Best Master's in Educational Technology Programs by Degrees Awarded

1. 1

   Western Governors University

   Salt Lake City, UTPrivate nonprofitOnline available

   • 1,655Master's/yr
   • $77,920Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Education in Education Technology and Instructional Design
   • Online
   About the program

   Western Governors University offers an online Master of Education in Education Technology and Instructional Design built on the university's competency-based, self-paced model, where students advance as they demonstrate mastery rather than by seating time. The program lets learners choose a K-12 pathway, an Adult Learner pathway geared toward corporate training, or both, so it serves teachers and workplace trainers under one degree. Flat-rate tuition of $4,950 per six-month term rewards students who move quickly, and WGU reports that 62% finish in about ten months. A dedicated Program Mentor supports each student from enrollment through graduation, and the work culminates in a design-based research capstone project. The degree does not require an existing teaching license and is not an initial licensure program, keeping the focus on applied design skills. WGU holds institutional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. As a master's degree in educational technology, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as instructional coordinators in Utah.

   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 1,655 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Salt Lake City-Murray, UT, where elementary teachers earn a median $77,920, roughly $77,249 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

   American College of Education

   Indianapolis, INPrivate for-profitOnline available

   • 407Master's/yr
   • $60,510Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Instructional Design and Educational Technology
   • Online
   About the program

   American College of Education offers an online Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Instructional Design and Educational Technology, a compact 34-credit degree that most students complete in 12 to 15 months. The program is built around making, not just theory, culminating in a Capstone Experience, two hands-on Advanced Design Lab courses, and a digital ePortfolio that showcases the course designs and digital media a student has produced. Optional focus areas in Adult Education and Corporate Training or K-12 Educational Technology let candidates aim the degree at either workplace learning or school settings. That emphasis on portfolios and applied labs marks it as a practice-first program for educators and trainers moving into instructional design roles. It is offered by an institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Graduates of this educational technology program at the master's level often go on to work as instructional coordinators.

   Why it ranks here

   Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 407 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
3. 3

   University of West Georgia

   Carrollton, GAPublicOnline available

   • 361Master's/yr
   • $76,570Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Education with a Major in Media (Instructional Technology Concentration)
   • Online
   About the program

   The University of West Georgia offers a Master of Education with a major in Media and an Instructional Technology concentration, an online program spanning 30 semester hours beyond the bachelor's degree. The curriculum concentrates 24 of those hours in media and instructional technology, with the remaining 6 in psychology and research, giving candidates both applied design skills and a grounding in how people learn. Coursework leans on performance- and problem-based learning delivered through field experiences, so students test their skills against authentic instructional challenges rather than abstract exercises. That hands-on emphasis characterizes a program aimed at educators who want to integrate technology, media, and design into their practice. The structure reads as a focused, applied degree for professionals building expertise in instructional technology and media. As a master's degree in educational technology, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as instructional coordinators in Georgia.

   Why it ranks here

   A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 361 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA, where elementary teachers earn a median $76,570, roughly $76,526 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

   Lamar University

   Beaumont, TXPublicOnline available

   • 159Master's/yr
   • Master of Education in Leadership in Academic Innovation
   • Online
   About the program

   Lamar University offers an online Master of Education in Leadership in Academic Innovation, the renamed successor to its former Educational Technology Leadership M.Ed., built for educators bridging technology and school leadership. The 30 credit hour program centers on a 160-hour practicum in a Texas Education Agency-accredited school, carried out under a certified administrator mentor, so candidates lead real technology initiatives inside an actual building. Coursework asks students to design, implement, and assess technology-based projects and to complete an action research project, keeping the degree firmly applied. It is not itself a teacher-certification program, but the practicum and coursework can support candidates who are pursuing Texas principal certification separately. That administrative practicum and mentored fieldwork mark it as a program for practicing educators moving toward technology-focused school leadership. Earning a master's degree in educational technology is a common route toward becoming one of Texas's instructional coordinators.

