 31Master's/yr
    • $102,920Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education, Danforth Educational Leadership Program
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Washington offers a Master of Education through its Danforth Educational Leadership Program, an intensive, field-based route into school administration. The one-year program totals 36 credits, combining 24 coursework credits with a 12-credit internship, and meets on Thursdays plus one Saturday per month at UW Seattle so candidates can stay connected to schools while they study. Students earn a Washington Principal or Program Administrator certificate from OSPI, and can complete the M.Ed. concurrently with nine additional credits. The heavy internship weighting and cohort scheduling signal a program built to move working educators quickly into leadership. Its outcomes reinforce that focus, with more than 90 percent of alumni hired as principals, assistant principals, or central office leaders within three months. Graduates of this educational leadership and administration 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 31 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $102,920, roughly $92,610 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  2. 2

    University of Washington-Tacoma Campus

    Tacoma, WAPublic

    • 2Master's/yr
    • $102,920Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education (MEd) with Principal Certification, Educational Administration Program
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Washington Tacoma offers a Master of Education (MEd) with Principal Certification through its Educational Administration Program, an on-campus, cohort-based pathway that moves a shared group of aspiring school leaders through the coursework together. The program leads to Washington State Principal and Program Administrator residency certification, positioning it squarely for practicing educators preparing to step into building or district leadership roles. Because candidates advance as a cohort, the model favors sustained peer collaboration over self-paced study, a structure that fits working professionals balancing employment with graduate work. Prospective students should note that the program is currently paused for new admissions from summer 2026 through summer 2028. During that window, UW Bothell's LEDE program is offered as an interim alternative for those seeking a comparable leadership credential. As a master's degree in educational leadership and administration, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as education administrators in Washington.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 2 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $102,920, roughly $92,610 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  3. 3

    City University of Seattle

    Seattle, WAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 18Master's/yr
    • $102,920Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Educational Leadership: Administrator Certification
    • On-campus
    About the program

    City University of Seattle offers a Master of Education in Educational Leadership with Administrator Certification, an online program that keeps a strong practical emphasis while accommodating working educators through optional Saturday networking sessions. Approved by the Washington Professional Educator Standards Board, it leads to the Washington State Residency Administrator Certificate, with interstate reciprocity possible through NASDTEC agreements though not guaranteed. Rather than funnel every candidate toward the same job, the program builds customized pathways toward principal, program administrator, or CTE director roles. The 36-credit, 15-course sequence centers on a year-long, 12-credit mentored internship supported by reflective seminars, signaling a program that treats extended supervised practice as the core of leadership preparation. CityU notes it is among the largest providers of principal certificates in Washington State. This master's-level educational leadership and administration program prepares graduates for work as education administrators in Washington.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 18 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
  4. 4

    Santa Clara University

    Santa Clara, CAPrivate nonprofit

    • 24Master's/yr
    • $102,860Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Educational Leadership
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Santa Clara University offers a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership that pairs a leadership core with an unusually open 27 units of electives, giving candidates room to shape the degree around their own aims. Because students can attend part-time, full-time, or in a hybrid rhythm, the program reads as built for working educators balancing graduate study with their jobs. A required action-research course grounds the coursework in inquiry into real school problems, and candidates may fold in the 36-unit California Preliminary Administrative Services Credential to prepare for K-12 principal, assistant principal, and higher-education administration roles. The standalone 45-unit MA suits those who want the leadership degree without immediate licensure. The program is also framed as a foundation for later Ed.D. or Ph.D. study, signaling ambitions beyond the first administrative post. A master's-level path in educational leadership and administration, it builds toward a career among 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 24 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $102,860, roughly $93,151 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

    Washington State University

    Pullman, WAPublic

    • 5Master's/yr
    • $102,350State teacher pay
    • Master of Education (Ed.M.) in Educational Leadership
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Washington State University offers a Master of Education in Educational Leadership that takes a practitioner-scholar approach to preparing school and district leaders. The 35-semester-hour, non-thesis program is offered on campus across WSU's Pullman, Spokane, Tri-Cities, and Vancouver locations, extending access to educators throughout the state. Coursework aligns with Washington Principal and Program Administrator certification programs, positioning graduates for administrative roles rather than research careers. Students can typically complete the degree in two to three years, a pace that accommodates working professionals. The non-thesis structure and certification-aligned curriculum make this a program centered on applied leadership practice. As a master's degree in educational leadership and administration, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as education administrators 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 5 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Washington statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $102,350, roughly $95,643 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

