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

Edited by Zoe MacDougall, BS in Psychology

Published ·Last updated

Ranked by the number of master's degrees awarded each year, the most established programs. The top 17 out of 17 programs reviewed from the IPEDS database.

  1. 1

    Western Governors University

    Salt Lake City, UTPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 35Master's/yr
    • $77,920Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts, Science Education (Secondary Physics)
    • Regional institutional accreditation
    • Online
    About the program

    Western Governors University offers a Master of Arts in Science Education with a Secondary Physics focus, a fully online program built on WGU's competency-based model, in which candidates advance by demonstrating mastery rather than by seat time. The design targets educators who already hold a valid teaching license and want to add a secondary physics endorsement, layering physics content in mechanics, waves and optics, and electricity and magnetism onto science-education pedagogy. Its self-paced structure, spanning 32 semester credits across 13 courses with a median completion of about 15 months, rewards motivated teachers who can move quickly through familiar material. A culminating Teacher Performance Assessment anchors the credential in demonstrated classroom skill. The university holds regional institutional accreditation. As a master's degree in physics teacher education, it adds to the master's-level physics teacher education options in Utah.

    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 35 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Salt Lake City-Murray, UT, where elementary teachers earn a median $77,920, roughly $77,249 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

    University at Buffalo

    Buffalo, NYPublic

    • 3Master's/yr
    • $76,490Metro teacher pay
    • Physics Education: Adolescence, Master of Education (EdM)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University at Buffalo offers a Master of Education (EdM) in Physics Education: Adolescence, an entirely in-person program registered with the New York State Education Department for candidates preparing to teach physics in grades 7 through 12. Because admission expects a physics major or at least 30 undergraduate physics credits, the curriculum builds on existing content strength and turns toward the work of teaching it. Two tracks, Initial and Professional, let the program serve both newcomers to certification and practicing teachers advancing their credentials, with requirements ranging from 33 to 57 credits depending on the path. Full- and part-time enrollment and a one-to-two-year timeline give candidates room to fit study around other commitments. Graduates receive an institutional recommendation for New York State initial and professional certification in Physics Education, grades 7 through 12. As a master's degree in physics teacher education, it adds to the master's-level physics teacher education options 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 3 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
  3. 3

    Binghamton University

    Vestal, NYPublic

    • 2Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Adolescence Education: Physics
    • AAQEP-accredited
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Binghamton University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Adolescence Education: Physics, an on-campus program that prepares candidates to teach physics in grades 7 through 12 across New York State. The minimum 35-credit design pairs a substantial core in teaching, learning, and educational leadership with eight credits of physics discipline coursework, so candidates strengthen both pedagogy and subject mastery. Fieldwork is woven in early, with a full day each week in schools before candidates move into a six-credit supervised internship built around a teaching-unit requirement. That progression from guided observation to full internship signals a program that expects candidates to learn the craft by doing it under supervision. Graduates earn New York State initial teacher certification for grades 7 through 12, and the educator preparation is accredited by AAQEP. As a master's degree in physics teacher education, it adds to the master's-level physics teacher education options 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 2 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
  4. 4

    Stony Brook University

    Stony Brook, NYPublic

    • 2Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in Physics
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Stony Brook University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in Physics, an on-campus program that prepares graduates for New York State certification as secondary physics teachers in grades 7 through 12, with an optional extension to grades 5 and 6. Administered jointly by the Department of Physics and Astronomy, the Institute for STEM Education, and the School of Professional Development, it draws on both disciplinary and pedagogical expertise, a structure suited to candidates who hold a bachelor's in physical science or engineering and want to move into the classroom. Its national standing is notable, having ranked among the top five U.S. physics-teacher-producing programs in six of the last seven years through the PhysTEC 5+ Club. Recognition from PhysTEC, the American Physical Society, and the American Association of Physics Teachers reinforces a strong reputation in the field. This program offers a master's degree in physics teacher education 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 2 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
  5. 5

