Hakia Education

Best Master's in Multicultural Education Programs by Degrees Awarded

Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology

Published ·Last updated

Ranked by the number of master's degrees awarded each year, the most established programs. The top 14 out of 14 programs reviewed from the IPEDS database.

  1. 1

    University of Nevada-Reno

    Reno, NVPublic

    • 16Master's/yr
    • $62,430Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Equity and Diversity in Education
    • Online
    About the program

    The University of Nevada, Reno offers a Master of Science in Equity and Diversity in Education built for working professionals in education and related fields who want to sharpen their practice around equity without stepping away from their jobs. Delivered fully online across ten asynchronous courses totaling 30 credits, the degree is structured to finish in about two years and requires no GRE, signals of a program shaped around busy careers. Candidates choose between an Equity and Diversity in Education strand and a Language Education strand, the latter carrying an optional English Language Acquisition and Development endorsement for those focused on multilingual learners. That endorsement path gives the program a concrete credentialing angle even though the degree itself is framed around advanced study rather than initial licensure. The asynchronous format and flexible pacing read as an intentional fit for classroom teachers and school staff extending their expertise. This program offers a master's degree in multicultural education in Nevada.

    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 Reno, NV, where elementary teachers earn a median $62,430, roughly $61,803 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

    Texas A&M University-San Antonio

    San Antonio, TXPublic

    • 11Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts in Curriculum & Instruction – Teaching in Diverse Communities
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Texas A&M University-San Antonio offers a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction with a Teaching in Diverse Communities emphasis that organizes its entire 36-credit curriculum around a single idea, preparing educators to meet the needs of diverse learners. Rather than branching into sub-tracks, the program holds to a unified conceptual framework, giving candidates a coherent, shared course of study over roughly two years and six semesters. A two-course thesis sequence anchors the degree in original inquiry, marking it as a research-oriented option for teachers who want to investigate practice in their own communities. That emphasis reads as designed for working educators in the region's varied classrooms who want to ground advanced study in cultural responsiveness. Delivered on campus, the degree centers reflection and scholarship rather than a new licensure credential. It is a master's degree in multicultural education at the master's level, based in Texas.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 11 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
  3. 3

    Davenport University

    Grand Rapids, MIPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 10Master's/yr
    • Master of Education in Urban Education
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Davenport University offers a Master of Education in Urban Education delivered entirely by livestream through its Global Campus, giving the 39-credit program a live, connected feel despite its remote format. The single-track curriculum centers on the realities of urban schooling and builds in a clinical immersion component supported by K-12 school partnerships, so candidates test ideas in the settings the degree is about. Regular cultural intelligence assessments and an urban education symposium reinforce a reflective, community-minded orientation throughout the program. Rather than functioning as a state licensure pathway, the degree positions graduates to strengthen their practice in urban contexts, and eligible candidates may qualify for TEACH Grant funding. The immersion and livestream cohort format make it a focused option for educators committed to urban communities. It is a master's degree in multicultural education at the master's level, based in Michigan.

    Why it ranks here

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

    School site
  4. 4

    Concordia University-Saint Paul

    Saint Paul, MNPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 9Master's/yr
    • $79,730Metro teacher pay
    About the program

    Concordia University, St. Paul's graduate catalog does not currently list a dedicated master's degree in multicultural or bilingual education. Prospective students drawn to this field would need to contact the university directly about how related themes are addressed within its other graduate education offerings. It is a master's degree in multicultural education at the master's level, based in Minnesota.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 9 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, where elementary teachers earn a median $79,730, roughly $76,062 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

