Hakia Education

Best Master's in Middle School 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 57 programs reviewed from the IPEDS database.

  1. 1

    CUNY Brooklyn College

    Brooklyn, NYPublic

    • 2Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Middle Childhood Education (5-9) Mathematics, M.S.Ed.
    • On-campus
    About the program

    CUNY Brooklyn College offers a Master of Science in Education in Middle Childhood Education with a mathematics specialization for grades 5 through 9. The program leads to New York State Initial and Professional Certificates in Middle Childhood Education, Mathematics, tying the degree closely to licensure for aspiring and early-career math teachers. Its length ranges from 30 to 45 credits depending on a candidate's prior certification status, with four pathway options that adjust the program to different backgrounds, and it culminates in a capstone thesis paper. The mathematics focus is serious, requiring 18 undergraduate math credits including two semesters of calculus, which signals a strong disciplinary foundation. The thesis capstone and content depth give the program a scholarly, subject-specialist character within middle-grades preparation. This master's-level middle school 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 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
  2. 2

    Wagner College

    Staten Island, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 8Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Adolescent Education/Students with Disabilities (Grades 7-12), M.S.Ed.
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Wagner College offers a Master of Science in Education in Adolescent Education and Students with Disabilities for grades 7 through 12, preparing teachers to work across both general and special education settings. The dual-preparation design qualifies graduates for initial and professional New York licensure in general education and special education at the same time, broadening the range of classrooms they can serve. The program runs as a one-year cohort that begins in the summer, moving students through together with evening and technology-assisted coursework. That accelerated cohort structure and after-hours scheduling are clearly built for working professionals who want to add a dual credential quickly. The result reads as an efficient, career-oriented route into inclusive secondary teaching. A master's-level path in middle school 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 8 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

    Worcester State University

    Worcester, MAPublic

    • 3Master's/yr
    • $82,810Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Middle School Education
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Worcester State University offers a Master of Education in Middle School Education built for teachers who already hold a Massachusetts Initial license and want to advance toward Professional licensure. Admission assumes an existing middle-grades credential in the 1-6, 5-8, or 5-12 range, so the 36-credit program functions as a next step rather than an entry point into teaching. Candidates deepen their subject expertise through a content field in biology, English, history, humanities, mathematics, or Spanish while strengthening middle-level pedagogy. The program culminates in a faculty-guided research project and a portfolio evaluation, giving it a reflective, practitioner-scholar character. This structure reads as a route for experienced classroom teachers formalizing their standing and refining their practice. This master's-level middle school education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in Massachusetts.

    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 Worcester, MA, where elementary teachers earn a median $82,810, roughly $80,772 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

    American International College

    Springfield, MAPrivate nonprofit

    • 6Master's/yr
    • $79,640Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education (or CAGS) in Middle or Secondary Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    American International College offers a Master of Education in Middle or Secondary Education that prepares candidates to teach across the upper grades in a chosen content field. Concentrations span general science for grades 5 through 8, biology, English, history, Spanish, and mathematics at the 5-12 or 8-12 levels, so candidates specialize in the subject and band they intend to teach. The degree leads to a Massachusetts Initial License, with licensure candidates completing the Candidate Assessment of Performance and passing the required MTEL exams. Fieldwork is substantial, combining 25 hours of field experience woven into coursework with a 300-hour practicum for those pursuing licensure. The heavy clinical component and content-specific tracks mark this as a hands-on preparation route for new middle and secondary teachers in Massachusetts. This master's-level middle school education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in Massachusetts.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 6 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Springfield, MA, where elementary teachers earn a median $79,640, roughly $82,906 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

    Temple University

    Philadelphia, PAPublic

    • 6Master's/yr
    • $78,570Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Middle Grades
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Temple University offers a Master of Education in Middle Grades, a hybrid program approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education that prepares candidates for Instructional I certification in grades 4 through 8. Its nine single or dual content options across science, language arts, social studies, and mathematics let candidates tailor the degree to one or two teaching fields. Most classes are scheduled in the evenings, a design that keeps the program accessible to working professionals balancing jobs and study. Candidates drawn to city classrooms can pursue an urban-focused STEM Teacher Residency pathway through Temple's Teacher Residency program, adding an immersive, community-connected route into teaching. Certification follows after candidates pass the required state exams, making this a flexible option for aspiring middle-grades teachers rooted in Philadelphia. As a master's degree in middle school education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Pennsylvania.

