Hakia Education

Best Master's in Gifted and Talented Education 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 28 programs reviewed from the IPEDS database.

  1. 1

    Whitworth University

    Spokane, WAPrivate nonprofit

    • 2Master's/yr
    • $98,800Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching, Gifted Education & Equitable Instruction
    • Online
    About the program

    Whitworth University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Gifted Education and Equitable Instruction, a 34-credit program the university describes as the only master's degree in gifted education offered in Washington state. The name signals its dual commitment, joining gifted instruction to questions of equity and who gets access to advanced learning. Delivered mostly asynchronously online through Whitworth's Center for Gifted Education, it is completable in about two years, a pace suited to teachers who continue working while they study. The gifted education specialty endorsement can be pursued on its own or concurrently with the M.A.T. or the M.Ed. in Teaching and Learning, giving educators room to shape the credential around their goals. Graduates earn a Washington state Gifted Education Specialty Endorsement. This program offers a master's degree in gifted and talented education 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 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
  2. 2

    Teachers College at Columbia University

    New York, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 2Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Gifted Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Teachers College, Columbia University offers a Master of Arts in Gifted Education that treats giftedness as much a subject of inquiry as a teaching assignment. Coursework is organized around two thematic strands, the nature of giftedness and the teaching of gifted students, and the program welcomes applicants whether or not they arrive with a prior education background. What distinguishes the degree is its critical, social-justice-oriented framing, which asks candidates to question who gets identified as gifted and how schools respond. Students can add a student-teaching-in-giftedness field placement and complete a culminating integrative project that ties theory to classroom practice. The program prepares graduates to teach in gifted programs across public and independent schools rather than pointing toward a single state license, and the site notes it is not accepting applications for the 2026 cycle. It is a master's degree in gifted and talented education at the master's level, based in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 2 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  3. 3

    Concordia University-Chicago

    River Forest, ILPrivate nonprofit

    • 6Master's/yr
    • $78,390Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Gifted Education (Differentiated Instruction: Gifted Education)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Concordia University Chicago offers a Master of Arts in Gifted Education, framed around differentiated instruction, that leads to the Illinois Gifted Education Endorsement, with 24 of its 30 credit hours devoted to endorsement-required courses. The university positions itself as the only Illinois State Board of Education approved institution to offer this endorsement, which gives the credential a distinctive standing in the state. Coursework moves across identification and assessment, curriculum development, differentiated instruction, technology integration, twice-exceptional learners, and underrepresented populations in gifted programs, painting a picture of a program attentive to equity as well as technique. Over roughly 24 months, candidates complete an eight-week practicum in a P-12 gifted setting and a leadership project developed through a seminar course, a structure that points teachers toward program leadership as much as classroom instruction. Offered in online, on-campus, and hybrid formats, it flexes to fit educators with varied schedules. The result reads as a comprehensive, endorsement-focused route into gifted teaching and leadership in Illinois. This program offers a master's degree in gifted and talented education in Illinois.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 6 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, where elementary teachers earn a median $78,390, roughly $75,670 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  4. 4

    Johns Hopkins University

    Baltimore, MDPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 6Master's/yr
    • $76,400Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Education with a concentration in Gifted Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Johns Hopkins University offers a Master of Science in Education with a concentration in Gifted Education, an online, 33-credit program built on the NAGC and CEC teacher preparation standards that anchor the field. Students typically complete it over six semesters at a pace of two courses per term, a rhythm suited to educators studying alongside their classroom work. A distinctive twice-exceptionalities focus area addresses gifted students who also have co-occurring learning differences, signaling attention to the complexity of real gifted populations rather than a single profile of the high achiever. The degree is recognized by the Maryland State Department of Education as meeting the requirements for Gifted and Talented Education Specialist certification, and it satisfies endorsement requirements in many other states as well. Its standards-based construction and specialist certification outcome read as preparation for educators becoming their schools' gifted-education experts. As a master's degree in gifted and talented education, it adds to the master's-level gifted and talented education options in Maryland.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 6 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD, where elementary teachers earn a median $76,400, roughly $73,119 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

