Best Master's in Secondary Education Programs by Local Teacher Pay

1. 1

   University of Washington-Tacoma Campus

   Tacoma, WAPublic

   • 4Master's/yr
   • $102,920Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Education (MEd) in Secondary Education, 5-12 Certification in the Sciences or Mathematics
   • On-campus
   About the program

   The University of Washington Tacoma offers a Master of Education in Secondary Education with 5-12 certification in the sciences or mathematics, a cohort program that starts in summer quarter only and moves through four full-time quarters together. Candidates choose an endorsement in Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, Physics, or Mathematics, and may add a middle-level endorsement in humanities or complementary content. Mostly evening classes and clinical placements woven through South Sound school district partnerships make the design well suited to place-bound candidates preparing to teach locally. Graduates earn a Residency Teacher Certificate recommended to Washington's Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction after passing the required NES and WEST-E content tests. A certificate-only track is available, and it converts into the full M.Ed. simply by adding one culminating-project course, giving candidates flexibility in how far they carry the degree. Earning a master's degree in secondary education is a common route toward becoming one of Washington'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 4 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

   Santa Clara University

   Santa Clara, CAPrivate nonprofit

   • 3Master's/yr
   • $102,860Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Teaching and Teaching Credential (MATTC), Secondary Education
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   Santa Clara University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching and Teaching Credential in Secondary Education that carries candidates from preparation into a California Single Subject Teaching Credential for middle and high school. The credential spans a broad set of content areas, including English, mathematics, the biological and physical sciences, social science, and world languages, with an optional Spanish bilingual authorization and a distinctive Catholic education pathway. A low 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio and an average class size of sixteen signal a program that keeps mentorship close and personal rather than lecturing at scale. A paid-internship route lets candidates already employed as teachers of record complete the program on the job. Approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and delivered in a hybrid format, it suits candidates who value small-cohort attention alongside their move into secondary teaching. This master's-level secondary education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in California.

   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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $102,860, roughly $93,151 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

   Washington State University

   Pullman, WAPublic

   • 27Master's/yr
   • $102,350State teacher pay
   • Master in Teaching (Secondary)
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Washington State University offers a Master in Teaching for the secondary level as a tight, cohort-based program that moves students through certification and the master's degree together in about 13 months. That accelerated timeline and shared-cohort model signal a program built for candidates ready to commit full time and progress alongside a consistent group of peers. Coursework organizes around secondary content methods spanning literacy, social studies, science, math, reading, health, fitness, and the fine arts, so candidates prepare to teach in their chosen subject. A graduate research project, presented at the program's close, adds a scholarly capstone to the clinical preparation. Graduates earn a Washington State secondary teaching certificate, making this a focused, one-year route for those entering the profession through the Pullman and Spokane campuses. Graduates of this secondary 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 27 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Washington statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $102,350, roughly $95,643 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

   Chapman University

   Orange, CAPrivate nonprofit

   • 14Master's/yr
   • $101,860Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Teaching + Single Subject Teaching Credential: Secondary Education
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Chapman University's Attallah College offers a Master of Arts in Teaching paired with a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Secondary Education, taught on campus and leading to the California Single Subject Teaching Credential for middle and high school classrooms. Candidates credential in English, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, or Music, grounding the degree in a specific teaching field. The program runs on an accelerated four-semester cohort model with classes held once a week in the evening, a schedule that lets candidates keep other commitments while progressing quickly. Community-based field experiences are woven into the coursework, connecting classroom theory to real school settings. The full M.A.T. requires 40 units, while a 34-unit credential-only pathway serves those who need licensure without the master's degree. This master's-level secondary education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in California.