    Loyola Marymount University

    Los Angeles, CAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 11Master's/yr
    • $101,860Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Educational Leadership
    • Online
    About the program

    Loyola Marymount University's School of Education offers a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership tailored to a specific niche, educators working in or moving toward administration in private and independent schools. That focus shapes everything about the program, which trains leaders for a sector with its own governance and culture rather than for state public-school credentialing. The minimum 30-credit degree typically takes about two years and keeps class sizes small, favoring close faculty attention over large lectures. Courses meet online but synchronously in the late afternoon or evening, a schedule built for professionals who teach or lead during the school day and gather live after hours. The result reads as a collegial, cohort-style experience for aspiring independent-school administrators. This master's-level educational leadership and administration 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 11 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  7. 7

    Chapman University

    Orange, CAPrivate nonprofit

    • 18Master's/yr
    • $101,860Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Leadership Development
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Chapman University, through its Attallah College of Educational Studies, offers a Master of Arts in Leadership Development that treats leadership as a craft applicable well beyond the K-12 principalship. The 30-credit, ten-course program moves a cohort through classes that meet once a week over roughly two years, and its electives span learning and development, K-12 and higher education, and nonprofit leadership, letting students aim the degree at the sector they intend to lead in. A year-long capstone partnering with a local organization gives the experience a hands-on, applied finish rather than a purely theoretical one. This is a professional development degree rather than a licensure pathway, built for people growing into organizational leadership roles. Prospective applicants should note that the program is currently closed to new admissions for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 academic years. A master's-level path in educational leadership and administration, it builds toward a career among education administrators in California.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 18 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  8. 8

    California State University-Fullerton

    Fullerton, CAPublic

    • 33Master's/yr
    • $101,860Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Educational Leadership and Administration
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    California State University, Fullerton offers a Master of Science in Educational Leadership and Administration delivered in a hybrid, cohort-based format over five semesters. Students progress with the same peer group and finish by completing an applied leadership project in the final semester, a capstone that turns the degree toward real problems of practice rather than abstract study. Candidates can optionally earn the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential alongside the master's, and the program is transparent that admission does not guarantee licensure because credentialing requirements are set by external state agencies. The credential component is regulated by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. With its steady five-semester pace and applied final project, the program reads as a measured, practice-focused route for educators building toward school leadership. Graduates of this educational leadership and administration 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 33 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  9. 9

    Concordia University-Irvine

    Irvine, CAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 104Master's/yr
    • $101,860Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Educational Leadership: Social Emotional Learning, Character, and Ethics
    • Online
    About the program

    Concordia University Irvine offers a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership with a specialization in Social Emotional Learning, Character, and Ethics, developed in partnership with the university's Servant Leadership Institute. The 30-unit program is fully online and asynchronous, completable in about ten months, which frames it as a fast, flexible option for educators who want to lead through culture and values rather than pursue a state administrative credential. A cohort structure and a culminating capstone keep the experience connected and applied, while the servant-leadership emphasis gives it a distinct ethical center of gravity. The program welcomes both credentialed and non-credentialed applicants and requires no GRE, widening the door to educators from varied backgrounds. It does not itself confer a state administrative credential, positioning it as leadership formation rather than a licensure route. A master's-level path in educational leadership and administration, it builds toward a career among education administrators 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 104 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  10. 10

    University of La Verne

    La Verne, CAPrivate nonprofit

    • 9Master's/yr
    • $101,860Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Educational Leadership
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of La Verne offers a Master of Education in Educational Leadership designed for aspiring school leaders who do not need California's Preliminary Administrative Services Credential, which this degree intentionally does not include. Its defining feature is a whole-child approach that folds child and adolescent development into leadership training, so candidates learn to lead schools with student growth at the center rather than management alone. The 30-semester-hour program allows up to nine credits to transfer from completed credentials or micro-credentials, rewarding educators who arrive with prior professional preparation. A capstone graduate seminar requiring a research or applied project gives the degree a concrete culminating deliverable. Because the coursework can apply toward the university's Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership, it also functions as an on-ramp for educators contemplating doctoral study. A master's-level path in educational leadership and administration, it builds toward a career among 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 9 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  11. 11