   Why it ranks here

   For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 159 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

   School site
5. 5

   Harvard University

   Cambridge, MAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

   • 143Master's/yr
   • Master's in Education, Learning Design, Innovation, and Technology (LDIT)
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Harvard Graduate School of Education offers an Ed.M. in Learning Design, Innovation, and Technology, a residential, cohort-based program of at least 42 credits for those who want to design how people learn rather than pursue classroom licensure, which HGSE houses in its separate Teaching and Teacher Leadership program. The experience opens even before the fall term with an immersive online prerequisite, How People Learn, running in June and July to give the cohort a shared foundation in learning science. That grounding carries into a 4-credit fall LDIT Program Core Experience, a capstone project where students apply design thinking to a real learning challenge. The cohort model and intensive on-campus setting foster close collaboration among peers drawn to educational innovation. Students can also cross-register for electives at other Harvard schools and at MIT, widening the program's reach across disciplines. This master's-level educational technology program prepares graduates for work as instructional coordinators in Massachusetts.

   Why it ranks here

   For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 143 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

   School site
6. 6

   Towson University

   Towson, MDPublicOnline available

   • 137Master's/yr
   • Instructional Technology, M.S.
   • Online
   About the program

   Towson University offers a Master of Science in Instructional Technology, a fully online program that lets students steer their study toward one of three concentrations: Instructional Design and Development, Educational Technology, or School Library Media. That range spans corporate and higher-education design work through school-based practice, and the School Library Media concentration meets Maryland State Department of Education requirements for Library Media Specialist Certification, giving that track a clear licensure outcome. Despite the online format, students draw on university facilities including a multimedia production lab and an immersive VR and AR learning innovation lab, keeping the program tied to hands-on production. An accelerated M.S. to Ph.D. pathway is available for candidates who want to continue into doctoral study. The mix of specialization, certification, and advanced-study options makes it a flexible home for a broad set of technology-focused educators and designers. Graduates of this educational technology program at the master's level often go on to work as instructional coordinators.

   Why it ranks here

   A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 137 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

   School site
7. 7

   Grand Canyon University

   Phoenix, AZPrivate for-profitOnline available

   • 137Master's/yr
   • $59,180Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Science in Instructional Technology
   • Online
   About the program

   Grand Canyon University offers an online Master of Science in Instructional Technology designed for K-12 professionals who already hold a teaching license and want to lead technology integration in their schools. Because the program assumes an existing credential, it does not include student teaching or an internship and does not itself lead to licensure, positioning it as a mid-career specialization rather than an entry route. The curriculum stays unified around integrating technology into K-12 instruction, with two courses each carrying 20 hours of practicum field experience so learning stays connected to real classrooms. Students finish with a capstone professional development portfolio aligned to the ISTE standards, reinforcing a practice-oriented, non-thesis design. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, the 32-credit program runs in accelerated 6-week courses. As a master's degree in educational technology, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as instructional coordinators in Arizona.

   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 137 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
8. 8

   Kennesaw State University

   Kennesaw, GAPublicOnline available

   • 132Master's/yr
   • $76,570Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Education in Instructional Technology
   • Online
   About the program

   Kennesaw State University offers a Master of Education in Instructional Technology through its Bagwell College of Education, a fully online, cohort-based program built for practicing educators who want to lead technology integration in P-12 schools. Students move together through 30 credit hours across ten courses and five semesters, working from ISTE Standards for Educators and completing field-based assessments that require ongoing access to a classroom. That embedded, classroom-anchored design signals a program aimed at teachers advancing in place rather than career changers. Graduates satisfy Georgia Professional Standards Commission requirements for S-5 service certification and can upgrade a T-4 teaching certificate to T-5 after passing the GACE Instructional Technology assessment. Concentrations in Online Teaching and Personalized Learning, with certificate options for non-certified educators, let candidates tailor the degree to their setting. The program is accredited under SACSCOC and recognized as an ISTE Certification Provider. Earning a master's degree in educational technology is a common route toward becoming one of Georgia's instructional coordinators.

