Best Master's in Music Teacher Education Programs by Degrees Awarded

1. 1

   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

   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 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
2. 2

   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

   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 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
3. 3

   University of Florida

   Gainesville, FLPublicOnline available

   • 41Master's/yr
   • $56,430Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Music in Music Education
   • Offered through a NASM- and CAEP-accredited institution
   • On-campus
   About the program

   The University of Florida offers a Master of Music in Music Education delivered fully online and 100% asynchronously, a format squarely aimed at K-12 teachers who need to study without stepping away from their classrooms. The program expects applicants to arrive with a bachelor's in music education and teaching experience, and admission requires passing the General Knowledge Test of the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations, so it advances practitioners rather than credentialing beginners. Offered through a NASM- and CAEP-accredited institution, the 33-credit degree can be finished in as few as two years and opens with fall, spring, or summer start options for scheduling flexibility. No GRE is required, lowering a common barrier for busy working teachers. Best Colleges has ranked it the top online master's in music education, underscoring its reputation in the field. A master's-level path in music teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in Florida.

   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 41 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Gainesville, FL, where elementary teachers earn a median $56,430, roughly $58,336 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

   VanderCook College of Music

   Chicago, ILPrivate nonprofit

   • 37Master's/yr
   • Master of Music Education
   • On-campus
   About the program

   VanderCook College of Music offers a Master of Music Education designed so that licensed music teachers can earn it without interrupting full-time teaching, a priority reflected in its hybrid format and generous timelines. Coursework blends onsite and online study with both synchronous and asynchronous options, and students can stretch completion anywhere from two to seven years while transferring in up to 12 continuing-education credits. That flexibility marks the program as one built around the realities of a working teacher's calendar rather than a fixed residential schedule. For those who need certification instead, VanderCook keeps that separate through a Master of Music Education and Certification track and a standalone Teacher Certification Entitlement Program, both leading to Illinois public school credentials. The core degree, by contrast, is professional development for educators already in the field. Earning a master's degree in music teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Illinois's secondary school teachers.

   Why it ranks here

   Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 37 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

   School site
5. 5

   Kent State University at Kent

   Kent, OHPublicOnline available

   • 29Master's/yr
   • Master of Music in Music Education
   • Online
   About the program

   Kent State University offers a fully online Master of Music in Music Education that positions itself as the largest program of its kind in the country, and its design reflects that scale and reach. Students customize their studies across two of three areas, general, instrumental, or choral music, so the degree bends toward whatever a teacher actually leads each day. With no GRE or audition required and 31 credit hours completable in as few as 23 months, the structure is clearly meant to fit around a full teaching schedule. An independent 12-week capstone research project anchors the work in the student's own practice rather than in abstract theory. Because applicants must already hold a valid state license and a year of full-time teaching, the program serves credentialed educators seeking advancement rather than initial certification. It reads as a flexible, career-stage degree for busy working music teachers. 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 29 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

   School site
6. 6

   Eastern Washington University

   Cheney, WAPublic

   • 28Master's/yr
   • Master of Music in Music Education
   • National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)-accredited
   • Online
   About the program

   Eastern Washington University offers a fully online Master of Music in Music Education that reads as a flexible, career-embedded degree for music teachers who want to advance without pausing their work. Delivered through the university's NASM-accredited music program, it runs in six-week terms with seven start dates a year and can be finished in as little as twelve months, a pace that suits educators managing a full teaching schedule. Rather than locking students into fixed tracks, the twelve courses (48 credit hours) use flexible topic offerings so a candidate can lean toward general, choral, instrumental, or jazz interests. The program functions as an endorsement path for those who already hold or have held a Washington teaching certificate rather than as an initial certification route, and out-of-state students are advised to confirm requirements with their own boards. It closes with an independent project in place of a thesis defense or oral exam, keeping the emphasis practical. As a master's degree in music teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Washington.

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

   School site
7. 7

   Florida State University

   Tallahassee, FLPublic

   • 27Master's/yr
   • Master of Music Education
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Florida State University offers a Master of Music Education through its College of Music, an on-campus degree aimed at already-certified educators who want to deepen rather than begin their teaching careers. The program is notably flexible about how teachers fit graduate study around their work, pairing a standard two-academic-year track with a Summer-Only option completed across three consecutive summer terms. In the academic-year format students choose between thesis and non-thesis pathways, a structure that accommodates both research-minded candidates and those focused on refining practice. The summer format instead channels students into Choral or Instrumental specializations, reflecting the ensemble contexts most in-service teachers actually lead. Taken together, the design reads as a program built to meet working music teachers on their own schedules while letting them concentrate in the area they teach. Earning a master's degree in music teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Florida'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 27 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

   School site
8. 8

   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
9. 9

   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

   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 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
10. 10

    Longy School of Music of Bard College

    Cambridge, MAPrivate nonprofit

    • 21Master's/yr
    • Master of Music in Music Education (MM/ME)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Longy School of Music of Bard College offers a fully online Master of Music in Music Education (MM/ME) built so that working educators can earn the degree without stepping away from their classrooms. Its coursework leans toward contemporary practice, with study in socially relevant and culturally responsive teaching, non-traditional ensemble arranging, and technology for music education. The design lets students finish in one to two years while continuing to teach, and those who want to keep their own playing sharp may add optional private lessons with Longy conservatory faculty. The emphasis throughout is on refining pedagogy and musicianship rather than initial certification, making it a fit for teachers already established in the field. This master's-level music teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in Massachusetts.