    Teachers College at Columbia University

    New York, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 2Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Teaching Physics: 7-12, M.A. Initial
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Teachers College, Columbia University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching Physics: 7-12 with Initial Certification, a 36-point on-campus program that balances professional education, physics content, and science methods coursework. The blend reflects an institution intent on developing teachers who are strong physicists and reflective practitioners at once rather than specialists in a single dimension. Candidates complete a science-safety workshop, the Gateway Performance Assessments for Teaching, and a culminating master's portfolio project, so readiness is measured through demonstrated practice rather than coursework alone. Sequencing is deliberate, with courses MSTC 4000 and MSTC 4363 required before the spring student-teaching semester that follows a fall of coursework. Graduates earn New York State Initial certification to teach physics in grades 7 through 12. As a master's degree in physics teacher education, it adds to the master's-level physics teacher education options 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 2 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  6. 6

    Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global

    Marion, INPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 2Master's/yr
    • $59,700State teacher pay
    • Master of Science (M.S.) in Physics in Education
    • Higher Learning Commission-accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    Indiana Wesleyan University offers a Master of Science (M.S.) in Physics in Education, a fully online, 33-credit program that most candidates complete in under two years. Rather than a route to initial certification, it is designed to deepen the content knowledge of practicing teachers who already hold a valid license with a physics or physical science endorsement and want to teach AP, dual-enrollment, and early-college physics. Admission requires at least a year of prior teaching experience, reinforcing that this is a credential for established educators extending their reach into advanced coursework. Instruction is delivered from a Christian, biblical-worldview perspective, giving the program a distinct, mission-driven character. Indiana Wesleyan is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It is a master's degree in physics teacher education at the master's level, based in Indiana.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 2 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Indiana statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $59,700, roughly $63,967 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

    Boston College

    Chestnut Hill, MAPrivate nonprofit

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Secondary Education, STEM track (Physics)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Boston College's Lynch School offers a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Secondary Education with a STEM physics track, a campus-based program that moves candidates from coursework into an extended school-based practicum. Physics sits within the STEM track for grades 8 through 12 alongside biology, chemistry, and mathematics, and the program supports both licensure and non-licensure pathways for students with differing goals. Approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the licensure track leads to Massachusetts initial teacher licensure in physics and folds in the required Sheltered English Immersion endorsement. The 37-credit design pairs nine courses with four practicum courses, opening with a pre-practicum and building to a full-semester placement under mentor teachers, a structure that keeps supervised classroom work at the center. Optional additions such as the TELL Certificate and the Donovan Urban Teaching Scholars Program signal a clear commitment to preparing teachers for diverse and urban classrooms. Candidates can complete the degree full-time across one year plus two summers or part-time over two to three years. This program offers a master's degree in physics teacher education 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 1 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
  8. 8

    University of Rochester

    Rochester, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $62,840Metro teacher pay
    • MS in Adolescence Education: Physics (Grades 7-12)
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    The University of Rochester's Warner School of Education offers a Master of Science in Adolescence Education in physics for grades 7 through 12, a cohort-based program that combines hybrid-online coursework with in-person components and an internship. The full-time track begins in summer and can be completed in 15 months, a compressed timeline paired with full-tuition scholarships for the cohort, which together signal a program built to move committed candidates quickly and affordably into teaching. It meets the coursework and internship requirements for both New York State initial and professional certification in physics, with candidates completing the required state exams. Preparation requires a minimum of 30 credits in the sciences, including at least 18 in physics, and adds required coursework on students with disabilities and English language learners, grounding candidates for diverse classrooms. Optional add-on specializations in urban teaching, teacher leadership, online teaching, or digitally rich instruction let students tailor the degree toward particular career directions. The blend of accelerated timeline and embedded internship reads as a program shaped for candidates ready to commit fully to the classroom. It is a master's degree in physics teacher education at the master's level, based in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Rochester, NY, where elementary teachers earn a median $62,840, roughly $64,760 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