    State University of New York at New Paltz

    New Paltz, NYPublic

    • 7Master's/yr
    • $97,920Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Professional Studies in Humanistic/Multicultural Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The State University of New York at New Paltz offers a Master of Professional Studies in Humanistic/Multicultural Education that treats diversity and social justice as personal as much as intellectual work, pairing cognitive study with reflective, experiential, and emotionally engaged learning. The program splits into two paths, a 30-credit General Program for human service, nonprofit, higher education, and K-12 professionals, and a 36-credit Teacher Certification Sequence. That certification track leads to New York professional teacher certification for provisionally certified special-subject teachers in fields such as family and consumer science, health, music, physical education, and technology, while the General Program deepens practice without a new credential. The process-oriented, self-reflective design reads as built for educators and helpers who want to examine their own assumptions alongside course content. Delivered on campus, it approaches identity and equity as lived, ongoing inquiry rather than a fixed curriculum. It is a master's degree in multicultural education at the master's level, based in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 7 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Kingston, NY, where elementary teachers earn a median $97,920, roughly $97,231 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  6. 6

    University of Northern Colorado

    Greeley, COPublicOnline available

    • 7Master's/yr
    • $60,160Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching - Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education Concentration
    • Online
    About the program

    The University of Northern Colorado offers a Master of Arts in Teaching with a concentration in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education, a fully online program aimed squarely at practicing teachers. The 30-credit sequence qualifies graduates for the Colorado Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education Endorsement, and it expects candidates to hold an active teaching license, or to be enrolled in teacher preparation, along with a year of classroom experience by graduation. A field experience and practicum ground the coursework in real classrooms, and the program forgoes a thesis in favor of applied preparation. Accelerated dual-degree pathways connect undergraduate programs in elementary education and mathematics to the M.A.T.-CLD, typically completed over about three years. The emphasis on endorsement and practicum marks it as a practice-focused advancement credential. This program offers a master's degree in multicultural education in Colorado.

    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 Greeley, CO, where elementary teachers earn a median $60,160, roughly $60,054 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

    Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

    Kutztown, PAPublic

    • 7Master's/yr
    • $79,860Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Multicultural Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Kutztown University offers an online Master of Education in Multicultural Education that lets candidates aim their study toward equity scholarship or an added teaching credential, depending on the track they choose. Concentrations span Equity in Education, Special Education, Visual Impairment, and English as a Second Language, and the Special Education and ESL routes can carry additional certification in Special Education PreK-12 or an Educational Specialist certification in teaching English as a second language. The Equity in Education track, by contrast, opens to students without a teaching certificate, widening the program beyond licensed teachers. Across its 33 credits, the degree keeps one foot in the field through community-based experiential learning and an action-research project addressing a current concern in multicultural education, capped by either a thesis or a practicum. Accredited through CAEP and delivered online, it balances research training with applied classroom relevance. As a master's degree in multicultural education, it adds to the master's-level multicultural education options in Pennsylvania.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 7 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Reading, PA, where elementary teachers earn a median $79,860, roughly $82,279 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

    University of San Francisco

    San Francisco, CAPrivate nonprofit

    • 5Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts in International and Multicultural Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of San Francisco offers a Master of Arts in International and Multicultural Education grounded in critical social theory, human rights education, and social-justice-oriented practice rather than in state teacher certification. The 30-credit program builds from foundation courses toward seven electives, letting students pursue the general track or a language and culture concentration according to their interests. Coursework is paired with practical engagement in Bay Area schools and community organizations, so theory is continually tested against real settings. Students culminate the degree with a required field project or thesis that consolidates their inquiry. Delivered on campus, the program reads as a scholarly and activist credential for those who want to work across educational, nonprofit, and community contexts rather than pursue a classroom license. It is a master's degree in multicultural education at the master's level, based in California.

    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.

    School site
  9. 9

    University of Colorado Boulder

    Boulder, COPublic

    • 3Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts in Equity, Bilingualism, and Biliteracy
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    The University of Colorado Boulder offers a Master of Arts in Equity, Bilingualism, and Biliteracy run through its nationally recognized BUENO Center for Multicultural Education. The program is deliberately structured around what a candidate wants their credential to do, offering a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education endorsement track, a dual track that adds a Special Education Generalist endorsement, and a non-endorsement track for those pursuing social, multicultural, and bilingual scholarship. Endorsement candidates earn Colorado state recognition in CLD education for K-12, with an optional bilingual add-on for Spanish-fluent graduates. Cohorts learn primarily over Zoom, supplemented by select in-person weekend sessions and a field-based practicum, and total credits range from 30 to 37 depending on the path. The cohort and practicum design make it a strong fit for practicing teachers. It is a master's degree in multicultural education at the master's level, based in Colorado.