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

    School site
11. 11

    Georgia College & State University

    Milledgeville, GAPublicOnline available

    • 20Master's/yr
    • Master of Music Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Georgia College & State University offers a Master of Music Education delivered fully online with no residency requirement, a design meant for in-service, already-certified teachers who cannot pause their careers to study on campus. Admission reflects that audience, asking for a bachelor's in music education along with GACE music assessment scores, Praxis II Music scores, or a valid Georgia teaching certificate. Rather than a single generic curriculum, coursework is tailored to elementary school, choral, or instrumental music education so teachers can focus on the setting they actually work in. The 30-hour program culminates in a capstone project intended for publication or conference presentation, paired with a comprehensive exam. That publish-or-present orientation gives the degree a scholarly edge while keeping it firmly practitioner-focused. A master's-level path in music teacher education, it builds toward a career among 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 20 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
12. 12

    University of North Carolina at Greensboro

    Greensboro, NCPublicOnline available

    • 20Master's/yr
    • Music Education, M.M.
    • NASM-accredited School of Music
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    The University of North Carolina at Greensboro offers a Master of Music in Music Education through its NASM-accredited School of Music, structured to sharpen the craft of teachers already in the field. The program begins with diagnostic assessments completed before the first semester, a signal that coursework is calibrated to each teacher's strengths and gaps rather than delivered as a fixed sequence. Candidates can direct their study toward advanced professional recognition, since the degree supports building a National Board Certification portfolio in Music and eligibility for North Carolina Advanced Teaching Licensure in Music. Electives remain open enough to include performance ensembles and private lessons for those who want to keep playing. Teachers finish with an M.M. Portfolio capstone spread across the final two semesters, and the program runs both as a Greensboro main-campus option and as a summer-based UNCG Online track for educators teaching during the year. A master's-level path in music teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in North Carolina.

    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.

    School site
13. 13

    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

    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
14. 14

    Berklee College of Music

    Boston, MAPrivate nonprofit

    • 18Master's/yr
    • Master of Music in Music Education (Non-Licensure)
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Berklee College of Music offers a Master of Music in Music Education in a non-licensure, hybrid format, aimed at teachers who want a contemporary, socially conscious foundation rather than a first path into certification. The curriculum is built around culturally responsive pedagogy and critical theory, and flexible remote class options make it workable for educators already teaching. Its most distinctive feature is the Autism Concentration, offered through the Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education and billed as the first and only program of its kind, which pairs music education with autism-specific pedagogy and accessible arts practice. Students who do not choose that focus follow a standard track grounded in the same equity-minded framework. Because it does not lead to state teaching certification, the degree suits practitioners deepening their approach or specializing in inclusive teaching. It reads as a forward-looking master's for musicians committed to reaching every learner. This master's-level music teacher 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 18 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
15. 15

    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

    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 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
16. 16

    Anderson University

    Anderson, SCPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 17Master's/yr
    • Master of Music in Music Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Anderson University offers a Master of Music in Music Education through its South Carolina School of the Arts, built squarely for teachers who want to advance without leaving the classroom. The 30-hour program moves in seven-week course terms and can be finished in about 24 months, a rhythm that fits educators juggling a full teaching load. Rather than a general research paper, the degree culminates in an original study that candidates apply directly to their own classrooms, keeping graduate inquiry tied to daily practice. Delivered online with optional on-campus workshops, it emphasizes flexibility for working music educators across the region. The program is oriented toward professional growth for already-practicing teachers rather than initial certification. Earning a master's degree in music teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of South Carolina'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 17 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
17. 17

    University of Missouri-Kansas City

    Kansas City, MOPublic

    • 16Master's/yr
    • Master of Music Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Missouri-Kansas City offers a Master of Music Education through its Conservatory, an on-campus degree carrying the weight of a dedicated performing-arts school. The institution's standing as an accredited member of both the National Association of Schools of Music and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation places the program within nationally recognized standards for music and educator preparation alike. The curriculum spans a minimum of thirty semester hours, with at least eighteen of those hours drawn from advanced 5500-level or higher coursework, ensuring the degree pushes well beyond introductory graduate study. That emphasis on upper-level credits signals a program built for serious depth in the field. It suits musicians who want conservatory-grade graduate training in music education. A master's-level path in music teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in Missouri.

    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.