    Piedmont University

    Demorest, GAPrivate nonprofit

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $72,290State teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Special Education (with Gifted Education Endorsement option)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Piedmont University offers a fully online Master of Arts in Special Education that lets experienced teachers add a Gifted Education Endorsement through coursework rather than pursue a standalone gifted degree. The 30 credit-hour program concentrates on students with mild disabilities, including specific learning disabilities, emotional and behavioral disorders, intellectual disabilities, and high-functioning autism, and it is explicitly not built for candidates seeking initial special education certification. Admission requires an existing teaching certificate and a record of having taught three of the past five years, which positions the degree squarely as advanced study for practicing educators. Alongside the gifted option, candidates can choose endorsements in Autism Spectrum Disorder or Dyslexia, giving the program the feel of a flexible specialization menu built on a shared special education core. Evening synchronous sessions paired with asynchronous work accommodate teachers balancing full-time classroom jobs, and the Gifted Education Endorsement carries approval from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. It is a master's degree in gifted and talented education at the master's level, based in Georgia.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 1 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
  6. 6

    Morningside University

    Sioux City, IAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 3Master's/yr
    • $62,270Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching in Talented and Gifted Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Morningside University offers a fully online Master of Arts in Teaching in Talented and Gifted Education that supports the Iowa Talented and Gifted Endorsement for Iowa-licensed teachers. The 32 credit-hour program layers 15 credits of gifted-focused study, covering the development and management of gifted programs, curriculum and methods, the psychology of the talented and gifted, and special populations, on top of a 17-credit professional foundations core. Candidates draw the threads together in an action-research capstone project centered on gifted education, a design that pushes teachers to investigate and improve practice in their own settings rather than simply absorb theory. The endorsement-oriented coursework and Iowa focus mark this as advanced preparation for licensed teachers moving into gifted instruction. Delivered entirely online and backed by Higher Learning Commission accreditation, it accommodates educators building the specialization while remaining in the classroom. This program offers a master's degree in gifted and talented education in Iowa.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 3 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Sioux City, IA-NE-SD, where elementary teachers earn a median $62,270, roughly $72,027 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

    Western Kentucky University

    Bowling Green, KYPublicOnline available

    • 8Master's/yr
    • $61,260Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Education (MAE) in Gifted Education and Talent Development
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Western Kentucky University offers a Master of Arts in Education in Gifted Education and Talent Development in a hybrid format, pairing online coursework with a required face-to-face practicum working directly with gifted learners. The program splits into two clearly differentiated pathways, an 18-hour Advanced Certification for Teacher Leaders track that leads to Kentucky Rank II and a 21-hour Advanced Research Focus track that leads to Rank I. The certification pathway carries a concrete outcome, moving candidates toward Rank II with the Gifted and Talented Education endorsement after a passing Praxis II score, while the research pathway culminates in a thesis defense. That contrast lets the degree serve both teachers seeking a practical leadership credential and those oriented toward scholarship and inquiry. The embedded practicum and Rank advancement structure read as designed for Kentucky educators building careers around gifted instruction. It is a master's degree in gifted and talented education at the master's level, based in Kentucky.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 8 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Bowling Green, KY, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,260, roughly $67,932 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

    Converse University

    Spartanburg, SCPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 4Master's/yr
    • $60,990Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Gifted Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Converse University offers a Master of Education in Gifted Education, a focused single-track online program for teachers who already hold certification in a teaching area. The coursework centers on curriculum development, instructional design, and the identification of gifted students, with deliberate attention to underachievers, underserved populations, and twice-exceptional learners, signaling a program alert to who is often missed in gifted screening. Its most distinctive feature is an optional one-week summer practicum through the on-campus Athena summer camp, where candidates work directly with gifted students in grades one through five. That hands-on option grounds an otherwise online degree in real practice with children. Completing the program helps teachers meet South Carolina gifted certification requirements. It is a master's degree in gifted and talented education at the master's level, based in South Carolina.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 4 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Spartanburg, SC, where elementary teachers earn a median $60,990, roughly $66,984 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