    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 6 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
  6. 6

    DePaul University

    Chicago, ILPrivate nonprofit

    • 16Master's/yr
    • $78,390Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education (MEd) in Middle Grades Education
    • Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) approved-accredited
    • On-campus
    About the program

    DePaul University offers the Master of Education (MEd) in Middle Grades Education, an Illinois State Board of Education approved program delivered on campus as a cohort in collaboration with the Academy for Urban School Leadership. The partnership and special admission process point to a program built for candidates committed to urban classrooms, where students choose a content focus in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, or Social Science. Across 56 quarter hours, candidates complete at least 100 hours of field experience and a minimum ten weeks of full-time student teaching, an immersive clinical arc that grounds the degree in real classroom practice. The path leads to the Illinois Professional Educator License with a grades 5 to 8 middle grades endorsement, gated by a content-area exam before student teaching and the edTPA during it. The cohort structure and urban-school partnership frame this as preparation for mission-driven teachers entering high-need schools. A master's-level path in middle school 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 16 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
  7. 7

    University of St Francis

    Joliet, ILPrivate nonprofit

    • 3Master's/yr
    • $78,390Metro teacher pay
    • Middle Grades Education with Licensure (M.Ed.)
    • Online
    About the program

    The University of St. Francis offers an online Middle Grades Education with Licensure (M.Ed.) built for career changers who already hold a bachelor's degree in another field and want to move into the classroom. The program leads to an initial Illinois Professional Educator License with a middle grades (5-8) endorsement, and candidates choose a content focus in general science, language arts, mathematics, or social science. Coursework deliberately prepares students for the edTPA national teaching assessment and culminates in a supervised student teaching internship, so the degree combines subject grounding with the performance evidence Illinois requires. Approved by the Illinois State Board of Education and offered by an institution accredited through the Higher Learning Commission, it reads as a structured entry route rather than an add-on credential. The online delivery keeps it accessible to adults transitioning careers while they complete their licensure requirements. Earning a master's degree in middle school education is a common route toward becoming one of Illinois'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 3 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
  8. 8

    Lewis University

    Romeoville, ILPrivate nonprofit

    • 2Master's/yr
    • $78,390Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Middle Level Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Lewis University offers the Master of Arts in Middle Level Education, a fully approved program under the Illinois State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board and the Illinois State Board of Education that leads to Professional Educator Licensure for grades 5 to 8. Candidates concentrate in English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, or Social Studies, building subject depth alongside a broader preparation that includes coursework in bilingual and ELL education and in special education and inclusive communities. That attention to language learners and inclusive classrooms signals a program tuned to the diverse students middle grades teachers actually serve. The 47 credit hour degree pairs six credit hours of clinical practice with seminar and culminates in a comprehensive examination, balancing hands-on placement with academic synthesis. The program notes it does not lead to licensure outside Illinois, keeping its focus clearly on preparing licensed teachers for the state's classrooms. This master's-level middle school education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in Illinois.

    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 2 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
  9. 9

    Saint Xavier University

    Chicago, ILPrivate nonprofit

    • 7Master's/yr
    • $78,390Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching - Middle Level Education
    • Illinois State Board of Education approved-accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    Saint Xavier University offers an online Master of Arts in Teaching in Middle Level Education designed as an alternative licensure route for candidates entering the profession without a traditional teacher preparation background. Rather than waiting to student teach, candidates hold a paid position as teacher of record while completing six semesters of coursework that includes two summer sessions, so the classroom itself becomes the site of learning. Throughout two years of provisional teaching, a site-based mentor or coach and a university coordinator support the candidate, pairing on-the-job practice with structured oversight. The program is approved by the Illinois State Board of Education and leads to an Illinois Professional Educator License for middle level grades 5-8. It reads as a program built for people already working in schools who need a credential aligned with the job they are doing. This master's-level middle school education program prepares graduates for work as 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 7 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
  10. 10

    Northeastern Illinois University

    Chicago, ILPublic

    • 2Master's/yr
    • $78,390Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching in Middle Level Education (MAT/MLED)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Northeastern Illinois University offers the Master of Arts in Teaching in Middle Level Education (MAT/MLED), an on-campus program that satisfies Illinois State Board of Education licensure standards and admits new students for fall only. Candidates specialize in Literacy, Mathematics, Science, or Social Studies, with an optional post-completion ESL or Bilingual endorsement that reflects the program's attention to multilingual learners. The clinical commitment is substantial, pairing 200 hours of field experience with sixteen weeks of full-time student teaching, and coursework runs 45 credit hours for the Literacy track or 48 for the other endorsements. Graduates earn the Illinois Middle Grade Professional Educator License for grades 5 to 8, with candidates attempting the ILTS content-area test before student teaching. The heavy clinical load and single annual entry point frame this as a structured, cohort-paced route into middle grades classrooms. Earning a master's degree in middle school education is a common route toward becoming one of Illinois'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 2 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
  11. 11

