Best Master's in Health Teacher Education Programs by Local Teacher Pay

1. 1

   Cambridge College

   Boston, MAPrivate nonprofit

   • 9Master's/yr
   • $98,060Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Education with a Specialization in Health
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   Cambridge College offers a Master of Education with a Specialization in Health, a 30-credit hybrid program that pairs weekend on-campus classes with asynchronous online coursework. That schedule is built for adults already working, letting them keep a job while completing the degree over a manageable weekend and online rhythm. A licensure-track option satisfies Massachusetts health-educator licensure requirements, with applicants holding a Massachusetts Educator ID and passing the MTEL Communication and Literacy Test, so the program serves candidates aiming squarely at state licensure. A distinctive bilingual Puerto Rico cohort extends the degree to educators there, supporting recertification as a health educator through the Puerto Rico Department of Education. Accredited by NECHE and authorized in both Massachusetts and Puerto Rico, the college positions the degree for health educators across two very different school systems. Graduates of this health teacher education program at the master's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.

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

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

   School site
2. 2

   Hofstra University

   Hempstead, NYPrivate nonprofit

   • 14Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Science in Health Education
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Hofstra University offers a Master of Science in Health Education that leads to New York State teacher certification in health education for grades K-12. The 33-credit program is built around an experiential teaching approach and splits into two tracks, one for candidates who already hold a teaching certificate in another discipline and one for those seeking an initial certificate, so it welcomes both career changers and educators broadening their reach. Because it serves candidates from different starting points, the design reads as a flexible on-ramp into school health teaching rather than a single fixed sequence. Graduates emerge prepared to teach health across the grade span and also qualify to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam, pairing classroom licensure with a national professional credential. Alignment with state learning standards and the American Association for Health Education keeps the curriculum grounded in recognized benchmarks. A master's-level path in health teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in New York.

   Why it ranks here

   Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 14 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. 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

   Adelphi University

   Garden City, NYPrivate nonprofit

   • 12Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Health Education
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Adelphi University offers a Master of Arts in Health Education on campus, structured around four options that meet candidates at different points in their certification journey. Professional and In-Service tracks serve those who already hold New York certification, a Graduate Alternative Teacher Education path opens the field to pre-service students with no prior certification, and an Advanced Certificate adds school health education to a master's held in another area. That range makes the program a flexible entry point for career-changers and current educators alike. A fieldwork internship places candidates in regional school districts, connecting coursework to real classrooms, while rolling admissions with five start dates a year and small class sizes reinforce its accessibility. Graduates are eligible for New York State Teacher Certification in Health Education for pre-K-12, completing the Content Specialty Test in Health Education. Earning a master's degree in health teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of New York's secondary school teachers.

   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 12 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

   School site
4. 4

   CUNY Lehman College

   Bronx, NYPublicOnline available

   • 21Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Health Education Teacher N-12, Master of Science in Education
   • Online
   About the program

   Lehman College offers a Health Education Teacher N-12 Master of Science in Education, a 30-credit degree delivered fully online and asynchronously. Its two sequences read as a program built for educators already in the field: one adds Health Education N-12 credentials for teachers certified in a related area, while the other carries those already teaching health education toward professional-level certification. The asynchronous format lets working teachers fit graduate study around a full school schedule, and supervised fieldwork woven throughout the coursework keeps the online path connected to real classroom practice. Graduates are eligible to apply for NYSED Initial or Professional Certification in Health Education for grades N-12, completing the Health Education Content Specialty Test. The design makes it a practical route for New York educators broadening or advancing their certification. Earning a master's degree in health teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of New York's secondary school teachers.

   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 21 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

   School site
5. 5

   CUNY Brooklyn College

   Brooklyn, NYPublic

   • 1Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Health Teacher (P-12), Master of Science in Education
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Brooklyn College offers a Health Teacher (P-12) Master of Science in Education, an on-campus program registered by the New York State Education Department and built to lead to state certification as a health teacher. Three admission options adjust the credit load to a candidate's background, from those already certified in health, physical education, or dance education to those certified in another teaching area and those holding a master's in an allied field but no certification. The coursework covers mental health, nutrition, personal health, sexuality, and stress management, giving future teachers command of the full breadth of a school health curriculum. A distinctive emphasis on partnering with community-health organizations pushes candidates to build school-community health programs rather than teach in isolation. Supervised student teaching and NYSED-mandated field experience complete the path to certification. This master's-level health teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers 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 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.