    California State University-Northridge

    Northridge, CAPublic

    • 24Master's/yr
    • $101,860Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Educational Administration
    • California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC)-accredited
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    California State University, Northridge's Eisner College of Education offers a Master of Arts in Educational Administration with two enrollment paths, giving candidates room to match the program to their experience. Newer leaders can combine the MA with the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential, while those with five or more years of relevant experience can pursue an MA-only route. The credential path requires completing all three cycles of the California Administrator Performance Assessment. Delivered as a cohort that meets once weekly, with roughly half of core-course sessions on campus and half online, the program spans about 16 months across 11 core courses plus a comprehensive examination. Approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and aligned to the CPSELs and CAPEs, its dual-path design serves both aspiring and already-experienced administrators. A master's-level path in educational leadership and administration, it builds toward a career among education administrators in California.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 24 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  12. 12

    Saint Mary's College of California

    Moraga, CAPrivate nonprofit

    • 6Master's/yr
    • $101,860Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Educational Administration
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Saint Mary's College of California offers a Master of Arts in Educational Administration structured as a one-year, cohort-based experience for educators moving into school and district leadership. Cohorts of fifteen to eighteen students progress together, forming a tight learning community that carries them from foundational coursework to a culminating Action Research Project presented each May to schools and the wider research community. The degree builds directly on the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential Program, and candidates complete twenty-four credential units alongside a writing proficiency requirement, positioning them for higher-level leadership positions. The compressed timeline and embedded credential work make it well suited to practicing teachers ready to step into administration. The action-research capstone gives the program a practical, problem-focused character rooted in candidates' own school settings. A master's-level path in educational leadership and administration, it builds toward a career among education administrators 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 6 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $88,104 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  13. 13

    University of Massachusetts Global

    Aliso Viejo, CAPublicOnline available

    • 27Master's/yr
    • $101,860Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Administration (MAELA) with Preliminary Administrative Services Credential (PASC)
    • Online
    About the program

    UMass Global offers an online Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Administration paired with California's Preliminary Administrative Services Credential, a program built specifically for experienced California educators moving into K-12 administration. Its 34 credits run in eight-week instructor-led sessions with fieldwork embedded in each course, requiring at least 25 hours of practice per course and pairing candidates with practicing K-12 administrators as mentors. Admission expects a valid California clear teaching credential, three or more years of experience, and California residency, signals that this is a credentialing route for established teachers rather than newcomers. Completion leads to a Preliminary Administrative Services Credential or Certificate of Eligibility from the state Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The university is accredited by WSCUC, its School of Education is approved by the CTC, and it is an AAQEP member in good standing. Earning a master's degree in educational leadership and administration is a common route toward becoming one of California'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 27 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  14. 14

    Western Washington University

    Bellingham, WAPublic

    • 12Master's/yr
    • $101,230Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Education Leadership
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Western Washington University offers a Master of Education in Education Leadership with a long track record, having operated since 1944. The cohort-based program admits students quarterly and uses a hybrid format, meeting in person in Bellingham and Everett while blending distance learning with periodic face-to-face sessions to reach educators across the region. Its curriculum is aligned to National Education Leadership Program standards adopted by the Washington Professional Educator Standards Board, and it leads to a Washington Residency Administrator (Principal) Certificate. A year-long school-based internship keeps candidates grounded in daily school leadership, and a further pathway extends toward the Initial Administrator (Superintendent) Certificate. The cohort structure and embedded internship mark it as a program for working teachers stepping into principal and district roles. Graduates of this educational leadership and administration 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 12 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Bellingham, WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,230, roughly $97,964 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

    Whitworth University

    Spokane, WAPrivate nonprofit

    • 4Master's/yr
    • $98,800Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Educational Administration with Principal Certification
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Whitworth University offers a Master of Education in Educational Administration with Principal Certification, drawing on more than 25 years of principal-preparation history. The hybrid schedule meets one Friday evening and Saturday each month on campus with online work between sessions, a rhythm designed for teachers who continue working while they prepare to lead. Candidates can pursue the full 36-credit degree with principal certification or, if they already hold a master's, a 26-credit certification-only option. A supervised school-based internship and a cohort model keep the experience collaborative and rooted in practice, and the curriculum is aligned to NELP standards adopted by the Washington State Board of Education. The program is currently closed to new applications, so prospective students should confirm availability with the university. As a master's degree in educational leadership and administration, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as education administrators in Washington.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 4 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,800, roughly $98,459 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  16. 16