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Physics (Grades 7-12), Master of Arts
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Hunter College offers a Master of Arts in Physics for grades 7 through 12, a campus-based program administered through the School of Education rather than the physics department, which frames it clearly as a teacher-preparation degree. The program targets New York State certification for physics in the adolescent grades under NYSED program code 25591, giving candidates a defined professional endpoint. An Advanced Certificate option is available through the same program for those who need a narrower credential. Because Hunter also runs a separate terminal M.A. in physics, this education-focused degree stands apart as the pathway for students who intend to teach the subject. Together these features signal a program built for candidates committed to the secondary physics classroom. As a master's degree in physics teacher education, it adds to the master's-level physics teacher education options 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 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
  10. 10

    Hofstra University

    Hempstead, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) in Science Education, Physics
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Hofstra University offers a Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) in Science Education with a physics concentration, a campus-based program that blends coursework with field experiences and full-time student teaching. Designed for candidates who arrive with no formal education background, the 37-credit program builds strong disciplinary grounding, requiring 24 credits of general science plus 30 credits of physics coursework across electricity and magnetism, modern physics, optics, thermodynamics, mechanics, and quantum mechanics. It leads to New York State initial teacher certification in physics for grades 7 through 12 and simultaneously qualifies graduates for general science certification, a dual outcome that broadens their teaching reach. Optional cognate concentrations in areas such as multicultural education, educational technology, bilingual education, and gifted education, along with a middle-level certification extension, let candidates shape the degree toward particular interests. The program conforms with National Science Teachers Association recommendations and New York State learning standards in mathematics, science, and technology, anchoring its preparation in recognized benchmarks. This program offers a master's degree in physics teacher education 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 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 City College

    New York, NYPublic

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Physics
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The City College of New York offers a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Physics, a campus-based program that concentrates on disciplinary depth rather than a route to teacher certification. The 30-credit curriculum covers general theoretical and experimental physics without formally designated tracks, and it waives both a thesis and a foreign-language requirement in favor of a comprehensive exam. That streamlined structure, combined with access to CUNY Graduate Center doctoral courses and a transfer pathway into City College's own Ph.D. program, marks the degree as a springboard toward advanced study. The program notes that it can also provide a strong science-based foundation for candidates pursuing secondary education certification, though it is not itself a teacher-certification degree. The result is a flexible content master's that serves both aspiring doctoral students and those seeking rigorous grounding in physics. It is a master's degree in physics teacher education at the master's level, based in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 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
  12. 12

    University at Albany

    Albany, NYPublic

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $79,240Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Secondary Education (MSSE), Physics
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University at Albany offers a Master of Science in Secondary Education (MSSE) with a physics concentration, a campus-based program that unfolds over roughly 18 months from two summer courses into fall and spring coursework with school-based fieldwork, culminating in full-time student teaching. Physics is one of several content-area concentrations alongside social studies, English language arts, mathematics, biology, chemistry, earth science, French, and Spanish, marking a broad secondary teaching program with a shared preparation model. Accredited through June 2028 by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation, the program leads to New York State initial certification for grades 7 through 12 physics, with eligibility to advance to professional certification after passing the Education for All Students exam and the physics Content Specialty Test. Candidates bring substantial disciplinary depth, needing 36 credit hours in physics or an equivalent major plus a science distribution of three credits each in biology, chemistry, and earth science. A combined undergraduate and graduate pathway is available for current UAlbany students, offering an efficient route into the profession. The sequenced fieldwork and capstone student teaching keep supervised practice at the core of the preparation. This program offers a master's degree in physics teacher education 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 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY, where elementary teachers earn a median $79,240, roughly $79,585 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

    Merrimack College

    North Andover, MAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Middle School (5-8) and High School (8-12) Education, Physics endorsement
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Merrimack College offers a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Middle School and High School Education with a physics endorsement, a flexibly delivered program that lets candidates choose online or on-campus study for each course. Physics is one of eight endorsement areas alongside biology, chemistry, English, general science, history and social science, math, and math and science, marking a broad secondary teaching program with a shared preparation core. The degree meets Massachusetts DESE licensure requirements and folds in the mandatory Sheltered English Instruction endorsement plus MTEL preparation support, so candidates finish ready for the state's certification path. The 36-credit design centers on a 450-hour practicum spread across 15 weeks, keeping supervised classroom work at the heart of the experience. With no GRE or GMAT required, six annual enrollment periods, and school-district partnership tuition discounts, the program reads as an accessible route for both new and working educators. Candidates can complete it full-time in 13 months or part-time over two to three years. It is a master's degree in physics teacher education at the master's level, based 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 1 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
  14. 14