    Dominican University

    River Forest, ILPrivate nonprofit

    • 5Master's/yr
    • $78,390Metro teacher pay
    • Alternative Licensure Program (Middle Level) leading to master's degree and Professional Educator License
    • Approved by the State of Illinois-accredited
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Dominican University offers an Alternative Licensure Program at the middle level that leads to both a master's degree and an Illinois Professional Educator License, a route designed for career changers ready to teach while they learn. The structure is distinctive, opening with a summer pre-residency of two graduate education classes and then placing candidates in a one-year paid teaching residency where they serve as teacher of record, holding a provisional PEL for up to three years as they finish coursework. Students concentrate in English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, or Social Science across 35 credit hours, learning in graduate classes that average just sixteen students. Approved by the State of Illinois and ranked #1 Best Value in Illinois by U.S. News & World Report, the program pairs affordability with an earn-while-you-learn model. That combination reads as a practical, supported pathway for aspiring teachers stepping into high-need middle grades classrooms. This master's-level middle school education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in Illinois.

    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 5 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
  12. 12

    National Louis University

    Chicago, ILPrivate nonprofit

    • 37Master's/yr
    • $78,390Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in Middle Grades Education
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    National Louis University offers the Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in Middle Grades Education through its National College of Education, a cohort-based program that earned Specialized Professional Association recognition from the Association for Middle Level Education and was named a 2025 AMLE Distinguished Teacher Preparation Program. Candidates concentrate in Mathematics, Language Arts, Science, or Social Studies and can secure licensure after 33 semester hours before finishing the full 36 hour M.A.T., a staggered structure that lets them enter classrooms sooner while completing the degree. The hybrid delivery and roughly two-year timeline suit working adults building toward a teaching career at a deliberate pace. Graduates earn the Illinois Professional Educator License endorsed for middle grades 5 to 8 in their chosen content area alongside the master's. The national recognition and cohort model together signal a program that prizes rigorous, community-based preparation for middle level teaching. As a master's degree in middle school education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Illinois.

    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 37 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
  13. 13

    Roosevelt University

    Chicago, ILPrivate nonprofit

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $78,390Metro teacher pay
    • Master's in Middle School Education, MA
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Roosevelt University offers the Master's in Middle School Education (MA), a field-based, social-justice-focused program that mixes in-person and online classes on its Chicago campus over roughly two years. The social justice framing and urban setting point to a program shaped for teachers who want to serve city classrooms, with optional Bilingual/ESL or Special Education (LBS 1) endorsements extending their reach to language learners and students with disabilities. Candidates prepare for Illinois teaching credentials in language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies for grades 5 to 8, demonstrating readiness through the edTPA capstone assessment. The program requires no GRE and closes with a fifteen-week in-person student teaching placement that anchors coursework in real practice. Because of its online course load the program is ineligible for F-1 student visas, keeping its focus on local, community-rooted educators. Earning a master's degree in middle school education is a common route toward becoming one of Illinois'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 1 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
  14. 14

    University of Georgia

    Athens, GAPublic

    • 14Master's/yr
    • $76,600Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Middle Grades Education
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    The University of Georgia offers a Master of Education in Middle Grades Education through its Mary Frances Early College of Education for current middle grades teachers and others drawn to young adolescent education. Candidates choose one content area emphasis in English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, or Social Studies Education, focusing the 36 semester-hour degree on the subject they teach. The program does not provide initial certification and directs candidates seeking that pathway to the M.A.T., which frames this degree as a route for already-practicing educators to deepen their expertise. Offered both face-to-face and online with coursework across Spring, Summer, and Fall, it fits the rhythms of a working teacher's year. A Multicultural Education Survey and Exit Survey round out a program attentive to the diverse classrooms its graduates serve. This master's-level middle school education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in Georgia.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 14 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Athens-Clarke County, GA, where elementary teachers earn a median $76,600, roughly $82,063 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

    Ursuline College

    Pepper Pike, OHPrivate nonprofit

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $76,470Metro teacher pay
    About the program

    This institution is listed as offering a graduate program in middle grades education. As a master's degree in middle school education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Ohio.