    Heritage University

    Toppenish, WAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 2Master's/yr
    • $98,330Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Educational Administration
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Heritage University offers a Master of Education in Educational Administration built for practicing educators who already hold a Washington teaching or ESA certificate and are ready to step into building or district leadership. The two-year program runs mostly online but brings cohorts together for three on-campus gatherings, balancing the flexibility working professionals need with the relationships that leadership preparation depends on. A 540-hour administrative internship anchors the coursework in real school settings, and the sequence leads to Washington OSPI Principal or Program Administrator certification. Candidates can pursue the principal certificate alongside the degree or follow the distinctive Special Education Director track, which the university describes as the only one of its kind in Washington. The result is a program aimed squarely at classroom veterans moving into administration, with a notable niche in special education leadership. As a master's degree in educational leadership and administration, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as education administrators in Washington.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 2 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Yakima, WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,330, roughly $102,915 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  17. 17

    Boston University

    Boston, MAPrivate nonprofit

    • 84Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master's Degree in Educational Leadership (EdM), PreK-12
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Boston University's Wheelock College offers an EdM in Educational Leadership for PreK-12 that lets candidates choose between a licensed administrator pathway and a non-licensure leadership option, tailoring the degree to whether they seek state certification. The licensure route prepares graduates for a Massachusetts DESE administrator license across roles from Principal and Special Education Administrator to Superintendent and Supervisor, and it requires a school-based practicum with mentorship from experienced school and district leaders. Ranging from 32 to 36 credits with full-time and part-time schedules and fall or spring starts, the in-person program flexes to different career stages. The emphasis on mentored clinical experience signals a program that treats leadership as learned in the field alongside veteran administrators. More than 65 percent of new students receive merit-based scholarships, easing the cost of enrollment. This master's-level educational leadership and administration program prepares graduates for work as education administrators in Massachusetts.

    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 84 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
  18. 18

    Boston College

    Chestnut Hill, MAPrivate nonprofit

    • 77Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Educational Leadership & Policy
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Boston College offers a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy through its Lynch School, a 30-credit program that reads as mission-driven leadership preparation rooted in the Jesuit tradition. Its signature pedagogy moves across five levels, from self and small group to organization, community, and policy, framing leadership as an expanding sphere of influence. Distinctive tracks include concentrations in Educational Policy Development and Social Justice Leadership, along with a selective 20-month Catholic Leadership Cohort grounded in Ignatian values and structured around four retreats. The general and non-licensure tracks do not confer state licensure, and the licensure track is currently paused and unavailable for 2026 enrollment, so the degree presently serves policy and organizational leadership aspirations more than principal certification. The program is a Massachusetts DESE approved educator-preparation offering and is ranked #21 nationally for Education Policy by U.S. News & World Report. A master's-level path in educational leadership and administration, it builds toward a career among education administrators in Massachusetts.

    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 77 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
  19. 19

    Brandeis University

    Waltham, MAPrivate nonprofit

    • 16Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education (EdM) in Teacher Leadership
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Brandeis University offers a Master of Education (EdM) in Teacher Leadership built for experienced classroom teachers ready to guide their peers and shape instruction at the school level. The two-year, 36-credit program pairs face-to-face summer coursework with distance learning and coaching across the academic year, a rhythm that lets working educators stay in their classrooms while they study. Its focus on instructional and institutional leadership, together with a requirement of at least four years of prior teaching, signals a cohort of practitioners moving deliberately from teaching into leadership. The EdM is not itself a licensure credential, but graduates can add one year of coursework through a Salem State University partnership to become eligible for Massachusetts principal licensure and a CAGS in Educational Leadership. A shorter 13-month Advanced Graduate Study option is also available for those seeking a leaner credential. The hybrid design keeps the program grounded in the daily realities of schools. A master's-level path in educational leadership and administration, it builds toward a career among education administrators in Massachusetts.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 16 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  20. 20

    Endicott College

    Beverly, MAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 6Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Administrative Leadership
    • Online
    About the program

    Endicott College offers a fully online Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Administrative Leadership designed to move educators into formal school leadership across every grade level. Candidates choose between a school principal or assistant principal track spanning PreK-6, 5-8, and 9-12, or a special education administrator track covering all levels, both leading to Massachusetts licensure. The cohort-based structure and a faculty drawn from experienced school leaders and district administrators give the program a practitioner-to-practitioner character. Depending on the track, the degree runs 36 to 39 credits, and the college folds in Performance Assessment for Leaders workshops at no additional cost, easing candidates toward the state's required leadership assessment. The online delivery makes the program accessible to working educators statewide while keeping licensure squarely in view. Graduates of this educational leadership and administration 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 6 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
  21. 21

    Gordon College

    Wenham, MAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Educational Leadership
    • Online
    About the program