   Why it ranks here

   A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 132 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA, where elementary teachers earn a median $76,570, roughly $76,526 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

   California State University-Fullerton

   Fullerton, CAPublicOnline available

   • 129Master's/yr
   • $101,860Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Science in Educational Technology
   • Online
   About the program

   California State University, Fullerton offers an online Master of Science in Educational Technology organized around a cohort model that moves students through the program as a connected group. The curriculum emphasizes equity-driven practices and research-supported instructional methods, framing educational technology less as a set of tools and more as a means to reach and serve all learners. That cohort structure, combined with the online delivery, reads as a design for working educators who want steady momentum and peer support while staying in their jobs. The program sits within a growing department, as CSUF has announced an Ed.D. in Educational Technology launching in Fall 2028 for those who later want to continue into doctoral study. Together these signal a program invested in both immediate classroom impact and longer-term professional pathways. A master's-level path in educational technology, it builds toward a career among instructional coordinators in California.

   Why it ranks here

   Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 129 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

    Wilkes University

    Wilkes-Barre, PAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 119Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Education, Instructional Technology
    • Online
    About the program

    Wilkes University offers a Master of Science in Education in Instructional Technology, an online degree of 30 to 33 credits delivered in accelerated seven-week sessions. Students can concentrate in PK-12 Instructional Technology or in Instructional Design and Development, letting the program serve both classroom-focused educators and those leaning toward corporate or higher-education design work. Optional pairings with the Pennsylvania Instructional Technology Specialist Certification and the PDE PK-12 AI Endorsement extend the degree into recognized state credentials, and the certification track adds a three-credit internship for applied experience. The short, stackable terms read as designed for busy professionals who want to keep progressing without long semesters. It presents as a flexible, certification-ready program with room to specialize. Graduates of this educational technology program at the master's level often go on to work as instructional coordinators.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 119 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
11. 11

    Teachers College at Columbia University

    New York, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 106Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Technology, Media and Learning, M.A.
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Teachers College, Columbia University offers a Master of Arts in Technology, Media and Learning for students who want to study and design the technologies, media, and games through which people learn. The 32-point, on-campus program consolidates the college's former Communication and Education, Instructional Technology and Media, and Design and Development of Digital Games programs, and it lets students concentrate in Media, Culture, and Society; Design of Learning Technologies; or Design of Games for Learning. A breadth requirement of at least six points outside the program encourages interdisciplinary study, and internships and fieldwork are strongly encouraged, connecting scholarship to practice. Students culminate the degree with an Integrative Project that synthesizes their work. The combination of concentrations, breadth, and a capstone reads as an academically grounded yet design-oriented program for people shaping the future of learning media. As a master's degree in educational technology, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as instructional coordinators in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 106 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
12. 12

    University at Albany

    Albany, NYPublic

    • 99Master's/yr
    • $79,240Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Curriculum Development and Instructional Technology
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University at Albany offers an online Master of Science in Curriculum Development and Instructional Technology that pairs curriculum theory with the practical integration of technology into teaching. New York's education department recognizes the degree as a related field of study that can satisfy the master's requirement for Professional Teacher Certification, so it fits certified teachers advancing their standing rather than newcomers seeking a first license. The 30-credit program offers a thesis option in educational theory and practice for students inclined toward research, alongside internship, field experience, study abroad, or clinical experience courses that keep the work applied. Delivery through the OpenSUNY+ network signals an online design aimed at working professionals across the state. The combination of curriculum design and technology gives graduates a flexible foundation for instructional and program-development roles. A master's-level path in educational technology, it builds toward a career among instructional coordinators 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 99 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY, where elementary teachers earn a median $79,240, roughly $79,585 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