    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, OH, where elementary teachers earn a median $76,470, roughly $81,418 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

    Fort Valley State University

    Fort Valley, GAPublicHBCU

    • 2Master's/yr
    • $74,000Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) in Middle Grades Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Fort Valley State University offers a Master of Science in Education in Middle Grades Education built for teachers who already hold T-4 level certification and want to advance their practice. Candidates choose a concentration in Language Arts, Mathematics, or Science, focusing the 36 semester-hour program on the content they teach. Rather than a traditional thesis, the degree culminates in an Action Research Project that students present to graduate faculty and submit in article format, a capstone that pushes teachers to study and improve their own classrooms. With more than 40 percent of instruction delivered in field-based settings, the on-campus program keeps coursework tightly connected to real teaching. Together these features characterize a practice-oriented degree for working educators who learn best by investigating their own practice. A master's-level path in middle school education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in Georgia.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 2 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Warner Robins, GA, where elementary teachers earn a median $74,000, roughly $78,901 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

    Rivier University

    Nashua, NHPrivate nonprofit

    • 2Master's/yr
    • $73,380Metro teacher pay
    • M.Ed./M.A.T. in Middle/Secondary Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Rivier University offers a combined M.Ed./M.A.T. in Middle/Secondary Education with two parallel tracks that serve very different candidates within the same subject concentration. The M.A.T. track prepares career changers for initial New Hampshire teacher certification in grades 5 through 12, while the M.Ed. track supports current teachers looking to enhance their credentials. Subject-specific tracks include mathematics and biology at the 5-12 level, keeping the preparation grounded in a content specialty. By running both an initial-certification path and a professional-growth path side by side, the program lets aspiring and practicing teachers pursue the same discipline from different starting points. This dual structure reads as a flexible design meant to meet educators wherever they are in their careers. As a master's degree in middle school education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in New Hampshire.

    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 Manchester-Nashua, NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $73,380, roughly $69,451 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

    Georgia Southern University

    Statesboro, GAPublicOnline available

    • 20Master's/yr
    • $72,290State teacher pay
    • Master of Education (MEd) in Middle Grades Education
    • Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC)-accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    Georgia Southern University offers a Master of Education in Middle Grades Education for certified teachers pursuing a Georgia certificate upgrade from the T-4 to the T-5 level. Because candidates must already hold a renewable Induction or Professional Level Four certificate in middle grades, the program builds directly on existing certification in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, or Social Studies rather than adding a new concentration. Across 36 fully online hours, the curriculum emphasizes developmentally appropriate practices for young adolescents and pairs that with diverse, intensive field experiences that keep learning anchored in real classrooms. Approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, it delivers a certification upgrade rather than initial licensure. The design points squarely at experienced middle grades teachers seeking to grow their craft and advance their credential online. Earning a master's degree in middle school education is a common route toward becoming one of Georgia'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 20 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
  19. 19

    Thomas University

    Thomasville, GAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 3Master's/yr
    • $72,290State teacher pay
    • Middle Grades Education (graduate degree)
    • Regionally accredited (Thomas University)
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Thomas University offers a graduate degree in Middle Grades Education through its Education Division, aimed at teachers and aspiring educators working across South Georgia. The program blends coursework at the Thomasville campus with classes offered at various Georgia locations and synchronous online sessions, a hybrid arrangement that fits candidates who are balancing classroom work or family commitments. As a regionally accredited institution, Thomas University positions the degree within a Georgia teacher certification pathway, giving students a route toward advancing their standing in middle grades classrooms. The flexible delivery and regional footprint signal a program built for practicing and place-bound educators rather than full-time residential students. Together these features read as a practical, access-oriented option for teachers who want to deepen their preparation without relocating. As a master's degree in middle school education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Georgia.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 3 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Georgia statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $72,290, roughly $75,073 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  20. 20

    Piedmont University

    Demorest, GAPrivate nonprofit

    • 8Master's/yr
    • $72,290State teacher pay
    • Master of Arts (MA) in Middle Grades Education
    • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)-accredited
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Piedmont University offers a Master of Arts in Middle Grades Education for teachers who already hold a valid teaching certificate and want to grow their credential rather than earn an initial license. The 30-credit program can be used to add Middle Grades Education (4-8) as a new certification field or to convert a provisional Georgia certificate to professional status, making it a versatile tool for educators redirecting or advancing their careers. It runs on both the Demorest and Athens campuses and offers off-campus cohort options in which education courses meet at the cohort site while content courses are taken online or on a main campus. That cohort structure signals a program built to reach practicing teachers where they work. The blend of on-site coursework and flexible content delivery characterizes a degree shaped around the realities of a teaching schedule. Earning a master's degree in middle school education is a common route toward becoming one of Georgia'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 8 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
  21. 21