    Gordon College offers an online Master of Education in Educational Leadership that pairs administrative preparation with an explicitly Christian professional community. Tracks cover PreK-6, 5-8, and 9-12 principal and assistant principal roles as well as a supervisor/director path, with initial licensure and licensure-only options for Massachusetts administrative roles depending on a candidate's prerequisite license, and dedicated cohorts for Christian and classical Christian schools. Students learn in small cohorts of 12 to 15 fellow Christian education professionals, taking online classes in eight-week blocks with weekly live Zoom sessions and gathering for a one-week in-person summer residency on campus. That blend of remote coursework, synchronous connection, and a brief residency builds a tight peer network while keeping the program accessible to working educators. Those who already hold a master's can pursue an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership instead. The design speaks to mission-minded educators stepping into school leadership. Earning a master's degree in educational leadership and administration is a common route toward becoming one of Massachusetts'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 1 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
  22. 22

    Bridgewater State University

    Bridgewater, MAPublicOnline available

    • 28Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Educational Leadership
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Bridgewater State University offers a Master of Education in Educational Leadership that spans nearly the full range of Massachusetts administrative roles, from principal and assistant principal to school business administrator, special education administrator, supervisor, director, and superintendent, alongside a higher education track and a non-licensure option. That breadth, paired with initial licensure pathways for both postbaccalaureate and post-master's candidates, reads as a program designed to meet aspiring administrators wherever they sit in their careers. Small cohort-based courses provide one-on-one guidance, and the scheduling is unusually flexible, with online, hybrid, and face-to-face sections offered in evening, quarter, semester, and intensive summer formats. Supervisor and director tracks include a practicum component that anchors the coursework in real administrative practice. The mix of licensure options and adaptable delivery suits working educators building toward leadership without stepping away from their jobs. A master's-level path in educational leadership and administration, it builds toward a career among education administrators in Massachusetts.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 28 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
  23. 23

    Framingham State University

    Framingham, MAPublic

    • 15Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts, Concentration in Educational Leadership
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Framingham State University offers a Master of Arts with a Concentration in Educational Leadership, delivered on campus through the Division of Graduate Studies and its international education programs. The degree comprises ten courses, three core and eight in the concentration, arranged in an intensive format that suits students seeking a focused academic experience rather than a licensure pathway. There is no attached licensure, and while the program includes no formal practicum, every course embeds field-based experiences that keep the coursework connected to real educational settings. Students complete a capstone portfolio reviewed and graded on a Pass/Fail basis by a faculty committee. The structure reads as a leadership degree built for broadening professional understanding and international perspective rather than credentialing for a specific administrative role. Graduates of this educational leadership and administration program at the master's level often go on to work as 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 15 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
  24. 24

    Cambridge College

    Boston, MAPrivate nonprofit

    • 5Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education (MEd) in Educational Leadership
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Cambridge College offers a Master of Education (MEd) in Educational Leadership that separates two clear intentions: a Principal/Assistant Principal license track for PreK-8 or 5-12 candidates, and a non-licensure track aimed at middle-management roles. The licensure pathway centers on a substantial 500-hour practicum and requires three years of prior work in teaching or educational leadership, marking it as a program for candidates with real school experience moving into formal administration. Non-licensure students instead complete a Professional Seminar and an Independent Learning Project, with an electronic portfolio capping the degree. The program follows Massachusetts DESE Professional Standards for Administrators and operates under New England Commission of Higher Education regional accreditation. As of the research date, the program's public page indicates it is not currently accepting new students. The hybrid structure and practice-heavy design reflect a leadership program rooted in fieldwork. Earning a master's degree in educational leadership and administration is a common route toward becoming one of Massachusetts'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 5 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
  25. 25

    New York University

    New York, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 12Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Educational Leadership, Politics, and Advocacy
    • On-campus
    About the program

    New York University's Steinhardt school offers a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership, Politics, and Advocacy, a 36-credit on-campus program organized around three focus areas of leadership, politics, and advocacy. Rather than preparing school building administrators, it takes a policy and systems-change orientation, and NYU now directs applicants here since suspending its separate School Building Leader MA. A required internship and fieldwork placement anchors the degree in practice, and the university reports that 39 percent of graduates' internship placements resulted in a paid position. The blend of political, advocacy, and leadership coursework with hands-on placement reads as designed for those aiming to shape education from policy, nonprofit, and organizational vantage points rather than pursue state administrator licensure. A master's-level path in educational leadership and administration, 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 12 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

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