Best Master's in Middle School Education Programs by Degrees Awarded

1. 1

   University of the Cumberlands

   Williamsburg, KYPrivate nonprofitOnline available

   • 79Master's/yr
   • $60,610State teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Teaching - Middle School Education (5-9) concentration
   • Online
   About the program

   University of the Cumberlands offers an online Master of Arts in Teaching with a Middle School Education (5-9) concentration, one track within a broader MAT that also spans elementary, secondary, P-12 content areas, and special education. The 33 to 36 hour concentration integrates three clinical and practicum courses throughout the program, so field experience is woven across the curriculum rather than saved for a single capstone term. It leads to Kentucky teacher certification for grades 5-9 and offers an Option 6 alternative certification route for candidates who need to teach while they study. The program holds CAEP accreditation at the initial-licensure level and Kentucky EPSB approval, and Troops to Teachers candidates may qualify for financial assistance. Its online delivery and menu of concentrations position it as a flexible path into middle-grades teaching for a range of entrants. As a master's degree in middle school education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Kentucky.

   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 79 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
2. 2

   Liberty University

   Lynchburg, VAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

   • 65Master's/yr
   • $50,470Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction - Middle Grades
   • Liberty University is SACSCOC-accredited
   • Online
   About the program

   Liberty University offers a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a Middle Grades focus, a fully online degree aimed at deepening teaching practice rather than opening an initial licensure path. The single track concentrates on curriculum and instruction for grades 6 through 8, and the program states plainly that it is a non-licensure degree, directing candidates who need initial certification to Liberty's separate Master of Arts in Teaching in Middle Grades. Its 36 credit hours run in eight-week terms with eight start dates a year, no standardized test for admission, and up to half the credits transferable, a design clearly built for working educators fitting graduate study around the job. A capstone project centered on a real-world educational issue closes the program. Liberty University holds SACSCOC accreditation. Earning a master's degree in middle school education is a common route toward becoming one of Virginia'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 65 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
3. 3

   Fairmont State University

   Fairmont, WVPublicOnline available

   • 57Master's/yr
   • Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
   • NCATE-accredited Graduate Education Program
   • Online
   About the program

   Fairmont State University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching, an online program that carries candidates toward West Virginia licensure across a wide span of content areas and grade bands. Tracks reach from PreK-Adult through 5-Adult and 9-Adult, including a Mathematics 5-9 middle-level option alongside secondary subjects such as English, Social Studies, Biology, Chemistry, and General Science, so applicants build certification in their own subject and level. Because a passing Praxis II content score is required for admission and undergraduate content coursework other than methods is waived for those already holding a bachelor's in the field, the program reads as a subject-expert's route into the classroom. Full-time student teaching and clinical field experiences ground the coursework in real practice, and rolling admission keeps entry flexible. The Graduate Education Program is NCATE-accredited. Earning a master's degree in middle school education is a common route toward becoming one of West Virginia'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 57 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

   School site
4. 4

   Mississippi State University

   Mississippi State, MSPublicOnline available

   • 50Master's/yr
   • $49,790State teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Teaching - Secondary Teacher Alternate Route
   • Online
   About the program

   Mississippi State University Online offers a Master of Arts in Teaching through its Secondary Teacher Alternate Route, a fully online path for career changers entering middle and high school classrooms. Subject-area specializations are verified through Praxis II exams, and the degree leads to a Mississippi Educator License, whether a three-year Class A Non-Renewable, five-year Class A Renewable, or five-year Class AA Renewable credential. The 30-hour program requires candidates to hold a teaching position while completing the internship courses, so learning happens alongside real classroom responsibility, and it closes with a capstone experience in the final six hours. In-state tuition rates apply to students nationwide, widening access beyond Mississippi. The alternate-route design and employment-based internship mark this as a route built for professionals transitioning into teaching without leaving the workforce. Earning a master's degree in middle school education is a common route toward becoming one of Mississippi'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 50 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Mississippi statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $49,790, roughly $57,261 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

   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

   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 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
6. 6

   Georgia College & State University

   Milledgeville, GAPublicOnline available

   • 28Master's/yr
   • Middle Grades Education M.Ed.
   • Online
   About the program