   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

   Teachers College at Columbia University

   New York, NYPrivate nonprofit

   • 6Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Health Education
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Teachers College, Columbia University offers a 32-point Master of Arts in Health Education housed in its Department of Health Studies and Applied Educational Psychology. The program centers on planning and implementing health education programs across populations and practice settings, and its curriculum aligns with CHES competencies, signaling a focus on health promotion practice rather than P-12 teacher licensure. Students who want deeper specialization can look to the department's separate 42-point M.S. in Community Health Education, positioning the M.A. as the more concentrated of the two options. The program reads as preparation for careers in community and organizational health education, where designing and delivering programs matters more than classroom certification. Its home within a leading graduate school of education gives the practice orientation a strong pedagogical grounding. As a master's degree in health teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers 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 6 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
7. 7

   Rhode Island College

   Providence, RIPublic

   • 6Master's/yr
   • $86,720Metro teacher pay
   • Health Education, Master of Education
   About the program

   Rhode Island College offers a Master of Education in Health Education through its Feinstein School of Education and Human Development, designed for working professionals across school, clinical, worksite, community, wellness, and government settings. Rather than functioning as a P-12 teacher-certification track, the program prepares graduates to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam, anchoring it in the national credential for the field. The curriculum emphasizes health equity and the social determinants of health, giving it a contemporary public-health orientation that looks beyond individual behavior to broader conditions. A capstone project lets students apply that lens to a focused piece of work before they graduate. The breadth of intended work settings signals a degree meant to serve health educators wherever they practice, not only in classrooms. A master's-level path in health teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in Rhode Island.

   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 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA, where elementary teachers earn a median $86,720, roughly $85,209 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

   State University of New York at Cortland

   Cortland, NYPublic

   • 21Master's/yr
   • $85,760State teacher pay
   • Health Education, Master of Science in Teaching
   • Online
   About the program

   SUNY Cortland offers an online Health Education Master of Science in Teaching that builds on candidates' existing New York initial teaching certification to lead them into certification in school health education. Because applicants must already hold a teaching certificate, the program functions as a graduate pathway for established teachers rather than a first route into the classroom, and it waives a second student-teaching placement while still requiring school-based fieldwork. Multiple paths to the degree accommodate candidates with different backgrounds and prior certification status, and full-time students can finish in about one calendar year, with part-time completion spanning two to three years. With more than 50 years of operation behind it, the program carries a long track record in preparing health educators. Its online delivery makes it accessible to working teachers who cannot pause their careers to study on campus. A master's-level path in health teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in New York.

   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 21 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $85,760, roughly $79,466 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

   Southern Connecticut State University

   New Haven, CTPublicOnline available

   • 14Master's/yr
   • $79,820Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Science in School Health Education
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   Southern Connecticut State University offers a Master of Science in School Health Education aimed squarely at educators already in the profession. The degree meets Connecticut requirements for certified teachers pursuing a cross-endorsement in health education for grades PK-12, so it functions as a way to add a teaching area rather than earn a first license. Its structure reflects that audience, with a largely online cohort core covering 24 of the 30 credits and a mix of on-ground, online, and hybrid course options across the remainder. Students can move full-time over three semesters plus a summer or part-time across two years plus a summer, flexibility that accommodates a working teacher's calendar. The cohort model and endorsement focus characterize a program built for certified teachers broadening into health education. Earning a master's degree in health teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Connecticut's secondary school teachers.