   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 14 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
5. 5

   Loyola Marymount University

   Los Angeles, CAPrivate nonprofit

   • 1Master's/yr
   • $101,860Metro teacher pay
   • Secondary Education, M.A. with a Preliminary Single Subject Credential
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   Loyola Marymount University offers a Secondary Education, M.A. with a Preliminary Single Subject Credential built around a two-year, 1+1 cohort rhythm. Candidates spend the first year on credential coursework and the second on graduate study, a sequence that lets them start teaching while continuing to deepen their expertise. Coursework runs online, but the program keeps its feet firmly in real classrooms by requiring daily fieldwork at a California K-12 school, and the credential covers a wide span of Single Subject areas from English and mathematics to the sciences, world languages, and the arts, with an optional bilingual authorization. Graduates earn a California Single Subject Teaching Credential for grades 6-12 through this CCTC-approved program. The blend of flexible online academics and grounded daily practice suits candidates who want secondary licensure without stepping away from the school site. Graduates of this secondary 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 1 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
6. 6

   California State University-Fullerton

   Fullerton, CAPublic

   • 23Master's/yr
   • $101,860Metro teacher pay
   • Transformative Teaching in Secondary Education, M.S.
   • Online
   About the program

   California State University, Fullerton offers Transformative Teaching in Secondary Education, an M.S. built not for new teachers but for practicing, already-credentialed middle and high school educators looking to advance their craft. The fully online, 21-month cohort spans a minimum of 31 units and is organized around classroom-based action research and a capstone project seminar, so teachers study the very classrooms they are teaching in. The program supports candidates working toward National Board Certification, underscoring its focus on professional growth rather than entry into the field. Optional add-ons include a Graduate Certificate in Teaching Secondary Ethnic Studies and a bilingual authorization pathway, letting teachers extend their expertise in socially responsive directions. The result reads as a reflective, research-driven degree for experienced educators deepening their impact. This master's-level secondary education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in California.

   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 23 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
7. 7

   University of La Verne

   La Verne, CAPrivate nonprofit

   • 30Master's/yr
   • $101,860Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Teaching, Single Subject
   • On-campus
   About the program

   The University of La Verne offers a Master of Arts in Teaching, Single Subject that prepares candidates for departmentalized middle and high school classrooms. The 45-unit structure pairs 33 units of credential coursework with 12 units of advanced study, so graduates leave with both a California Single Subject Teaching Credential and a genuine master's rather than a credential alone. Roughly fifteen weeks of in-classroom student teaching anchor the practical side, while an Enhanced Intern Credential pathway lets candidates already working as teachers of record earn a paycheck as they finish. A menu of emphases, from Teacher Leadership and Inclusive Education to a Bilingual track and Reading Instruction, gives students room to shape the degree toward a specialization. Approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and taught on campus, it fits people who want a hands-on, cohort-style entry into secondary teaching. This master's-level secondary education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in California.

   Why it ranks here

   For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 30 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
8. 8

   Concordia University-Irvine

   Irvine, CAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

   • 8Master's/yr
   • $101,860Metro teacher pay
   • Combined Credential and Master of Education (Secondary)
   • Online
   About the program

   Concordia University Irvine offers a Combined Credential and Master of Education (Secondary) that folds preliminary teacher preparation and a graduate degree into a single online path. The design is deliberately efficient, with the 30 units of Single Subject credential coursework applying directly toward the 46-unit M.Ed. so candidates are not paying twice for overlapping work. Along the way, students earn a California Single Subject Teaching Credential for grades 6-12 while completing a capstone experience that pushes them past entry-level competence. The program is approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, and Concordia holds regional accreditation through WSCUC. It reads as a program for aspiring secondary teachers who want to enter the classroom credentialed and leave with a master's already in hand rather than returning for it later. This master's-level secondary education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in California.

   Why it ranks here

   A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 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
9. 9

   Azusa Pacific University

   Azusa, CAPrivate nonprofit

   • 59Master's/yr
   • $101,860Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Education: Teaching and Single Subject Teaching Credential
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   Azusa Pacific University offers a Master of Arts in Education: Teaching paired with a Single Subject Teaching Credential, a hybrid program leading to the California Single Subject Teaching Credential for grades 7-12. Candidates credential in a specific field, choosing from Art, Business, English Language Arts, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Science, Social Science, and World Languages. The 45-unit cohort completes the degree in about two years through weekly synchronous online classes plus one required in-person Saturday session each semester, a structure that supports working adults while preserving face-to-face contact. Supervised student teaching and a capstone seminar with a professional ePortfolio anchor the program in classroom practice and reflection. It carries accreditation from WSCUC, CAEP, and the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, reinforcing its standing as a credential-granting pathway. Graduates of this secondary 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 59 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
10. 10

