Hakia Education

Best Master's in Music Teacher 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 121 programs reviewed from the IPEDS database.

  1. 1

    University of Washington-Seattle Campus

    Seattle, WAPublic

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $102,920Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Music Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Washington School of Music offers a Master of Arts in Music Education that treats music teaching as a scholarly discipline connected to the wider university. Students build the degree around a Major Cognate Area such as conducting, ethnomusicology, music history, music theory, or performance, then pair it with a Minor Cognate drawn from outside the School of Music in fields like anthropology, education, psychology, or special education, an unusually interdisciplinary structure. The choice between a thesis option, with nine or more research credits and a defense, and a non-thesis option built on projects and a portfolio lets candidates aim toward either doctoral study or refined classroom practice. Requiring at least 45 credits and typically spanning two years, it is a research-forward program for teachers and musicians who want to situate their work in a broader academic context. Students have up to six years from entry to complete it. This master's-level music teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers 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. Its graduates step into Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $102,920, roughly $92,610 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

    Chapman University

    Orange, CAPrivate nonprofit

    • 8Master's/yr
    • $101,860Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching + Single Subject Teaching Credential: Music Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Chapman University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching paired with a California Single Subject Teaching Credential in Music, a combined path that carries candidates all the way to licensed classroom teaching for grades K-12. With coursework meeting one evening a week, the schedule is built to accommodate people working or student teaching during the day while they earn the degree. A distinctive option lets candidates pursue a paid University Intern Credential in place of unpaid student teaching, an appealing route for career-changers and those who need to earn while they train. Bundling the master's and the credential in one program streamlines entry into the profession for aspiring music teachers. The design speaks clearly to newcomers seeking both an advanced degree and a state license in a single step. Earning a master's degree in music teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of California'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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 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

    University of Bridgeport

    Bridgeport, CTPrivate nonprofit

    • 3Master's/yr
    • $98,600Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Music Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    University of Bridgeport offers a Master of Science in Music Education that folds Connecticut teaching certification directly into the 33-credit degree, so candidates can earn a master's and a K-12 music credential in one integrated program. The curriculum is unusually granular in its options, with concentrations spanning elementary classroom music, secondary general music with technology, keyboard, guitar, theory, and history, and ensemble areas from choral and wind band to string, jazz, gospel, and rock. That range lets aspiring teachers align their study with the settings they hope to lead. For educators who already hold certification, a non-certification concentration provides a route to advanced study without duplicating a license. The combination of built-in certification and wide stylistic breadth makes it a practical, career-focused choice for future music teachers. This master's-level music teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in Connecticut.

    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 Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,600, roughly $92,267 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

    Boston University

    Boston, MAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 46Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Music (MM) in Music Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Boston University offers a Master of Music (MM) in Music Education that serves two distinct audiences through a single degree. A Professional Track supports those who already hold PreK-12 teaching licensure or are deepening their craft without pursuing it, while an Initial Licensure Track builds toward initial PreK-12 Music Education licensure in Massachusetts through guided observation, mixed-reality simulations, and mock teaching aligned with the state's Professional Standards for Teaching. Fieldwork is embedded through partnerships with Boston Public Schools and Greater Boston districts, grounding coursework in real classrooms rather than abstract theory. With class sizes averaging six to fifteen students, the program reads as intimate and mentorship-driven. It is available both on campus and fully online, giving working musicians flexibility in how they earn the degree. Graduates of this music teacher education program at the master's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 46 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  5. 5

    Gordon College

    Wenham, MAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 7Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Music Education (M.M.Ed.)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Gordon College offers a Master of Music Education (M.M.Ed.) whose summers-only, cohort-based structure is designed around teachers who keep working during the academic year. Three tracks meet learners where they are, with a Master of Music Education route for practicing teachers, an Initial Licensure route for career changers holding bachelor's degrees in other fields, and a Professional Licensure route for those who already have an Initial License and a master's outside music. The program leads to an Initial License in Music (K-12) in Massachusetts and eligibility for a Professional License, and its membership in the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement extends licensure reach to all fifty states. Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music and approved by Massachusetts DESE, it combines asynchronous online learning with five weeks in person each summer. Peer-led music lab ensembles and a Field-Based Teaching Experience or thesis round out a practice-centered design. As a master's degree in music teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers 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 7 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  6. 6