   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 14 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New Haven, CT, where elementary teachers earn a median $79,820, roughly $76,340 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

    Russell Sage College

    Troy, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 9Master's/yr
    • $79,240Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in School Health Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Russell Sage offers a Master of Science in School Health Education that prepares candidates to become certified health teachers for grades K-12 in New York State. The 33 to 36 credit program pairs coursework with substantial classroom immersion, placing candidates in two seven-week student-teaching experiences, or a single seven-week, 50-hour placement for those who already hold initial certification. An optional 8-credit practicum lets students extend that supervised practice, signaling a program that treats field experience as central to becoming a confident health educator. The tiered placement structure accommodates both newcomers to teaching and already-certified educators adding a health endorsement. Accreditation through the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) affirms that the preparation meets recognized standards for educator training. This master's-level health teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in New York.

    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 9 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
11. 11

    Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia

    Philadelphia, PAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 2Master's/yr
    • $78,570Metro teacher pay
    • Health Education, Master of Science
    About the program

    Saint Joseph's University offers a Master of Science in Health Education whose curriculum is built on the responsibilities and competencies of Certified Health Education Specialists as defined by NCHEC, marking it as a professional-practice degree rather than a P-12 teacher licensure program. The multidisciplinary coursework spans community needs assessment, program planning and implementation, and health services research, giving students a broad view of how health education operates across populations and organizations. A capstone research project and fieldwork opportunity close out the program, translating classroom study into applied experience. That combination reads as preparation for community health, wellness, and program-management roles where designing evidence-based interventions is central. The competency alignment with national standards keeps graduates positioned for the credentialing that employers in the field recognize. As a master's degree in health teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers 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 2 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
12. 12

    East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

    East Stroudsburg, PAPublicOnline available

    • 9Master's/yr
    • $77,060State teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Health Education
    • Online
    About the program

    East Stroudsburg University offers a fully online Master of Science in Health Education built for working professionals rather than P-12 teacher candidates. The curriculum prepares graduates to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) exams from NCHEC, orienting the degree toward recognized professional credentials in the field. A capstone project stands in place of a thesis, which keeps the program applied and completion-focused for students balancing careers. The university describes it as one of only three 100% online M.S. Health Education programs in the Northeast, and a Pre K-12 Educator Tuition discount is available to staff of approved school districts, extending its appeal to educators pursuing health expertise. Together the online format and credentialing focus make it a practical choice for practitioners advancing in community and school health settings. As a master's degree in health teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Pennsylvania.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 9 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Pennsylvania statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $77,060, roughly $78,978 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
13. 13

    University of New Mexico-Main Campus

    Albuquerque, NMPublic

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $75,520Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Health Education, Community Health Education concentration
    • Online
    About the program

    The University of New Mexico offers a Master of Science in Health Education with a Community Health Education concentration, a 36-credit-hour degree delivered fully online. Rather than preparing school teachers, the program points outward toward public health practice, readying graduates for roles in public health agencies, healthcare settings, worksites, schools, and tribal health systems. A 150-hour supervised field experience anchors that applied orientation, giving students hands-on work in community settings before they graduate. The online delivery makes the degree reachable for working professionals across New Mexico and beyond. This is not a teacher-licensure program, but graduates are eligible to pursue the Master Certified Health Education Specialist credential, a voluntary national certification that signals professional standing without being a graduation requirement. As a master's degree in health teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in New Mexico.

    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 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Albuquerque, NM, where elementary teachers earn a median $75,520, roughly $79,040 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

    Wayne State University

    Detroit, MIPublic

    • 3Master's/yr
    • $65,210Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Health Physical Education Teaching
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Wayne State University offers a Master of Science in Health Physical Education Teaching, a hybrid program whose four pathways span nearly every stage of a health and physical education career. Candidates can pursue continuing education in 30 credits, add an endorsement in 51, complete initial K-12 certification in 64, or specialize in Adapted Physical Education through either a traditional or accelerated route, a structure that lets the degree meet both certified teachers and career-changers where they stand. The initial certification pathway builds in a four-month full-time clinical experience, grounding new teachers in extended classroom practice before they lead their own. An Accelerated Master's Pathway lets undergraduates bank up to 16 master's credits during their bachelor's, and no GRE is required. Accredited by CAEP, the program leads to Michigan K-12 Health and Physical Education certification, with candidates passing the MTTC exams. This master's-level health teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in Michigan.