   Georgia College and State University offers a Middle Grades Education M.Ed. designed for teachers who already hold T4 certification and want to reach the T5 level in Georgia. The fully online program blends synchronous and asynchronous instruction, giving working teachers both scheduled connection with faculty and the flexibility to complete coursework on their own time. Requiring a minimum of 36 semester hours to be finished within six years of the initial coursework, it accommodates educators progressing through the degree while teaching full time. As a certification advancement track, it culminates in eligibility for the T5 upgrade rather than initial licensure. The overall shape is that of a flexible, online path for practicing middle grades teachers building on the credential they already hold. 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

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

   School site
7. 7

   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

   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 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
8. 8

   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

   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 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
9. 9

   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

   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 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
10. 10

    Thomas More University

    Crestview Hills, KYPrivate nonprofit

    • 13Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts in Teaching - Middle Grades (5-9) certification option
    • Online
    About the program

    Thomas More University offers an online Master of Arts in Teaching with a Middle Grades (5-9) certification option, delivered in accelerated eight-week terms that let candidates complete the degree within two years. Students pursue certification in language arts, science, mathematics, or social studies, and qualified candidates can hold paid, full-time teaching positions under temporary provisional certification in high-need areas while they finish their coursework. That employed-while-studying design, combined with the compressed term structure, marks the program as built for people ready to step into a classroom immediately rather than wait through a traditional student teaching year. It leads to Kentucky teacher certification in middle grades 5-9 and draws on Thomas More's CAEP-approved preparation and Kentucky EPSB licensure alignment. The fully online, accelerated format reinforces its orientation toward candidates entering the profession quickly in areas of teacher shortage. As a master's degree in middle school 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 13 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
11. 11

    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

    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 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
12. 12

    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

    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 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
13. 13

    La Roche University

    Pittsburgh, PAPrivate nonprofit

    • 11Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts in Teaching, Middle Level
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    La Roche University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching, Middle Level, a hybrid program approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education as a teacher certification route. Candidates concentrate in English/language arts/reading, mathematics, science, or social studies for the middle grades, and the degree leads to eligibility for Pennsylvania Instructional I certification for grades 4 through 8. The 30-credit sequence is designed to be completed in 15 months, culminating in a 12-week student teaching placement in the final semester. That compact timeline and clinical capstone give candidates a direct, focused path from graduate coursework into a certified classroom role. As of this research, the program was listed as not currently admitting new students because of changes to Pennsylvania middle-level certification. A master's-level path in middle school education, it builds toward a career among 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 11 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
14. 14

    Clemson University

    Clemson, SCPublic

    • 10Master's/yr
    • $60,680Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching, Middle Level Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Clemson University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching, Middle Level Education, a fully online program that leads to eligibility for a South Carolina middle level certificate for grades 5 through 8. Candidates focus on one of four emphasis areas, language arts, social studies, mathematics, or science, and certification follows after passing the relevant Praxis subject exams. The 30-credit-hour degree runs on a 14-month, summer-start cohort schedule, giving students a defined, fast-moving path from enrollment to the classroom. Field placements escalate over the year, from 22.5 hours in the first summer to 37.5 hours in the fall and full-time student teaching in the spring, so clinical responsibility builds steadily. The online delivery paired with structured, ramping field work makes it well suited to candidates who need location flexibility without sacrificing hands-on preparation. As a master's degree in middle school education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in South Carolina.

    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 10 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC, where elementary teachers earn a median $60,680, roughly $65,065 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

    Northwestern State University of Louisiana

    Natchitoches, LAPublicOnline available

    • 10Master's/yr
    • $58,770State teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching, Middle School Education, Grades 4-8
    • NCATE accredited (continuous accreditation since 1954)
    • Online
    About the program

    Northwestern State University of Louisiana offers a fully online Master of Arts in Teaching in Middle School Education for grades 4 through 8, leading to initial Louisiana teacher certification. The program can be taken on its own or combined with a Special Education Mild/Moderate focus, letting candidates broaden the range of students they are prepared to serve. Delivery is built for flexibility, with recorded and archived class sessions and rolling application deadlines that let students begin and study around their existing schedules. The university's educator preparation has held continuous NCATE accreditation since 1954, giving the online credential an established backing. The all-online format and open scheduling read as a practical route for working adults entering middle-grades teaching from a distance. A master's-level path in middle school education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in Louisiana.