    School site
18. 18

    University of Colorado Boulder

    Boulder, COPublic

    • 15Master's/yr
    • Master of Music Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    University of Colorado Boulder offers a Master of Music Education for candidates who already hold or are working toward a music teaching certificate, positioning the degree as a step deeper into a career already underway. The minimum 30 credit-hour plan is deliberately balanced, splitting roughly evenly among music education coursework, broader music study, and open electives so students can specialize in an area of interest or range widely. Completing the program can lead to a Colorado K-12 music teaching license, tying the academic work directly to classroom credentials. The campus-based format keeps candidates close to faculty and ensembles as they refine both scholarship and pedagogy. It reads as a program for committed music teachers building toward stronger practice and licensure in the state. This master's-level music teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers 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 15 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
19. 19

    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

    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 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
20. 20

    Northern State University

    Aberdeen, SDPublicOnline available

    • 15Master's/yr
    • Master of Music Education
    • National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)-accredited
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Northern State University offers a Master of Music Education built as a cohort that teachers complete in two years while continuing to work. The largely online format is punctuated by a mandatory one-week summer residency on campus, where students reconnect with classmates and faculty in person, giving the program the shared identity of a cohort alongside the flexibility of distance study. Its curriculum speaks broadly to the field, serving choral directors, instrumental teachers, and K-12 general music instructors within a single NASM-accredited degree. The design clearly targets in-service educators looking to deepen their practice rather than earn a first license. That blend of online convenience and a face-to-face summer intensive makes it a practical option for music teachers spread across a wide region. A master's-level path in music teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in South Dakota.

    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.

    School site
21. 21

    SUNY at Fredonia

    Fredonia, NYPublic

    • 14Master's/yr
    • Master of Music in Music Education
    • NASM-accredited institution
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    SUNY Fredonia offers a Master of Music in Music Education through its NASM-accredited School of Music, and its four separate tracks make clear that the program is built to meet teachers at different points in their careers. Educators pursuing New York State professional certification can complete coursework that satisfies state requirements, since the degree is registered by the NY State Education Department. The Recital Track pairs applied music lessons with a recital performance for those who want to keep growing as performers, while the In-Service Track carries a heavier credit load geared toward working teachers, and the Thesis Track opens a research path. A non-certification Graduate Research Project option rounds out the choices for international and out-of-state educators who do not need New York licensure. A required graduate seminar anchors the shared academic core across the tracks. 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 14 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
22. 22

    William Carey University

    Hattiesburg, MSPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 13Master's/yr
    • $47,650Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Music Education
    • Online
    About the program

    William Carey University offers a fully online Master of Music Education designed for working music educators who want to advance without stepping away from the classroom. The 100 percent online delivery and a timeline as short as one year signal a program shaped around teachers already carrying a full schedule, letting them study on their own hours. Entry expects a bachelor's degree in music along with either a teaching license or passing Praxis music content scores, so cohorts arrive with a shared grounding in the discipline. Graduates become eligible for an advanced, M-level teaching license in Mississippi, positioning the degree as a step up in credentials rather than a first path into teaching. It reads as a practical, credential-building option for practicing musicians ready to deepen their expertise. A master's-level path in music teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in Mississippi.

    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 Hattiesburg, MS, where elementary teachers earn a median $47,650, roughly $54,374 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

    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

    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 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
24. 24

    University of Hartford

    West Hartford, CTPrivate nonprofit

    • 11Master's/yr
    • Master of Music Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    University of Hartford's Hartt School offers a Master of Music Education for candidates who already hold a valid teaching license, framing the degree as advanced professional study rather than an initial credential. Students shape the experience through emphases in Kodaly, Pedagogy, Research, or Conducting, and they can complete the work during the academic year or entirely over summers through Hartt Summerterm. That summers-only path speaks directly to working teachers who cannot leave the classroom during the school year. The Research emphasis requires a thesis for those drawn to scholarly inquiry, while the Kodaly emphasis carries an OAKE endorsement that signals recognized quality in that method. The mix of specialized tracks and flexible scheduling makes it a strong fit for practicing music educators pursuing a particular direction in their craft. Earning a master's degree in music teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Connecticut'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 11 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
25. 25

    Lakeland University

    Plymouth, WIPrivate nonprofit

    • 11Master's/yr
    • Master of Music in Music Education – Kodály Emphasis
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Lakeland University offers a Master of Music in Music Education with a Kodály Emphasis, a specialized 34-credit degree centered on one of the major approaches to elementary and general music teaching. The low-residency design brings working teachers to campus in Sheboygan and Plymouth, Wisconsin for two-week sessions across three summers, supplemented by limited online coursework, so educators can keep teaching between residencies. Woven into the degree is the OAKE-Endorsed Kodály Certificate, and up to five credits from Orff-Schulwerk or workshop offerings may count toward the requirements, signaling a program rooted in the practical methods world. Study builds toward a capstone project or thesis alongside benchmark performance, teaching demonstration, and conducting demonstration requirements. It reads as a focused credential for music teachers who want to master a specific pedagogy while staying in the classroom. This master's-level music teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in Wisconsin.

    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

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