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

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

    School site
15. 15

    University of Louisville

    Louisville, KYPublicOnline available

    • 4Master's/yr
    • $61,610Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching, Health and Physical Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Louisville offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Health and Physical Education, an on-campus program that leads to Kentucky teacher certification for grades P-12. Its full-time cohort model and single unified certification track make clear that this is a route into the profession rather than a menu of specializations, moving a group of candidates through the same sequence together. Students spend the fall semester in school-based methods courses before a 15-week spring student-teaching placement that spans both elementary and secondary levels, so graduates enter classrooms having taught across the full P-12 range they will be certified for. Candidates complete Praxis content and PLT exams as part of the licensure pathway. Accredited by CAEP, the program reflects the standards expected of a state-recognized educator preparation program. Earning a master's degree in health teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Kentucky's secondary school teachers.

    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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,610, roughly $66,195 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 the Cumberlands

    Williamsburg, KYPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 10Master's/yr
    • $60,610State teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Education, Teacher Leader (P-12) - Health and Physical Education Emphasis
    • Online
    About the program

    University of the Cumberlands offers a Master of Arts in Education in the Teacher Leader (P-12) track with a Health and Physical Education emphasis, delivered fully online across 30 credits. The Health and Physical Education focus is one of eight emphasis areas under the Teacher Leader umbrella, a structure that signals a program organized around the working teacher's subject rather than a single fixed sequence. Designed for educators who already hold a license, it functions as advanced professional development rather than a route to initial certification. The online format fits practicing teachers who want to deepen their content expertise without stepping out of the classroom. Accredited by CAEP and recognized by the Kentucky EPSB, the degree carries the standing of a state-approved educator preparation provider, and some MAEd tracks additionally support Kentucky's Option 6 alternative certification for leadership roles. As a master's degree in health teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Kentucky.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 10 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
17. 17

    American College of Education

    Indianapolis, INPrivate for-profitOnline available

    • 240Master's/yr
    • $60,510Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Health and Wellness Education
    • Higher Learning Commission (HLC)-accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    American College of Education offers a Master of Education in Health and Wellness Education, an online, HLC-accredited degree engineered for speed and flexibility. Its 31 semester credit hours can be completed in roughly 12 to 15 months, and a capstone course stands in for a thesis, keeping the emphasis on applied practice rather than academic research. The program forgoes formal tracks, instead letting students choose electives that fit their setting, whether P-12 schools, community institutions, or public and private organizations. It is not a K-12 teacher licensure program; rather, it prepares graduates to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist exam. The design reads as a practitioner credential for health and wellness educators who want a nationally recognized certification and a fast, career-friendly route to it. Graduates of this health teacher education program at the master's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.

    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 240 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
18. 18

    Lee University

    Cleveland, TNPrivate nonprofit

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $59,330Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching, Health/Wellness, K-12 Licensure
    About the program

    Lee University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Health/Wellness with K-12 licensure through its Helen DeVos College of Education. The program leads to teacher licensure in Health/Wellness across the K-12 grade span, framing it as a route into the classroom for candidates pursuing health and wellness instruction. As a Christ-centered program, it integrates faith and learning alongside the professional education coursework that builds classroom readiness. That faith-based identity gives the degree a distinctive character for candidates who want their preparation to reflect a religious mission. Together the licensure outcome and the college's teaching focus point toward graduates ready to lead K-12 health and wellness classrooms. This master's-level health teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in Tennessee.

    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 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Cleveland, TN, where elementary teachers earn a median $59,330, roughly $67,359 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

    Indiana University-Bloomington

    Bloomington, INPublic

    • 13Master's/yr
    • $58,410Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Applied Health Science, School and College Health Education major
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Indiana University Bloomington offers a Master of Science in Applied Health Science with a major in School and College Health Education, housed in its School of Public Health. Sitting alongside majors in Health Promotion, Nutrition Science, and Safety Management, the degree treats health education as one branch of a broader applied health science, which gives students a public-health lens on their teaching work. The curriculum builds toward a capstone course in independent research, so candidates leave having framed and pursued a question of their own rather than simply completing coursework. Elective options such as a practicum in college sex education or an internship in health promotion let students test their skills in real settings. The program prepares health educators for school and college environments, though the degree itself is not presented as a state teaching license. Graduates of this health teacher education program at the master's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.

