Best Master's in Elementary Education Programs in New Jersey
All 6 Elementary Education master's-level programs in New Jersey, ranked overall on graduation rate, affordability, and more, from the IPEDS database.
A master's in elementary education can lead to initial New Jersey licensure or advance a licensed teacher's career, and New Jersey has 6 accredited elementary education master's programs to compare. This ranking scores every one on the outcomes that actually affect your return: graduation rate, in-state affordability, and selectivity, all pulled from the public federal IPEDS database. Rutgers University-New Brunswick ranks first with a score of 56, on a 84 percent graduation rate.
Elementary school teachers in New Jersey earn a median of $78,200 a year according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, against a national median of $63,970. Each section below covers a specific decision point, cost and real ROI, New Jersey licensure, accreditation, online and accelerated formats, and career outlook, so you can compare elementary education programs in New Jersey on the factors that change your outcome rather than on marketing.
- 1
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
56score- 30Master's/yr
- $96,900Metro teacher pay
- Ed.M. with Certification in Elementary Education (K-6)
- On-campus
About the programThis is an on-campus Ed.M. combining a master's degree with initial K-6 teacher licensure. The requirements section lists 63 graduate course credits plus two no-credit summer modules, typically completed in two years, with up to five years allowed. Coursework spans classroom learning, assessment, subject-specific pedagogy, literacy development, and educational psychology, and candidates build a portfolio concurrently. Graduates earn New Jersey's Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing (CEAS) for elementary teaching, grades K-6. It awards more master's-level elementary education degrees than any of New Jersey's 6 ranked master's-level programs, 30 in the most recent year. A master's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in New Jersey.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageFor a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 30 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into 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. And the institution carries weight: its research standing and program accreditation, the factor we weigh most, are a clear strength.
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.
- 2
William Paterson University of New Jersey
36score- $23,396Est. total cost
- 14Master's/yr
- $96,900Metro teacher pay
- Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Elementary Education (K-6)
- Online
About the programThis 36-credit Master of Arts in Teaching with a concentration in Elementary Education (K-6) leads to New Jersey initial teacher certification, and graduates are recommended to the NJDOE for a Certificate of Eligibility. It is delivered fully online in accelerated 7-week courses and can be completed in as few as 18 months. Three in-person clinical course requirements, including a year-long internship in New Jersey schools during the school day and year, provide field placement. It certifies teaching at the elementary K-6 grade band and is an initial-licensure pathway for candidates who do not already hold a teaching license. Earning a master's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of New Jersey's elementary school teachers.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageMaster's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 14 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. 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. Institutional standing and accreditation fill out the rest of the score.
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.
- 3
The College of New Jersey
35score- $24,276Est. tuition (excl. fees)
- 16Master's/yr
- $77,850Metro teacher pay
- Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Elementary Education (Online)
- Online
About the programThe College of New Jersey delivers its Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education fully online, meeting one weekday evening a week over synchronous video so working students can keep a foothold in their current lives. Structured as a part-time cohort that begins in summer and runs about two years, the 34-credit, twelve-course sequence leads to New Jersey Elementary Education certification for grades K-6, an initial licensure pathway. Fieldwork builds gradually rather than all at once, as Internship I grows from half-days toward five full days a week alongside a weekly seminar. Internship II then places candidates full-time for a semester in a K-6 classroom, where they plan lessons across subjects and take over instruction for roughly a month. The program's School of Education holds AAQEP accreditation. Earning a master's degree in elementary education is a common route toward becoming one of New Jersey's elementary school teachers.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageFor 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 Trenton-Princeton, NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $77,850, roughly $75,451 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market. Institutional standing and accreditation fill out the rest of the score.
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.
- 4
Kean University
35score- 11Master's/yr
- $96,900Metro teacher pay
- Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Elementary Education Teacher Certification
- Hybrid
About the programKean University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education aimed at career changers and aspiring teachers with a background in the liberal arts or sciences. Coursework runs online apart from required in-person clinical experiences, which progress from working with individuals and small groups to full-time student teaching in the final semester. Graduates become eligible for the New Jersey Elementary K-6 Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing. Optional endorsements in ESL, bilingual education, and middle school are available through added coursework. As a master's degree in elementary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as elementary school teachers in New Jersey.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageA master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 11 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. 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. Institutional standing and accreditation fill out the rest of the score.
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.
- 5
Felician University
27score- $43,960Est. tuition (excl. fees)
- 1Master's/yr
- $96,900Metro teacher pay
- Master of Arts in Education (Elementary K-6 and Teacher of Students with Disabilities)
About the programThis 56-credit Master of Arts in Education prepares candidates for New Jersey dual initial licensure in Elementary Education K-6 and as a Teacher of Students with Disabilities. It is structured in two phases: 41 credits of initial licensure coursework (Phase I) and 15 additional graduate credits chosen with an advisor to complete the MA (Phase II). Candidates begin classroom observation early, develop lesson plans, and complete clinical placements in both general and special education settings. Felician recommends completers to the New Jersey Department of Education for certification. This is an initial-licensure pathway covering the elementary grade band. Graduates of this elementary education program at the master's level often go on to work as elementary school teachers.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageMaster'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 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. Institutional standing and accreditation fill out the rest of the score.
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.