    Eastern Kentucky University

    Richmond, KYPublic

    • 8Master's/yr
    • $60,610State teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Education: Gifted Education
    • CAEP-accredited; EPSB-approved
    • Online
    About the program

    Eastern Kentucky University offers a Master of Arts in Education with a concentration in Gifted Education, one of ten concentrations within its online MAEd and clearly aimed at teachers already holding a license. Rather than an initial licensure route, the program is built for practicing educators who want to deepen their subject knowledge and move into roles such as Gifted and Talented Coordinator. Coursework is CAEP-accredited and EPSB-approved, signaling that it meets recognized preparation standards for educator advancement. The online sections run in accelerated seven-week terms with six start dates across the year and no required campus visits, an arrangement that fits working teachers who need to enroll when their schedule allows. The overall shape, a concentration within a broader education master's paired with a leadership-oriented outcome, reads as a career-advancement path for experienced classroom teachers. This program offers a master's degree in gifted and talented education in Kentucky.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 8 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Kentucky statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $60,610, roughly $67,226 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  10. 10

    University of South Florida

    Tampa, FLPublic

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $60,120Metro teacher pay
    • Special Education, Gifted, M.A.
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of South Florida offers an online Master of Arts in Special Education with a Gifted focus that leads directly to the State of Florida Gifted Education Endorsement upon completion. The curriculum is built around the coursework Florida requires for that endorsement, so the degree reads as a targeted, credential-driven pathway for teachers who want state recognition to serve gifted learners. Rather than testing students out with comprehensive examinations, the program uses a portfolio requirement that asks candidates to document their developing practice. An individualized practicum situated in the student's own school district keeps the work anchored in the classroom setting where graduates already teach. The combination of an online format, an embedded district practicum, and an endorsement outcome makes it a practical fit for working Florida educators. This program offers a master's degree in gifted and talented education in Florida.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL, where elementary teachers earn a median $60,120, roughly $59,590 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

    Nova Southeastern University

    Fort Lauderdale, FLPrivate nonprofit

    • 40Master's/yr
    • $58,300Metro teacher pay
    About the program

    Nova Southeastern University's Fischler Academy of Education offers master's degrees in education, but its current M.S. in Education concentrations center on curriculum and instruction, elementary education, exceptional student education, reading education, and TESOL. A distinct concentration in gifted education is not currently listed among these master's offerings. Students seeking a gifted education specialization should verify available programs directly with the college. It is a master's degree in gifted and talented education at the master's level, based in Florida.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 40 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL, where elementary teachers earn a median $58,300, roughly $51,071 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

    Truman State University

    Kirksville, MOPublicOnline available

    • 11Master's/yr
    • $50,910State teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Gifted Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Truman State University offers a Master of Arts in Gifted Education, a fully online, 30-credit-hour program whose defining trait is flexible pacing. Students can move through an accelerated one-to-two-year track or settle into a self-paced two-to-three-year track, with rolling admission across fall, spring, and summer terms that lets them start when it suits them. That range of speeds signals a program accommodating everyone from teachers eager to credential quickly to those balancing heavier personal and professional loads. A teaching internship is built into the degree and described as meeting state certification requirements, connecting the online coursework to supervised work with gifted learners. The combination of adaptable timelines and an embedded internship reads as a practitioner-focused route into gifted education. This program offers a master's degree in gifted and talented education in Missouri.