    Albany State University

    Albany, GAPublicHBCUOnline available

    • 4Master's/yr
    • $72,290State teacher pay
    • Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Middle Grades Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Albany State University offers a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Middle Grades Education, a 36-semester-hour program built for teachers who already hold a valid, renewable Georgia teaching certificate in the discipline and want to advance their credential. Because admission requires an existing certificate, the program reads as a professional upgrade for practicing middle grades teachers rather than an entry route into the field. Candidates select coursework across the core content areas of Mathematics, Language Arts, Science, and Social Science, supplemented by electives, and a minimum grade of B is required in every teaching-field course for it to count toward the degree. The sequence culminates in a capstone research project completed in course EDUC 5592. Successful completion leads to Georgia T-5 certification in Middle Grades Education for grades 4-8. As a master's degree in middle school education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers 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 4 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
  22. 22

    Brenau University

    Gainesville, GAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 13Master's/yr
    • $64,780Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Middle Grades Education
    • Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC)-accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    Brenau University offers a Master of Education in Middle Grades Education built for teachers who already hold a bachelor's in the field and Georgia PSC Level 4 certification and want to deepen their expertise rather than earn an initial license. Across 34 fully online credit hours, candidates choose two concentrations from Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, or Social Studies, and they can layer on optional endorsements in areas such as autism, ESOL, reading, or math. That dual-concentration structure signals a program aimed at teachers who want to strengthen content depth across the subjects they teach every day. Recognized by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, it functions as a certification advancement track for practicing educators. With no GRE or GMAT requirement, no application fee, and two start dates each year, the program is designed to fit around a working teacher's schedule. Graduates of this middle school 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 13 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Gainesville, GA, where elementary teachers earn a median $64,780, roughly $66,945 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  23. 23

    Morningside University

    Sioux City, IAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 12Master's/yr
    • $62,270Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching: Middle Level Education
    • Higher Learning Commission (regional)-accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    Morningside University offers a fully online, asynchronous Master of Arts in Teaching in Middle Level Education that can be completed in as little as 18 months across 32 credit hours. The curriculum layers at least ten credits of subject-area electives drawn from literature, mathematics, science, social studies, communication, and STEM options onto its professional core, letting candidates deepen the content they intend to teach. An Action Research capstone tied directly to middle-level learners anchors the degree in classroom inquiry rather than abstract theory, giving practicing and prospective teachers a project rooted in their own students. The program meets Iowa Department of Education licensure standards, and Iowa teachers can apply the coursework toward a Middle Level Endorsement for grades 5-8. With its flexible online format and compressed timeline, it reads as a practical option for working educators adding a middle-grades credential. Earning a master's degree in middle school education is a common route toward becoming one of Iowa'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 12 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
  24. 24

    Mercer University

    Macon, GAPrivate nonprofit

    • 3Master's/yr
    • $61,510Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in Middle Grades Education
    • Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC)-accredited
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Mercer University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Middle Grades Education that leads to Level 5 certification in Georgia for grades 4-8, a certification-focused route for those entering the profession. The curriculum is deliberately pedagogy-only, with students selecting a content area of language arts, mathematics, science, or social science to sit the GACE Content Assessment rather than completing separate content coursework, a structure that assumes candidates bring their subject knowledge and need the teaching craft. Certification hinges on passing the GaPSC Content Pedagogy Assessment and GACE Content Assessments. Delivered in a blended online and on-campus format, the program offers five start terms across the year and an 18 to 24 month completion window, with 13 hours of field experience embedded in the coursework. That flexible cadence makes it accessible to candidates balancing other commitments while they earn licensure. A master's-level path in middle school education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in Georgia.

    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 Macon-Bibb County, GA, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,510, roughly $69,481 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  25. 25

    Columbus State University

    Columbus, GAPublicOnline available

    • 7Master's/yr
    • $61,360Metro teacher pay
    • Middle Grades Education M.Ed.
    • Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC)-accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    Columbus State University offers a Middle Grades Education M.Ed. designed for practicing teachers who already hold a T-4 or equivalent certificate and want to advance toward the T-5 level. The 30-credit program devotes 12 hours to content-methods coursework that candidates select from English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, or Social Studies, letting them sharpen their teaching in the subject they know best. A residency expectation, with at least 27 of the 30 hours completed in residence, keeps students closely tied to the university's faculty and coursework rather than transferring credit in. Approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, completion positions graduates to apply for a certification upgrade. The result is a focused, certification-driven degree for experienced educators looking to grow within the classroom. Graduates of this middle school 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 7 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Columbus, GA-AL, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,360, roughly $68,715 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

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