    The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

    Edinburg, TXPublic

    • 80Master's/yr
    • Master of Education in Educational Technology
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley offers a fully online Master of Education in Educational Technology built for speed and flexibility, running in seven-week mini-semesters that let motivated students finish the 30-hour degree in as little as ten months. Rather than a teacher certification track, it functions as a practice-focused credential for educators and professionals who want to design and lead technology-rich learning. Students can fold in embedded graduate certificates in E-Learning, Technology Leadership, and Online Instructional Design, so the program doubles as a way to build stackable, resume-ready specializations. In place of a comprehensive exam, candidates assemble a Master's ePortfolio, giving the finish line a demonstrable, work-product feel. The accelerated online format signals a program aimed at working professionals balancing study with full-time roles. This master's-level educational technology program prepares graduates for work as instructional coordinators in Texas.

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

    School site
14. 14

    Valdosta State University

    Valdosta, GAPublicOnline available

    • 75Master's/yr
    • Master of Education in Instructional Technology - Technology Applications
    • Aligned to GaPSC Instructional Technology standards-accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    Valdosta State University offers a Master of Education in Instructional Technology with a Technology Applications track, a fully online program aligned to Georgia Professional Standards Commission Instructional Technology standards. The degree sits within a broader Instructional Technology M.Ed. that also includes School Library Media and Instructional Technology and Training tracks, giving candidates room to target either P-12 schools or training roles. For those on the P-12 path, the program can lead to a GaPSC Service certificate at Level 5 in Instructional Technology once the GACE assessment is passed, though admission assumes a Level 4 or higher teaching certificate. A required 100-hour internship anchors the coursework in supervised practice. Taken together, the certificate outcome, internship, and admission expectations mark this as a program built for working teachers stepping into technology-integration leadership. This master's-level educational technology program prepares graduates for work as instructional coordinators in Georgia.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 75 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
15. 15

    Arizona State University Digital Immersion

    Scottsdale, AZPublicOnline available

    • 72Master's/yr
    • $59,180Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Learning Design and Technologies
    • Arizona State University is regionally accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    Arizona State University offers an online Master of Education in Learning Design and Technologies, a focused 30-credit degree delivered as a single unified track across ten 7.5-week classes. The accelerated, sequential format gives the program a clear structure for working professionals who want steady momentum rather than a sprawling menu of electives. Coursework is taught by faculty from ASU's Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation, tying the degree to a well-established education research base. The program does not lead to teacher certification, positioning it instead for those designing learning experiences and educational technology in schools, higher education, and industry. Notably, graduates' diplomas read simply Arizona State University with no online designation, and the degree carries the university's regional accreditation. This master's-level educational technology program prepares graduates for work as instructional coordinators in Arizona.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 72 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into 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
16. 16

    University of West Alabama

    Livingston, ALPublic

    • 57Master's/yr
    • $61,380State teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Learning, Design and Technology (Non-Certification)
    • SACSCOC; SARA authorized-accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    The University of West Alabama offers an online, non-certification Master of Education in Learning, Design and Technology aimed at educators who want to build modern digital learning without pursuing Alabama teaching certification. Delivered in accelerated 8-week courses, the 30-hour program spans 14 courses covering e-learning design, educational games and simulations, social media methods, online teaching, assistive technology, and graphic design technology, giving it a distinctly hands-on, tool-focused character. That breadth reads as preparation for the full arc of designing and delivering technology-mediated instruction. Students demonstrate mastery through a comprehensive examination, project, or portfolio rather than a thesis, keeping the outcome applied and portfolio-ready. Regionally accredited by SACSCOC and SARA authorized, the degree typically takes one to two years. This master's-level educational technology program prepares graduates for work as instructional coordinators in Alabama.