    CUNY Queens College

    Queens, NYPublic

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Physics, Master of Arts
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Queens College offers a Master of Arts in Physics, a campus-based content master's that spans the full range of theoretical and experimental physics coursework. The program serves a mix of students, from those preparing to teach high school physics to candidates filling undergraduate gaps before doctoral study and career-changers entering the field. It accommodates conditionally admitted students from engineering, technology, mathematics, or applied science backgrounds, who complete foundational physics coursework before moving into advanced graduate classes. As a content-area degree it functions as preparation for high school physics teaching, distinct from Queens College's separate MAT Science program, which is the dedicated teacher-certification pathway. The flexible admissions structure and broad curriculum mark it as a program built to bring students of varied preparation up to graduate-level physics. This program offers a master's degree in physics teacher education 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 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
  15. 15

    Gordon College

    Wenham, MAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education (M.Ed.) / Initial Teacher Licensure, Physics (8-12)
    • Online
    About the program

    Gordon College offers a Master of Education (M.Ed.) with initial teacher licensure in physics for grades 8 through 12, delivered online on an evening and weekend schedule with four start dates a year. The format is built squarely for working professionals, and the program lets candidates teach on a provisional license while they complete the degree, a structure that suits people stepping into the classroom without pausing their careers. Coursework leads to Massachusetts initial or professional licensure, with the required MTEL Communication and Literacy and Content Area exams, and the resulting license carries reciprocity in other states through the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement. A dual-licensure option combines grades 5 through 8 and 9 through 12 student teaching practicums for candidates who want a broader certification reach. An accelerated Gordon Plus pathway lets undergraduates begin graduate coursework in their junior or senior year, shortening the road to a licensed teaching role. This program offers a master's degree in physics teacher education 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 1 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
  16. 16

    DePaul University

    Chicago, ILPrivate nonprofit

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $78,390Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education (MEd) in Teaching and Learning: Secondary Education - Physics (MA option with added thesis course also offered)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    DePaul University offers a Master of Education in Teaching and Learning with a Secondary Education Physics focus, a licensure program that leads to the Illinois Professional Educator License with a Physics endorsement for grades 5-12. What sets it apart is that candidates simultaneously complete requirements for the International Baccalaureate Certificate in Teaching and Learning, a rare dual credential that signals a program preparing teachers for globally minded and inquiry-driven classrooms. The clinical preparation is substantial, combining more than 85 hours of field experience with a ten-week full-time student teaching placement and the edTPA performance assessment, so graduates enter the profession with real classroom footing. Flexible hybrid delivery across the Lincoln Park campus, online, and hybrid courses accommodates working students, while an M.A. option adds a thesis course for those wanting a research capstone. The curriculum is aligned with Illinois State Board of Education licensure requirements. As a master's degree in physics teacher education, it adds to the master's-level physics teacher education options in Illinois.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, where elementary teachers earn a median $78,390, roughly $75,670 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
  17. 17

    Mercy University

    Dobbs Ferry, NYPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Adolescence Education, Grades 7-12 (Physics)
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Mercy University offers a Master of Science in Adolescence Education for grades 7 through 12 with a physics concentration, available on campus at its Bronx, Manhattan, or Westchester locations as well as online. Physics is one of seven subject-area concentrations alongside English, mathematics, social studies, biology, chemistry, and earth science, and a dual-certification pathway pairs physics with teaching students with disabilities for candidates who want a wider certification reach. The standard route runs 30 credits, expanding to 39 credits for the dual-certification track, and leads to New York State initial teacher certification in physics for grades 7 through 12. Professional certification follows after three years of teaching in the certificate area plus an education capstone, mapping a clear long-term progression. Physics candidates are eligible for the MISTI II Grant, adding a funding avenue for students entering a high-need teaching field. The multiple campus locations and online option make the program accessible across the New York metropolitan region. It is a master's degree in physics teacher education at the master's level, based 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

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