    Bridgewater State University

    Bridgewater, MAPublic

    • 7Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Music Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Bridgewater State University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Music Education built for teachers who already hold an initial license and want to advance to professional licensure. Because it meets Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requirements for professional licensure, the program functions as a next step for practicing music educators rather than an entry point. Its coursework signals a distinct pedagogical vision, with specialized study in the Orff Schulwerk approach, Gordon Institute for Music Learning principles, music and social-emotional learning, and teaching students with special needs. Peer-teaching episodes give candidates repeated real-world practice, and small classes of seven to ten students keep the experience close-knit. Delivered on campus, the degree can be finished in as little as two years. This master's-level music teacher 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 7 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  7. 7

    New York University

    New York, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 18Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • MA, Teaching Music, Grades Pre-K-12: Initial Certification
    • On-campus
    About the program

    NYU Steinhardt's Master of Arts in Teaching Music, Grades Pre-K-12, is an initial certification program that pairs applied music, theory, and pedagogy study with student teaching placed directly in New York City schools. That combination of rigorous musicianship and immersion in urban classrooms signals a program shaped by its metropolitan setting and aimed at candidates preparing for their first music teaching license. It leads to New York State initial certification for Pre-K-12 music teaching. NYU Steinhardt has suspended enrollment for this program and its related non-certification M.A. in Music Education as of the current catalog, and applicants are directed to alternative Steinhardt Master of Music tracks. As a master's degree in music teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 18 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
  8. 8

    CUNY Hunter College

    New York, NYPublic

    • 21Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Music (Music Education), Teacher Education Program
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Hunter College offers a Master of Arts in Music (Music Education) through a Teacher Education Program jointly administered by its Music Department and School of Education. The generalist track prepares candidates to teach music across grades PreK-12 and expects genuine musicianship, asking applicants to audition on a primary instrument or voice and to demonstrate command of music history, theory, and performance. The dual-department structure signals a program that treats musical artistry and classroom pedagogy as inseparable rather than as separate credentials. A single semester of student teaching anchors the practical side, and the certification it leads to is New York State licensure to teach music from PreK through grade 12. Flexible full-time or part-time enrollment with evening courses makes it workable for practicing musicians and working professionals easing into a teaching career. This master's-level music teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 21 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  9. 9

    Teachers College at Columbia University

    New York, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 80Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Music and Music Education (Non-Certification)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Teachers College, Columbia University offers a non-certification Master of Arts in Music and Music Education for musicians who want to deepen their scholarship and practice without pursuing a teaching license through this track. The available Early Childhood Music Education concentration points the degree toward those interested in how the youngest learners engage with music, combining in-program and out-of-program study. Candidates work across four required areas, spanning pedagogy, research, music literacies and musicianship, and music performance, so the program treats teaching, inquiry, and artistry as intertwined rather than separate. Students demonstrate their growth through a culminating portfolio that gathers teaching videos, performance recordings, and a personal statement. For those who do need licensure, Teachers College maintains a separate Master of Arts initial certification pathway alongside this one. This master's-level music teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in New York.

    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 80 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
  10. 10

    Hofstra University

    Hempstead, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Music Education, M.S.Ed.
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Hofstra University offers a 38-credit Master of Science in Education in Music Education that leads to New York State initial teacher certification to teach music in all grades. The curriculum is built around the National Standards for Art Education and New York State Learning Standards for the Arts, and it blends on-campus preparation with field experiences across varied school settings so candidates encounter a range of teaching contexts before certifying. That structure, closing with full-time student teaching, reads as a program aimed at newcomers building toward their first license rather than at teachers already in classrooms. It is offered on campus only, with no online option for this music teacher education track. For candidates who already hold initial certification, Hofstra separately offers an M.A. in Music Education geared toward Professional Certification in grades K-12. As a master's degree in music teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  11. 11