    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 57 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Alabama statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,380, roughly $69,104 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
17. 17

    Purdue University Global

    West Lafayette, INPublicOnline available

    • 52Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology
    • Online
    About the program

    Purdue University Global offers a Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology built for professionals moving into corporate, military, and nonprofit training rather than P-12 classrooms. The fully online program spans 45 quarter credits across five core and four elective courses and can be finished in about a year of full-time study, a pace that reads as designed for working adults ready to retool quickly. An Adults concentration keeps the focus squarely on designing learning for grown learners in workplace settings, and the program's acceptance of prior-learning and military-training credit reflects an audience arriving with real experience. This is a career-oriented, non-licensure path that prepares graduates for instructional design and training roles. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. As a master's degree in educational technology, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as instructional coordinators in Indiana.

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

    School site
18. 18

    New York University

    New York, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 50Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Learning Technology and Experience Design
    • On-campus
    About the program

    New York University offers a Master of Arts in Learning Technology and Experience Design through its Steinhardt school for people who design learning experiences across settings well beyond the K-12 classroom. Rather than a licensure route, the degree centers on four specializations, User Experience Design, Transformative Learning Design, Learning Analytics and Data Science, and Games for Learning, along with customized options, letting students orient toward the craft that fits their ambitions. The 30 to 36-credit program builds toward a two-semester consecutive thesis capstone sequence that students present publicly at the program's ECT Design Expo, giving the work a research depth and a portfolio payoff. At least 24 credits must be completed in residency, reinforcing its on-campus, studio-oriented character. The design reads as preparation for careers in instructional design, ed-tech product development, and learning research. As a master's degree in educational technology, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as instructional coordinators in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 50 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
19. 19

    Georgia Southern University

    Statesboro, GAPublicOnline available

    • 50Master's/yr
    • $72,290State teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Instructional Technology
    • Online
    About the program

    Georgia Southern University offers a Master of Education in Instructional Technology, an online program approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission as a route to P-12 certification. Candidates choose among three tracks, Instructional Technology, School Library Media, or a dual certification path that combines both, letting them align the degree with the classroom or media-center role they are pursuing. Each track culminates in extensive supervised field experience, which grounds the coursework in real school settings. The Instructional Technology and dual tracks assume a Georgia Level 4 or higher teaching certificate for admission, signaling that they are built for practicing educators moving into technology leadership, while the School Library Media track opens to a broader pool. Together the structure reads as a practical, certification-focused degree for teachers deepening their reach across a school. Earning a master's degree in educational technology is a common route toward becoming one of Georgia's instructional coordinators.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 50 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Georgia statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $72,290, roughly $75,073 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

    University of Pennsylvania

    Philadelphia, PAPrivate nonprofit

    • 46Master's/yr
    • $78,570Metro teacher pay
    • Learning Sciences and Technologies, M.S.Ed.
    • STEM-designated program (OPT extension eligible)-accredited
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education offers the Learning Sciences and Technologies M.S.Ed., an intensive on-campus program completed in a single year of full-time study. Its ten course units, seven required and three electives, form a student-driven curriculum that each learner tailors rather than following named tracks, suiting people who arrive with a clear question or interest. A defining feature is that every student receives an internship placement in an out-of-school learning environment such as a museum, nonprofit, or library, pointing the program beyond traditional classrooms toward the broader field of how people learn. The STEM designation makes the degree eligible for the OPT extension, an advantage for international students planning to work in the United States. Overall it reads as a research-informed, design-oriented year for those drawn to learning environments of many kinds. Graduates of this educational technology program at the master's level often go on to work as instructional coordinators.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 46 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
21. 21

    Anderson University

    Anderson, SCPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 46Master's/yr
    • Master of Science, Instructional Design and Learning Technology
    • Online
    About the program

    Anderson University offers a Master of Science in Instructional Design and Learning Technology, a 30-credit-hour online program completable in twelve to eighteen months. The fully asynchronous format, supported by recorded live sessions, points to working professionals who need to study around their schedules while still connecting to course content. Each student receives an iPad and Apple Pencil for coursework, a detail that signals a hands-on, design-oriented approach to building learning materials. The focus on instructional design and learning technology positions graduates for design roles across schools, higher education, and industry rather than a single classroom setting. Its pace and delivery read as a streamlined, career-focused route into the instructional design field. This master's-level educational technology program prepares graduates for work as instructional coordinators in South Carolina.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 46 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
22. 22

