Hakia Education

Best Master's in International School Leadership 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 2 out of 2 programs reviewed from the IPEDS database.

  1. 1

    Northern Arizona University

    Flagstaff, AZPublicOnline available

    • 3Master's/yr
    • $53,900Metro teacher pay
    • International Educational Leadership, Master of Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Northern Arizona University offers a Master of Education in International Educational Leadership for educators who see their future in international schools and global education organizations rather than a single U.S. state system. The online program centers on a core International Educational Leadership curriculum and builds in an internship that has students analyze real global education issues, connecting theory to the challenges of leading across borders. Cohort-based delivery is available, giving participants a shared community as they study, and eligible out-of-state students can access reduced tuition through the Western Regional Graduate Program. Because it is oriented to leadership abroad, the degree does not target a specific state license. It reads as preparation for administrative and leadership roles in the international school sector. This program offers a master's degree in international school leadership in Arizona.

    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 Flagstaff, AZ, where elementary teachers earn a median $53,900, roughly $53,725 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

    Wilkes University

    Wilkes-Barre, PAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 2Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Education with a major in International School Leadership
    • Online
    About the program

    Wilkes University offers a Master of Science in Education with a major in International School Leadership, aimed at educators pursuing roles such as Principal, Head of School, or Executive Director at international schools rather than a U.S. state license. The online curriculum combines seven core leadership courses with three additional courses in research, educational technology, and communication skills, giving future leaders both administrative grounding and practical management tools. Delivered in partnership with the PLS 3rd Learning and AAIE Institute and available in self-paced or cohort-based formats, the program flexes to fit educators working abroad on varied schedules. Coursework can also transfer into Wilkes' Ed.D. in Educational Leadership for those who want to continue toward a doctorate. Recognized by the Association for the Advancement of International Education, it reads as a specialized pathway into international school administration. This program offers a master's degree in international school leadership 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.

    School site

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