    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.

    School site
  10. 10

    Colorado Christian University

    Lakewood, COPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 3Master's/yr
    • Master of Education in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
    • Online
    About the program

    Colorado Christian University offers a fully online Master of Education in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages built around a focused, cohesive sequence rather than a menu of sub-tracks. Ten required online courses make up the 30-credit-hour program, which is aligned with TESOL International Association standards and designed to meet the Colorado Department of Education's requirements for a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education endorsement. A required capstone course asks candidates to apply second-language-acquisition theory directly to their own teaching practice. The single-pathway structure and endorsement alignment characterize a program built for teachers who want a clear, credential-oriented route into serving multilingual students. Its online delivery keeps the degree accessible to educators already working in schools. It is a master's degree in multicultural education at the master's level, based in Colorado.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 3 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
  11. 11

    Georgia Southern University

    Statesboro, GAPublicOnline available

    • 3Master's/yr
    • $72,290State teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (Accomplished Teaching)
    • Online
    About the program

    Georgia Southern University offers a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with an Accomplished Teaching focus, a fully online and self-paced program designed for teachers who are already certified and want to deepen their classroom expertise. Admission requires a valid Level 4 or higher Georgia teaching certificate, and completion supports a Level 5 certificate upgrade that adds Curriculum and Instruction to the educator's credential. The 30 to 39 credit-hour program includes 6 to 12 hours of optional elective or endorsement credit and coursework that examines teaching in multicultural classrooms. Approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, it is delivered collaboratively with faculty from Columbus State and Valdosta State alongside Georgia Southern. The certificate-upgrade structure makes it a clear advancement route for in-service Georgia teachers. As a master's degree in multicultural education, it adds to the master's-level multicultural education options 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 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
  12. 12

    National University

    San Diego, CAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 3Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts in Education
    • WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges)-accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    National University offers a Master of Arts in Education delivered 100 percent online, with monthly start dates and no application essay or entrance exam, a structure clearly aimed at working educators who value flexibility and quick entry. The 30-semester-credit program lets candidates shape the degree through emphasis areas chosen from courses in advanced teaching practices, early childhood education, educational technology, higher education administration, special education, English language learner instruction, social-emotional learning, and STEAM. Rather than naming a single multicultural track, its coursework addresses linguistic and cultural diversity across these focus areas. The university is clear that the degree does not by itself confer licensure, employment, or certification, and that state-specific requirements apply separately. Accredited by WASC, it functions as a broad, customizable professional-growth credential. As a master's degree in multicultural education, it adds to the master's-level multicultural education options in California.

    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.

    School site
  13. 13

    Biola University

    La Mirada, CAPrivate nonprofit

    • 2Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts in P-12 Multilingual, Multicultural Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Biola University offers a fully online Master of Arts in P-12 Multilingual, Multicultural Education that frames the work of teaching language learners through an explicitly faith-informed lens. The 30-credit program integrates biblical perspectives with multicultural and multilingual coursework, and it lets candidates choose a capstone that is either an applied action project or a thesis. Three specialization options give the degree flexibility: a Bilingual Authorization in Spanish, a focus on bilingualism and biliteracy for young learners, and a personalized track. The Bilingual Authorization path prepares credentialed California teachers for state bilingual certification, while a separate non-credentialed certificate serves those without a California teaching credential. Accredited by WSCUC and recognized by the CTC, the program reads as a values-driven route into multilingual classrooms. As a master's degree in multicultural education, it adds to the master's-level multicultural education options in California.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 2 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
  14. 14

    Seattle University

    Seattle, WAPrivate nonprofit

    • 1Master's/yr
    About the program

    Seattle University's College of Education does not list a dedicated master's degree in multicultural education in its program directory. Students drawn to this focus would need to contact the college about how related themes are woven into its other graduate offerings. This program offers a master's degree in multicultural education in Washington.

    Why it ranks here

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

    School site

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