    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 13 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Bloomington, IN, where elementary teachers earn a median $58,410, roughly $61,430 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

    Nova Southeastern University

    Fort Lauderdale, FLPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 11Master's/yr
    • $58,300Metro teacher pay
    • Online
    About the program

    Nova Southeastern University, a private nonprofit institution in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is listed as offering graduate study in health teacher education. Graduates of this health teacher education program at the master's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.

    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 11 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
21. 21

    Liberty University

    Lynchburg, VAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 11Master's/yr
    • $50,470Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction – Health and Wellness
    • Online
    About the program

    Liberty University offers a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a Health and Wellness specialization, a fully online degree accredited under SACSCOC and designed around the flexibility working educators need. The 36 credit hour program runs in 8-week online courses with eight start dates a year, and it accepts up to half of its credits in transfer, signaling a build made for adult learners fitting graduate study around a career. The Health and Wellness focus sits inside the broader Curriculum and Instruction framework, so students deepen their teaching craft and content specialization rather than pursue a new license. Liberty positions this as a non-licensure track and directs candidates seeking initial teacher licensure to its M.A.T. program instead. It best fits already-credentialed teachers and wellness professionals who want to specialize their expertise and advance their practice. Earning a master's degree in health teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Virginia's secondary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 11 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into 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
22. 22

    Texas A&M University-College Station

    College Station, TXPublicOnline available

    • 5Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Health Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Texas A&M University offers a Master of Science in Health Education whose online track is built for practicing health education specialists working in clinical, community, public health, school, and worksite settings. The 36 credit hour distance program is organized around the CHES and MCHES Areas of Responsibility and Competencies, so the coursework maps directly onto the national credentialing standards graduates will be tested against. Rather than leading to teacher licensure, the online track prepares students to sit for the CHES and MCHES exams administered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing. On campus the department also runs thesis, non-thesis, and teacher-certification-emphasis versions, with the certification emphasis serving those pursuing Texas teacher certification. Taken together, the online option functions as a professional advancement degree for health educators already in the field who want credentials and competency depth without leaving their jobs. A master's-level path in health teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers 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 5 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
23. 23

    SUNY Brockport

    Brockport, NYPublic

    • 43Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Education in School Health Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    SUNY Brockport offers a Master of Science in Education in School Health Education designed for candidates who already hold or are eligible for New York initial teaching certification in another subject and want to add a health credential. Completion leads to a University recommendation for New York State certification as a health teacher across Pre-K through grade 12. The 33-credit core, which may require up to nine additional credits for certification, moves candidates through a capstone seminar, supervised field experience, and special education coursework, so the sequence reads as a focused conversion path for practicing educators rather than an entry-level teaching program. Students may also deepen their preparation through up to three graduate-level Public Health courses chosen by advisement. The curriculum is aligned with New York State Education Department academic requirements for professional health teacher certification. As a master's degree in health teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers 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 43 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
24. 24

    Kent State University at Kent

    Kent, OHPublic

    • 4Master's/yr
    • Health Education and Promotion, Master of Education
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Kent State University offers a Master of Education in Health Education and Promotion that splits into two concentrations serving distinctly different goals. The 33-credit Community Health concentration prepares graduates for the CHES credential and health-promotion careers, while the 35-credit School Health Additional Licensure concentration leads to Ohio school health teaching licensure and requires applicants to already hold a current Ohio teaching license. That structure lets candidates choose between a community-health track and a P-12 licensure add-on, making the program equally useful to public-health practitioners and to teachers expanding into health instruction. Courses run in the late afternoon and evening with some web-based options, a hybrid schedule that fits working professionals in either path. The result is a single degree flexible enough to support two very different professional trajectories. A master's-level path in health teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in Ohio.

    Why it ranks here

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

    School site
25. 25

    Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

    Carbondale, ILPublic

    • 3Master's/yr
    About the program

    Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, a public university in Carbondale, Illinois, is listed in connection with health teacher education at the graduate level. A master's-level path in health teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers 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 3 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site

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