    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 11 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Missouri statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $50,910, roughly $56,058 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

    Liberty University

    Lynchburg, VAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 4Master's/yr
    • $50,470Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction – Gifted Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Liberty University offers a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a Gifted Education concentration, a fully online program taught in accelerated 8-week terms and delivered from a Christian, biblical-worldview perspective. It is built for experienced educators, requiring an existing initial Virginia teaching license and at least two years of classroom experience, and it functions as an add-on endorsement rather than an entry point to the profession. The format is accommodating for working teachers, allowing up to 50 percent transfer credit and a choice between a directed practicum capstone, required for the add-on endorsement, and a standard capstone course. A related M.Ed. in Special and Gifted Education focused on twice-exceptionalities extends the same interest to students with overlapping needs. Accreditation runs through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. This program offers a master's degree in gifted and talented education in Virginia.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 4 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Lynchburg, VA, where elementary teachers earn a median $50,470, roughly $56,478 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

    University of Louisiana at Lafayette

    Lafayette, LAPublicOnline available

    • 2Master's/yr
    • $47,770Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Special Education: Gifted
    • Online
    About the program

    The University of Louisiana at Lafayette offers a Master of Education in Special Education with a Gifted focus in a cohort-based, fully online format that moves students through two courses per semester over two years. The steady pacing and shared cohort suggest a program built for working teachers who progress together toward a common credential. Graduates earn certification from the Louisiana Department of Education to teach academically gifted students at the levels and subjects of their existing certification, along with gifted enrichment programs at all levels, so the degree layers a gifted specialization onto an established teaching license. The program ends in a comprehensive written and oral examination that consolidates learning across the two years. It is housed alongside the university's Center for Gifted Education, established in 1982 and described as one of only twenty comprehensive centers of its kind nationally, lending the program deep institutional grounding in the field. As a master's degree in gifted and talented education, it adds to the master's-level gifted and talented education options in Louisiana.

    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 Lafayette, LA, where elementary teachers earn a median $47,770, roughly $54,776 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

    William Carey University

    Hattiesburg, MSPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 8Master's/yr
    • $47,650Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Gifted Education
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    William Carey University offers a Master of Education in Gifted Education, a 30-hour hybrid program that can be completed in as little as twelve months with rolling term starts. The accelerated timeline and flexible entry points suggest a program shaped for working teachers who want to add a gifted specialization quickly without pausing their careers. Most of the coursework runs online, while two gifted courses meet in a hybrid format that builds in in-person practicum experience with gifted learners during the spring and summer terms. That practicum grounds the degree in direct classroom work rather than theory alone. The combination of a compact schedule and embedded field experience reads as a practical, fast-moving path into gifted instruction. This program offers a master's degree in gifted and talented education in Mississippi.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 8 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Hattiesburg, MS, where elementary teachers earn a median $47,650, roughly $54,374 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  16. 16

    Elon University

    Elon, NCPrivate nonprofit

    • 10Master's/yr
    • Master of Education (Innovation in Education)
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Elon University offers a Master of Education now framed around Innovation in Education, a 30-hour degree with historical roots in gifted education alongside elementary and special education concentrations. For teachers focused specifically on gifted learners, Elon has offered a 12-credit Academically or Intellectually Gifted add-on licensure sequence built for educators who already hold a license and want North Carolina AIG credentials. The Project LAUNCH partnership with Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools shows how that sequence is delivered, running as a tuition-free cohort embedded in a district over roughly 18 months. The FLEX, or Formative Learning Experience, internship serves as the culminating field experience for licensure candidates, keeping the work grounded in real classrooms. Taken together, the design reads as a practitioner pathway for working teachers moving into gifted instruction. It is a master's degree in gifted and talented education at the master's level, based in North Carolina.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 10 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
  17. 17

    Lipscomb University

    Nashville, TNPrivate nonprofit

    • 1Master's/yr
    • Master of Education with Gifted Education and Advanced Academics concentration
    • Online
    About the program

    Lipscomb University offers a stackable Master of Education with a concentration in Gifted Education and Advanced Academics, an online program that lets teachers combine gifted coursework with other concentration options such as instructional coaching, English language learning, reading, or curriculum leadership. That stackable structure, along with a related 33-hour Education Specialist track in gifted and advanced academics, reads as a flexible ladder for educators building expertise over time. Field-based experiences in gifted education classrooms keep the work anchored in practice rather than theory alone. Some courses are taught by faculty who are co-recipients of the international Hollingworth award for gifted education research and hold leadership roles with the National Association for Gifted Children, lending the program notable depth. Completing it leads to a Tennessee state-approved employment standard in gifted education, with out-of-state candidates advised to verify reciprocity. As a master's degree in gifted and talented education, it adds to the master's-level gifted and talented education options in Tennessee.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
  18. 18