    CUNY Queens College

    Queens, NYPublic

    • 18Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Music Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Queens College's Aaron Copland School of Music offers a Master of Science in Music Education, accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and delivered jointly with the School of Education. The unusually wide menu of concentrations, spanning instrumental, choral, and general music alongside jazz music education, composition pedagogy, and conducting, marks this as a program for teachers who want to specialize and deepen a particular musical strength. Because applicants must already hold Initial Certification in Music Education, or complete an Advanced Certificate pathway first, the degree functions as an advancement step toward New York State Professional Teacher Certification rather than an entry point to the field. Coursework moves across pedagogy, research, teaching philosophy, psychology, and conducting, and the program culminates in a thesis or summative project. The result reads as a scholarly, specialization-driven master's for experienced music educators. As a master's degree in music teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in New York.

    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 18 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
  12. 12

    CUNY Lehman College

    Bronx, NYPublic

    • 13Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching in Applied Music and Music Teaching
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Lehman College offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Applied Music and Music Teaching that deliberately keeps performance study alive while building classroom competency. Rather than splitting into named tracks, the program interweaves continued applied and performance work with the pedagogy candidates need to lead a music room, a design that reads as built for accomplished players who want to keep growing as musicians while becoming teachers. Supervised fieldwork and a student teaching internship, overseen by Music Department faculty, place candidates in real schools under the eye of working artist-educators. Graduates who complete the required New York State teacher examinations earn Initial Certification to teach music in grades K-12. A 3.0 overall grade point average is required to graduate. Graduates of this music teacher education program at the master's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 13 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into 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
  13. 13

    CUNY Brooklyn College

    Brooklyn, NYPublic

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Education: Music Teacher (All Grades)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Brooklyn College offers a Master of Arts in Education: Music Teacher (All Grades), an on-campus degree serving practicing certified music teachers who already hold New York State certification. Admission itself carries a musician's rigor, with a performance audition, a music education interview, and a placement exam covering music history, theory, and analysis, signaling a program that expects real artistry alongside teaching experience. The 30 to 33 credit curriculum lets students shape the degree toward their goals by choosing a thesis, a Music Education Master's Project, or six additional credits, and it closes with a comprehensive exam. Prospective applicants should note that the program listing indicated it was not accepting new students starting fall 2023, so current admission status should be reverified. As designed, it offers advanced graduate study for certified New York music educators across all grade levels. Earning a master's degree in music teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of New York's secondary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  14. 14

    Long Island University

    Brookville, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 3Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • M.S. in Music Education (Birth to Grade 12)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    LIU Post offers a Master of Science in Music Education covering the Birth-to-Grade-12 range, a joint program of the College of Education, Information and Technology and the School of Performing Arts whose educator-preparation programs hold accreditation from both CAEP and AAQEP. Two plans of study let the degree serve two audiences: a 33-credit route to New York State initial teaching certification for those entering the profession, and a 36-credit route to professional certification for students who already bring a significant music background. A semester of student teaching grounds the initial pathway, though candidates may waive it by completing six additional credits and a comprehensive exam. The dual-college partnership and flexible plans read as a program built to meet music teachers at different stages of their careers. Graduates of this music teacher education program at the master's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 3 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
  15. 15

    SUNY College at Potsdam

    Potsdam, NYPublic

    • 22Master's/yr
    • $85,760State teacher pay
    • Master of Music in Music Education
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music offers a Master of Music in Music Education designed for teachers working toward New York State professional certification for grades K-12. The program's two delivery paths signal an effort to fit around teaching schedules: an in-person summer program that spans two summers with online courses in between and a remote capstone seminar, or a fully online two-year track for those who cannot come to campus. Students decide between a non-thesis and a thesis option after they begin, allowing the direction of the degree to follow their evolving goals rather than a commitment made at admission. Musicians who want to keep developing as performers can pursue a double major that combines Performance with Music Education. The overall shape reads as flexible and practitioner-focused, built for certified or certification-bound teachers balancing graduate study with their careers. This master's-level music teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 22 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $85,760, roughly $79,466 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  16. 16

    Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

    Kutztown, PAPublicOnline available

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

    Kutztown University offers a Master of Education in Music Education organized as a single-track program in advanced music teaching theory and instructional design. The cohort model and flexible delivery define its character: students can complete the degree entirely online or blend it with on-campus coursework, moving part-time or full-time as their lives allow. A typical 15-month curriculum with fall, spring, and summer starts gives working teachers room to fit study around their jobs. The program is not itself a certification pathway, though candidates can pursue certification separately, with the caveat that some required certification courses must be taken on campus. That framing marks it as a professional development degree for educators already teaching music. It suits teachers who want to deepen their instructional craft on a schedule that respects their careers. As a master's degree in music teacher 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 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
  17. 17

    University of St Thomas

    Saint Paul, MNPrivate nonprofit

    • 15Master's/yr
    • $79,730Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Music Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of St. Thomas offers a Master of Arts in Music Education structured as a summer-based, on-campus program with day and evening courses to accommodate working teachers. Its range of concentrations gives the degree unusual breadth, spanning Choral, Instrumental, Diverse Perspectives, Kodaly, Orff Schulwerk, and Piano Pedagogy, so educators can specialize toward the settings and methods they teach. The thirty-three-credit program culminates in a final project involving applied research in music education, with an oral comprehensive examination required for most concentrations. The Piano Pedagogy track additionally aligns with optional MTNA Professional Certification, extending its value beyond the degree itself. The overall design points to a program built for practicing teachers refining a defined area of expertise. Graduates of this music teacher education program at the master's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 15 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
  18. 18

    Temple University

    Philadelphia, PAPublicOnline available

    • 8Master's/yr
    • $78,570Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Music in Music Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Temple University offers a Master of Music in Music Education that serves two distinct kinds of applicant through one degree. Certified teachers can complete the standard 30-credit track to deepen their craft, while a Masters Plus Certification option opens the door to musicians who hold a bachelor's in music but lack an education degree. That second path is the program's signature, letting candidates earn Pennsylvania PK-12 music licensure alongside the M.M. and take up to six years to finish. Accredited by NASM and NCATE and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the program carries the credibility of a major conservatory setting. Delivered with both online and in-person coursework, it accommodates practicing musicians and working teachers rather than assuming a full-time residential schedule. A master's-level path in music teacher 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 8 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
  19. 19

    Syracuse University

    Syracuse, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 7Master's/yr
    • $78,560Metro teacher pay
    • Music Education Preparation (M.S.) and Music Education Professional (M.Mus.)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Syracuse University offers two parallel master's degrees in music education, sorting candidates by their certification status so each enters at the right point. The Preparation M.S. serves musicians without existing certification and fulfills both initial and professional New York State teacher certification in Music across all grades, while the Professional M.Mus. is built for teachers who already hold NYS initial certification and need to complete professional certification. Both are delivered jointly by the School of Education and the Setnor School of Music, a partnership that keeps pedagogy and musicianship developing side by side. Clinical simulations give candidates rehearsal-like practice in teaching before they lead their own classrooms. Select candidates can receive the Baldanza Fellows award, which covers full tuition plus a stipend, and the M.S. track expects a NASM-accredited undergraduate degree as a foundation. A master's-level path in music teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in New York.

    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 Syracuse, NY, where elementary teachers earn a median $78,560, roughly $82,054 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
  20. 20

    Northwestern University

    Evanston, ILPrivate nonprofit

    • 4Master's/yr
    • $78,390Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Music in Music Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Northwestern University offers a Master of Music in Music Education through its Bienen School of Music, structured around two distinct pathways that sort students by where they are in their careers. A one-year track serves applicants who enter already certified and want advanced study, while a two-year track is built for those without prior teaching certification, folding in coursework that leads toward certification and specializations in choral, instrumental, or general music education. This dual design lets the program act as both a professional deepening for experienced teachers and an entry route into the field for newcomers. Tuition grants and graduate assistantships help offset the cost, and separate admission and audition pathways match each applicant to the appropriate track. It is a conservatory-grounded degree that meets students at different starting points. As a master's degree in music teacher 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 4 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