    University of Central Florida

    Orlando, FLPublicOnline available

    • 44Master's/yr
    • $60,190Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Instructional Design and Technology
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    The University of Central Florida offers a Master of Arts in Instructional Design and Technology that spans three distinct tracks, making it unusually adaptable to different careers. An e-Learning track focuses on designing online and blended courses, an Educational Technology track serves K-16 educators integrating technology into curriculum, and an Instructional Systems track prepares instructional designers and training specialists for business, industry, and government. The program does not lead to any current certification in Florida, positioning it as design and technology expertise rather than a teaching credential. Its practical value is amplified by the chance to earn four graduate certificates along the way without extra credit hours, while the Educational Technology track adds a three-credit practicum. Offered on campus and fully online across 36 credits, it fits both educators and industry professionals. Earning a master's degree in educational technology is a common route toward becoming one of Florida's instructional coordinators.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 44 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL, where elementary teachers earn a median $60,190, roughly $59,348 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

    Concordia University-Irvine

    Irvine, CAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 43Master's/yr
    • $101,860Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Education: Learning, Design, and Technology
    • WASC Senior College and University Commission-accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    Concordia University Irvine offers a Master of Arts in Education: Learning, Design, and Technology delivered fully online through an accelerated asynchronous cohort. Students move together through 30 units in roughly 10 months, taking two 3-unit courses in each eight-week window, a compressed rhythm that reads as built for busy professionals who want to finish quickly without pausing their careers. The program keeps a single focused track on how learning is designed and supported by technology, and a combined pathway pairing Curriculum and Instruction with Learning, Design, and Technology extends its reach for those who want a broader instructional footing. Because it welcomes both credentialed teachers and non-credentialed applicants and treats classroom experience as helpful rather than required, it functions less as a licensure route and more as a design credential open to educators and career-changers alike. The institution holds accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission. Graduates of this educational technology program at the master's level often go on to work as instructional coordinators.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 43 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
24. 24

    Wilmington University

    New Castle, DEPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 43Master's/yr
    • $78,570Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Applied Technology in Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Wilmington University offers a Master of Education in Applied Technology in Education, a fully online degree organized as a single structured pathway with no separate tracks. Its technology courses are taken in numerical sequence, a design that scaffolds skills progressively rather than letting students assemble their own route. The program is explicitly applied, requiring candidates to be employed in an educational setting or training center so they can complete competency assignments in a real workplace. Anchored to the ISTE Standards for Educators, the 33-credit curriculum culminates in a standards-based web portfolio demonstrating mastery across seven roles, from Learner and Designer to Facilitator and Analyst. The result is a practice-oriented degree for working educators translating technology standards directly into their daily instruction. A master's-level path in educational technology, it builds toward a career among instructional coordinators in Delaware.

    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 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
25. 25

    Utah State University

    Logan, UTPublicOnline available

    • 42Master's/yr
    • Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences
    • Online
    About the program

    Utah State University offers an online master's in Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences, available as either an M.A. or an M.Ed., that pairs learning theory with concrete production skills. Across 37 credits, elective pathways let students build depth in media production, web publishing with HTML and design work, mobile app development, or advanced learning theories, so the program can flex toward a technical maker or a theory-minded designer. No thesis is required, and students instead finish with an internship or a creative project, which keeps the emphasis on applied, portfolio-ready work. Delivered fully online, it fits working educators and professionals building expertise without leaving their jobs. The program has drawn national recognition, ranking sixth among online graduate programs in the 2021 U.S. News & World Report listings. It is not a licensure or certification program, positioning it for instructional design and technology careers rather than teacher credentialing. A master's-level path in educational technology, it builds toward a career among instructional coordinators in Utah.

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

    School site

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