    Towson University

    Towson, MDPublicOnline available

    • 9Master's/yr
    • Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Gifted & Creative Education
    • College of Education holds national accreditation
    • Online
    About the program

    Towson University offers a Master of Education in Gifted and Creative Education, a 30-unit online program aligned with the NAGC Advanced Standards in gifted and talented education. Its structure balances a common core with room for individual direction, combining five required courses and a required internship with four electives that let students build a personal area of specialization. The internship signals hands-on preparation rather than purely theoretical study, placing candidates in direct work with gifted learners. As a Maryland-approved program, it lets graduates submit a stamped transcript to the Maryland State Department of Education to receive the Gifted and Talented Specialist certificate endorsement. The program is also offered through the Towson Learning Network at reduced rates for partner school districts, an arrangement that reads as built to develop gifted specialists from within Maryland's own teaching workforce. This program offers a master's degree in gifted and talented education in Maryland.

    Why it ranks here

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

    School site
  19. 19

    Lindenwood University

    Saint Charles, MOPrivate nonprofit

    • 8Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts (MA) in Gifted Education
    • Higher Learning Commission (HLC)-accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    Lindenwood University offers a Master of Arts in Gifted Education, a fully asynchronous, 30-credit online program from an institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The completely self-scheduled format points to a design for practicing teachers who need to fit graduate study around full-time classroom work. A distinctive feature is its integration of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies into curriculum design, positioning the degree at the intersection of gifted pedagogy and evolving instructional tools. A required practicum keeps the coursework tied to real work with gifted learners. For candidates who hold a valid Missouri teaching certificate and at least two years of experience, the program meets Missouri DESE requirements for the Gifted K-12 add-on certification after coursework and a passing Praxis score, making it a clear credentialing route for the state's existing teachers. This program offers a master's degree in gifted and talented education in Missouri.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 8 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
  20. 20

    Buena Vista University

    Storm Lake, IAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 10Master's/yr
    • Master of Education - Teacher Leadership, Curriculum, and Instruction: Talented and Gifted emphasis
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Buena Vista University offers a fully online Master of Education in Teacher Leadership, Curriculum, and Instruction with a Talented and Gifted emphasis, one of four emphasis choices within the broader degree. Structured as a 31-credit, two-year program for working teachers, it interweaves online coursework with field experiences and application opportunities set in the student's own classroom, so learning translates immediately into daily practice. The teacher leadership framing signals a program aimed at educators who want to grow their influence over curriculum and instruction while continuing to teach. For those focused specifically on gifted learners, the university also offers a standalone Talented and Gifted Teacher graduate endorsement, giving candidates a shorter alternative or complement to the full master's. The combination of a classroom-embedded design and an emphasis menu makes it a flexible fit for practicing teachers charting a leadership path. As a master's degree in gifted and talented education, it adds to the master's-level gifted and talented education options in Iowa.

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

    School site
  21. 21

    Ashland University

    Ashland, OHPrivate nonprofit

    • 6Master's/yr
    • Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction: Talent Development Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Ashland University offers a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a Talent Development Education specialization, a fully online program aimed at teachers who want to deepen their work with gifted learners. The curriculum reaches beyond curriculum design and program supervision to include guidance and counseling and creativity studies, reflecting a view of gifted students as whole learners with distinct social and emotional needs. Delivery is online with at least one synchronous session and an optional face-to-face meeting, giving working educators flexibility while preserving some live connection. After completing designated courses and passing the Ohio Assessment for Educators gifted education test, graduates fulfill requirements for the Ohio Gifted Intervention Specialist Endorsement. The result is a practice-focused credential that pairs classroom application with a clear state endorsement outcome. It is a master's degree in gifted and talented education at the master's level, based in Ohio.