    DePaul University

    Chicago, ILPrivate nonprofit

    • 5Master's/yr
    • $78,390Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Music in Music Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    DePaul University offers a Master of Music in Music Education built for music teachers who already hold licensure and want to deepen their practice without leaving the classroom. The evening and summer scheduling makes that possible, letting part-time teachers spread the minimum 48 quarter hours across roughly two years, or even three summers plus two intervening academic years. Rather than a required thesis, the degree culminates in a final paper or project on an area of special interest, which frames it as an opportunity for practicing educators to pursue a question rooted in their own teaching. It is a professional advancement path, not an entry point into the field, since certification is a prerequisite. The result reads as a flexible, working-teacher degree centered on individual scholarly interest. Graduates of this music teacher education program at the master's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 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
  22. 22

    University of Georgia

    Athens, GAPublic

    • 5Master's/yr
    • $76,600Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Music Education
    • NASM-accredited; university is SACSCOC accredited
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Georgia, through its Hugh Hodgson School of Music, offers a Master of Music Education delivered 100% online for teachers who want to advance their certification without leaving the classroom. The NASM-accredited program, housed at a SACSCOC-accredited university, asks applicants to already hold or be eligible for K-12 music teaching certification, and completion leads to T-5 level Georgia teacher certification in music. Its 33 credits can be finished in as little as 14 months, opening with two summer sessions that make it well suited to a teacher's calendar. Applied Action research projects keep the coursework tethered to real classroom practice, while a comprehensive oral exam anchors the culminating experience. The acceptance of up to six transfer credits adds further flexibility for candidates arriving with prior graduate work. Earning a master's degree in music teacher 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 5 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
  23. 23

    University at Buffalo

    Buffalo, NYPublic

    • 9Master's/yr
    • $76,490Metro teacher pay
    • Music Education, EdM (Initial/Professional Certification track)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University at Buffalo offers a Master of Education in Music Education whose Initial/Professional Certification track carries candidates toward institutional recommendation for New York State Initial and Professional Certification in Music Education across all grade levels. Pathway options for Initial, Initial/Professional, and Professional certification let the program serve both newcomers and teachers already licensed, adapting the route to where a candidate starts. The 48-to-51-credit curriculum, typically finished in four to five full-time semesters, includes a full academic year of student teaching, a substantial clinical commitment that signals thorough classroom preparation. Coursework spans required DASA training and study of teaching students with disabilities. UB also separately offers an accelerated combined B.M./M.M. in music performance and music education and an online, non-certification Music Education Studies EdM track. A master's-level path in music teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 9 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY, where elementary teachers earn a median $76,490, roughly $79,807 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

    SUNY Buffalo State University

    Buffalo, NYPublicOnline available

    • 10Master's/yr
    • $76,490Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Music in Music Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Buffalo State University offers a Master of Music in Music Education delivered fully online, a distinction it earned as the first such program approved in the SUNY system. The structure speaks to practicing teachers who already hold an initial teaching certificate and want to advance without stepping away from the classroom, and it supports New York State professional certification for educators certified out of state. Rather than locking students into named tracks, the curriculum leaves six credits open for electives drawn from areas like ensemble leadership, jazz styles, piano pedagogy, and musical theater, letting each teacher shape the degree around their own repertoire and interests. Students close with a choice between a non-research master's project and a research-based thesis, so the capstone can lean either practical or scholarly. Underlying competencies are aligned to NASM guidelines, keeping the program tethered to national standards in music study. Earning a master's degree in music teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of New York's secondary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 10 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY, where elementary teachers earn a median $76,490, roughly $79,807 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

    Johns Hopkins University

    Baltimore, MDPrivate nonprofit

    • 7Master's/yr
    • $76,400Metro teacher pay
    • Music Education, Master of Music
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Johns Hopkins University offers a Master of Music in Music Education through its Peabody Institute, positioning the field as an academic major track within the conservatory's Master of Music degree. That framing matters: rather than treating music education as separate from artistry, the program pairs pedagogical and scholarly study with continued performance work, so students develop as teachers and as musicians in tandem. Housed at one of the country's oldest conservatories, the degree emphasizes rigorous, research-informed approaches to teaching music. It is delivered on campus. Students interested in certification pathways or specific curricular tracks should consult Peabody directly, as those specifics are best confirmed through the institute. A master's-level path in music teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in Maryland.

    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 7 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD, where elementary teachers earn a median $76,400, roughly $73,119 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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