    Alder Graduate School of Education

    Redwood City, CAPrivate nonprofit

    • 106Master's/yr
    • $101,860Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Education (Teaching concentration)
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Alder Graduate School of Education offers a Master of Arts in Education with a Teaching concentration built around a full-year teacher residency, and its structure makes clear it is designed for aspiring teachers learning the job by doing it. Candidates apprentice four days a week in a partner classroom while spending one day a week in regional cohort seminars, an immersive model that pairs daily practice with the support of a shared group. The program leads to recommendation for a California Teaching Credential, with pathways spanning Multiple Subject for K-8, Single Subject in English, math, science, or social studies for grades 6-12, and Education Specialist credentials for mild to moderate support needs, plus an optional Bilingual Authorization. All tracks except the bilingual one carry an embedded English Learner Authorization, reflecting a program tuned to California's diverse classrooms. With 96 percent of graduates landing full-time teaching positions and WSCUC accreditation behind the institution, it reads as a residency built to move candidates directly into the profession. As a master's degree in secondary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in California.

    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 106 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $88,104 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

    University of Massachusetts Global

    Aliso Viejo, CAPublicOnline available

    • 62Master's/yr
    • $101,860Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching, Secondary Education (Single Subject) with CA 2042 Single Subject Credential
    • Online
    About the program

    UMass Global offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education that pairs the degree with a California Single Subject Teaching Credential (2042) for grades 7 through 12, making it a genuine initial licensure route. Candidates choose from seven content areas, including English, Mathematics, Science, History and Social Science, Physical Education and Health, World Languages, and Music or Art, so the program serves aspiring teachers across the secondary curriculum. Its most distinctive feature is intern eligibility after just the first four courses, which lets students step into a paid classroom and teach while completing the rest of their coursework online. That structure reads as built for career-changers and working adults who need to earn as they learn. The credential program is approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and carries AAQEP accreditation, with the university institutionally accredited by WASC. A master's-level path in secondary education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in California.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 62 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
12. 12

    University of the People

    Pasadena, CAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 335Master's/yr
    • $101,860Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Advanced Teaching
    • Online
    About the program

    University of the People offers a Master of Education in Advanced Teaching aimed squarely at practicing teachers, including those in independent schools, who want to strengthen their teaching rather than earn a state license. Developed in cooperation with the International Baccalaureate, the 39 credit-hour degree lets candidates specialize in either elementary and middle grades from K to 8 or secondary grades 6 to 12, and it can waive the IB Category 1 Workshop requirement for qualified graduates. That IB connection and the focus on already-employed teachers frame the program as professional advancement for a globally minded classroom audience. Courses run in compressed nine-week terms at a low tuition of roughly $144 per credit, which keeps the degree accessible to working educators worldwide. It does not lead to state licensure or certification, so it functions as a credential for deepening practice rather than entering the profession. This master's-level secondary education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in California.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 335 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
13. 13

    Western Washington University

    Bellingham, WAPublic

    • 38Master's/yr
    • $101,230Metro teacher pay
    • Master in Teaching (Bellingham, Secondary)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Western Washington University offers a Master in Teaching at its Bellingham campus that prepares candidates for middle and high school classrooms through a cohort completed in five quarters. The program carries a strong social-justice and equity emphasis woven through its coursework, a framing that signals it is built for candidates who want to teach with attention to inclusive and just practice, not only content delivery. An optional MIT/MLE pathway, which extends the program to six quarters, adds an English Language Learner and bilingual education endorsement for those preparing to serve multilingual students. The outcome is Washington State residency certification to teach at the secondary level. The cohort structure and equity focus together read as a program shaping reflective teachers grounded in the communities they will serve. This master's-level secondary education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in Washington.