- 6
Drew University
26score- $33,660Est. tuition (excl. fees)
- 3Master's/yr
- $96,900Metro teacher pay
- Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Elementary Education (K-6)
About the programBuilt for candidates pursuing first-time licensure rather than teachers who already hold a credential, Drew University's Master of Arts in Teaching sets students on the path to New Jersey initial certification in Elementary Education, grades K-6. The 36 credits, plus fieldwork, unfold across summer, fall, and spring semesters, giving the program a clear rhythm that students can complete in a single full-time year or stretch over two. What distinguishes it is the depth of classroom time, since a full year-long clinical internship pairs with three field experience courses woven directly into coursework, placing candidates in both urban and suburban settings. Those who want to broaden their reach can add special education or ESL dual certification with twelve additional credits, tailoring the degree to the classrooms they hope to lead. A master's-level path in elementary education, it builds toward a career among elementary school teachers in New Jersey.
Why it ranks hereProgram pageA master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 3 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into 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. Institutional standing and accreditation fill out the rest of the score.
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.
Key facts about a master's in Elementary Education in New Jersey
- New Jersey has 6 accredited master's in elementary education programs in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from federal IPEDS data.
- Rutgers University-New Brunswick ranks first among elementary education master's programs in New Jersey with a score of 56, on a 84 percent graduation rate.
- William Paterson University of New Jersey is the most affordable master's in elementary education in New Jersey, at $23,396 a year in-state tuition.
- The College of New Jersey posts the highest graduation rate among elementary education programs in New Jersey, at 86 percent.
- Elementary school teachers in New Jersey earn a median of $78,200 a year (BLS), ranking New Jersey 9 of 51 states and territories for the occupation.
- New Jersey requires the Praxis licensure exam, administered through New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Certification and Induction, to earn a teaching license.
What a master's in elementary education costs in New Jersey (2026)
Published in-state tuition for a master's in elementary education in New Jersey runs from $23,396 to $43,960 a year across the 6 programs we rank, with a median of $24,276. The most affordable is William Paterson University of New Jersey at $23,396 a year. These are published sticker rates from IPEDS; most future teachers bring the net figure down with the Pell Grant, the federal TEACH Grant, and state teacher-preparation aid, so weigh net price, not the sticker.
Cost only means something next to completion. The elementary education programs ranked here average a 63 percent graduation rate, and a lower-priced program where fewer students finish is not necessarily the cheaper path to a degree. Compare tuition and graduation rate together above.
Sources: IPEDS tuition data
What elementary school teachers earn in New Jersey
Elementary school teachers in New Jersey earn a median of $78,200 a year, per BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), compared with a national median of $63,970. That ranks New Jersey 9 of 51 states and territories for elementary school teachers pay. Nationally, pay for this occupation spans roughly $47,960 at the 10th percentile to $104,340 at the 90th, with a master's degree, years in the classroom, and the local district salary schedule driving the climb.
The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects 2 percent decline in elementary school teachers employment nationally from 2024 to 2034, with about 103,800 openings a year as teachers retire or change careers. A master's in elementary education in New Jersey is the entry point to that market, not the ceiling.
How to get a New Jersey teaching license
To teach in New Jersey you need a master's in elementary education (or a bachelor's plus an approved preparation program), a supervised student-teaching placement, and a New Jersey teaching license issued by New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Certification and Induction. New Jersey calls the initial credential the Standard Instructional Certificate, and earning it means passing Praxis (The Praxis Series) plus a background check.
Candidates first earn a Certificate of Eligibility or Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing; the only approved basic-skills test is the Praxis Core. Confirm your program is currently state-approved before you enroll.
Sources: New Jersey educator certification, Praxis exam
Choosing an accredited elementary education program in New Jersey
Pick a master's in elementary education in New Jersey that is regionally accredited and whose educator-preparation program is approved by the New Jersey Department of Education, ideally with CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) accreditation. State approval is what lets the degree count toward a New Jersey teaching license, and CAEP is the national standard for program quality, so confirm both before enrolling in any elementary education program in New Jersey.
Sources: CAEP accreditation
Frequently asked questions about a master's in Elementary Education in New Jersey
How many master's in elementary education programs are in New Jersey?
There are 6 accredited master's in elementary education programs in New Jersey in our 2026 ranking, all drawn from the federal IPEDS database.
What is the most affordable master's in elementary education in New Jersey?
William Paterson University of New Jersey is the most affordable master's in elementary education in New Jersey, at $23,396 a year in in-state tuition.
How much do elementary school teachers make in New Jersey?
Elementary school teachers in New Jersey earn a median of $78,200 a year, according to <a href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes252021.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics</a>, versus $63,970 nationally.
What exam do you need to teach in New Jersey?
New Jersey requires the Praxis (The Praxis Series) licensure exam, administered for New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Certification and Induction. See the <a href="https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/newjersey-overview.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">official exam page</a> for current test requirements.
Is a master's in elementary education worth it in New Jersey?
For most future teachers, yes. A master's in elementary education in New Jersey is the standard credential for a New Jersey teaching license, and it leads to a median elementary school teachers salary of $78,200 a year in New Jersey. Compare graduation rate and net price above to find the best value in 2026.
These are the best master's in elementary education programs in New Jersey for 2026, ranked on the outcomes that matter. Compare all 6 master's in elementary education in New Jersey above by graduation rate, tuition, and selectivity, then open each program page to take the next step toward teaching in an elementary school classroom in New Jersey.