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

    School site
  22. 22

    Arkansas State University

    Jonesboro, ARPublicOnline available

    • 35Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Education in Gifted, Talented and Creative
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Arkansas State University offers a fully online Master of Science in Education in Gifted, Talented and Creative that a certified teacher can complete in as few as 18 months through accelerated seven-week course terms. The compressed format and the requirement of a valid teaching certificate for admission mark this as a program for practicing educators building expertise in gifted instruction, not a route to initial licensure. Its 30 credit hours include a mentorship component pairing each candidate with an experienced mentor who holds an advanced degree, along with a field-based practicum that grounds the coursework in real classrooms. The curriculum aligns with Council for Exceptional Children recommendations, and A-State's educator preparation carries CAEP accreditation. The degree is designed to help candidates pursue gifted, talented, and creative licensure, though A-State advises students to check its State Authorization and Licensure Disclosures because specific state approvals vary. Together these features read as a fast, mentor-supported path for teachers moving into gifted education. It is a master's degree in gifted and talented education at the master's level, based in Arkansas.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 35 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
  23. 23

    University of Arkansas at Little Rock

    Little Rock, ARPublicOnline available

    • 4Master's/yr
    • Master of Education in Gifted, Creative, and Talented Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Arkansas at Little Rock offers a fully online Master of Education in Gifted, Creative, and Talented Education for licensed teachers who want to design and lead programs for high-ability learners. Because applicants must already hold a valid teaching license before admission, the degree functions as advanced preparation rather than an entry point to the profession, and it prepares graduates to teach or administer gifted and talented programs. Rather than fixing students into named tracks, the 30 to 33 credit-hour curriculum uses elective coursework and self-directed projects so each candidate can build an emphasis around personal and professional goals. Students cap the program with a choice of a written comprehensive examination, a 33-hour thesis option, or a National Board Certification pathway, a flexible exit structure that suits working educators with different aims. Delivered entirely online and backed by the university's Higher Learning Commission accreditation, it fits teachers pursuing gifted specialization while staying in the classroom. As a master's degree in gifted and talented education, it adds to the master's-level gifted and talented education options in Arkansas.

    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.

    School site
  24. 24

    Millersville University of Pennsylvania

    Millersville, PAPublicOnline available

    • 7Master's/yr
    • Master of Education in Gifted Education
    • PDE-approved Gifted Education Endorsement component-accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    Millersville University offers a Master of Education in Gifted Education, a 36-credit online program that assumes its students already teach and hold Instructional I certification rather than seeking an initial license. The design pairs a professional core and required gifted-education coursework with a 9-credit specialization that students choose from areas such as early childhood, educational leadership, ESL, STEM, and special education, letting teachers align the degree with their existing role. Delivered fully online and asynchronously, it fits practicing educators, and its clinical practicum is completed in the student's own classroom so the learning stays connected to daily practice. An optional 12-credit Pennsylvania Department of Education-approved Gifted Education Endorsement is embedded in the program. Millersville also lets an 18-hour post-baccalaureate certificate apply entirely toward the master's, giving teachers a stepwise route to the full degree. As a master's degree in gifted and talented education, it adds to the master's-level gifted and talented education options in Pennsylvania.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 7 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
  25. 25

    Cleveland State University

    Cleveland, OHPublic

    • 5Master's/yr
    • Master of Education in Gifted and Talented Learners
    • Online
    About the program

    Cleveland State University offers a Master of Education in Gifted and Talented Learners, a Curriculum and Instruction degree with a gifted education specialization built exclusively for teachers who already hold certification. Its structure is unusually flexible, letting educators complete a 15-credit endorsement-only pathway or continue to the full 30-credit master's by adding another 15 hours. That stackable design, paired with rolling admissions, reads as a program built to meet working teachers where they are and let them scale their commitment. The coursework leads toward endorsement as an intervention specialist for gifted and talented learners and prepares candidates for state licensure requirements. While the focus is Ohio, the program also offers guidance for out-of-state candidates navigating their own certification rules. As a master's degree in gifted and talented education, it adds to the master's-level gifted and talented education options in Ohio.

    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.

    School site

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