    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 10 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Louisiana statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $58,770, roughly $66,627 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

    Georgetown College

    Georgetown, KYPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 10Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts with Initial Certification - Middle School (5-9) track
    • Online
    About the program

    Georgetown College offers a Master of Arts with Initial Certification on a Middle School (5-9) track for candidates pursuing their first teaching license through a graduate degree. Students specialize in one of the middle school content areas, English and communications, mathematics, science, or social studies, and can move through both traditional and alternative Option 6 employed-teacher pathways. The program runs 100% online with no required in-person meetings, spanning 30 to 33 credit hours over 18 to 24 months, and it deliberately ties course projects to the candidate's current or desired teaching placement so the work stays anchored in real classrooms. It leads to Kentucky teacher certification for grades 5-9, with PRAXIS II required for most content areas, and draws on Georgetown's CAEP-accredited educator preparation. The design reads as a flexible, placement-connected route for adults entering middle-grades teaching. 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 10 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
17. 17

    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
18. 18

    Campbellsville University

    Campbellsville, KYPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 8Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts in Teaching, Middle Grades (5-9)
    • Online
    About the program

    Campbellsville University offers an online Master of Arts in Teaching in Middle Grades (5-9) that accommodates two very different kinds of candidates through a single program. Students choose a content track in English, mathematics, science, or social studies, and the design lets them enter either as traditional candidates who complete sixteen weeks of student teaching or through Kentucky's Option 6 route, which places them as a provisionally certified teacher of record for a mentored year instead. That flexibility, combined with acceptance of up to twelve transfer credits and no GRE or GMAT requirement, signals a program built to lower barriers for aspiring and working teachers alike. It leads to Kentucky teacher certification in middle grades and carries CAEP accreditation along with SACSCOC regional accreditation and Kentucky EPSB approval. The online format makes it reachable for candidates across the state pursuing certification while managing other commitments. 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 8 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
19. 19

    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

    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 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

    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
21. 21

    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

    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 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
22. 22

    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

    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 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
23. 23

    Harding University

    Searcy, ARPrivate nonprofit

    • 6Master's/yr
    • $52,700State teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Middle Level (4-8) licensure track
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Harding University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) with a Middle Level (4-8) licensure track that lets candidates pair subject areas, choosing either Language Arts and Social Science or Math and Science to match how middle grades are staffed. The 38-semester-hour licensure track can be completed through either a Professional Licensure pathway, which places candidates on a provisional license while they teach, or a Traditional Student Teaching pathway, accommodating both practicing and pre-service educators. An action-research requirement pushes candidates to study their own practice, and required Bible and Religion coursework reflects Harding's Christian mission. Classes meet on the Searcy campus and at professional centers in North Little Rock, Bentonville, and Memphis, extending access across the region. Completion leads to Arkansas teaching licensure at the chosen level and subject, with a 35-hour non-licensure option also available. A master's-level path in middle school education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in Arkansas.

    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 Arkansas statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $52,700, roughly $60,619 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

    Georgia State University

    Atlanta, GAPublic

    • 6Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in Middle Level Education
    • Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC)-accredited
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Georgia State University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Middle Level Education that leads to initial certification, a route into the profession for those preparing to teach grades 4-8. Candidates specialize in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, or Social Studies Education and complete the licensure sequence through the Georgia Educator Ethics Assessment, GACE assessments, and edTPA, earning a renewable T5 Induction Certificate. Field placements with mentor teachers across metro Atlanta ground the on-campus program in real, diverse classrooms, and the curriculum foregrounds urban teaching, equity, and advocacy. That emphasis signals a program preparing teachers specifically for the demands of city schools and the students they serve. Approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, it requires a minimum of 36 semester hours. This master's-level middle school education program prepares graduates for work 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 6 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
25. 25

    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

    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 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

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