    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 38 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Bellingham, WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,230, roughly $97,964 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

    Whitworth University

    Spokane, WAPrivate nonprofit

    • 10Master's/yr
    • $98,800Metro teacher pay
    • Master in Teaching
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Whitworth University offers a Master in Teaching structured as a one-year, primarily daytime cohort program for candidates preparing to teach at the secondary level. Its 44 credits concentrate on secondary content areas including English language arts, math, science, social studies, health and fitness, world languages, and the arts, so candidates build depth in the subject they intend to teach. The defining feature is a full academic-year student-teaching practicum that runs in parallel with coursework, immersing candidates in a classroom across an entire school year rather than a single term. That extended, side-by-side design reads as a program that treats clinical experience as the core of teacher preparation. Graduates earn a Washington State teaching certificate simultaneously with the master's degree, making this an immersive, full-time route into the profession. Graduates of this secondary 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 10 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,800, roughly $98,459 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

    Fairfield University

    Fairfield, CTPrivate nonprofit

    • 16Master's/yr
    • $98,600Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Secondary Education with Initial Certification
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Fairfield University offers a Master of Arts in Secondary Education with Initial Certification, a CAEP-accredited pathway that carries candidates toward initial Connecticut certification for grades 7 through 12. Students choose a teaching field across English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies and History, or World Languages, and the language track earns national recognition from ACTFL. The hybrid format, paired with full-time or part-time pacing that runs from twelve to twenty-four months, reads as a program built to flex around candidates already balancing work or family. Paid teaching internships in the fall and spring semesters deepen that practical footing while easing the financial load of preparation. The result is a route into the classroom that treats supervised, compensated teaching as central rather than incidental. A master's-level path in secondary education, it builds toward a career among 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 16 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
16. 16

    University of Bridgeport

    Bridgeport, CTPrivate nonprofit

    • 19Master's/yr
    • $98,600Metro teacher pay
    • Secondary Education, M.S.
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    The University of Bridgeport offers a Master of Science in Secondary Education that leads to Connecticut teaching certification for grades 4-12. The 33-credit program can be completed in as few as two semesters of full-time study, and it builds in preparation for the edTPA portfolio and the Praxis II exam that certification requires, so candidates are readied for the gates they must clear. Certification areas include Business, English, History and Social Studies, Mathematics, Music, and the sciences, giving candidates a defined subject focus. A tuition-paid internship option, supported by partnerships with more than sixty school districts across Connecticut and New York, lets students gain classroom experience while offsetting the cost of the degree. Delivered in a hybrid format, it suits candidates who want an efficient, financially manageable route into secondary teaching in the region. Earning a master's degree in secondary education is a common route toward becoming one of Connecticut'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 19 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
17. 17

    Brandeis University

    Waltham, MAPrivate nonprofit

    • 6Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching, Secondary Concentration
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Brandeis University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching with a Secondary Concentration as an immersive, full-time route into middle and high school teaching. The program combines two summers of coursework on the Brandeis campus with a nine-month teaching internship in a Boston-area school, an intensive year-long structure that signals a commitment to learning by doing. Candidates specialize in a subject such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math, English, History, or a language including Chinese, Spanish, Latin, French, or Tanakh, reflecting the program's reach into both public and Jewish day school settings. Approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, it leads to an initial license that carries reciprocity with many other states and DC. The in-residence design fits candidates ready to devote a focused year to becoming a teacher. This master's-level secondary education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in Massachusetts.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 6 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into 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
18. 18

    Endicott College

    Beverly, MAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 7Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Secondary Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Endicott College offers a fully online Master of Education in Secondary Education for candidates seeking an initial Massachusetts license to teach at the middle (5-8) or high (8-12) school level. Students choose an approved subject area such as English, History, Humanities, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, General Science, or Math/Science, tying the degree directly to the classroom they aim to lead. The eight-course program is built around a 300-hour practicum that includes a minimum of 100 hours of full teaching responsibility, so even in an online format candidates spend substantial time carrying a real teaching load. That practicum-heavy design reads as a program serious about classroom readiness rather than theory alone. It leads to an initial license from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, giving online learners a clear path into secondary teaching. As a master's degree in secondary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers 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 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
19. 19

    University of New Hampshire-Main Campus

    Durham, NHPublic

    • 18Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Secondary Education (also offered as a Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of New Hampshire offers a Master of Education in Secondary Education, also available as a Master of Arts in Teaching, structured around a fifth-year internship on its Durham campus. Candidates specialize in one of many teaching fields, from English Language Arts and mathematics to music, theatre, and physical education, and complete a two-semester post-graduate teaching internship that prepares them for licensure recognized across 49 states and territories. An accelerated pathway is the program's signature feature, letting qualified undergraduates bank up to 12 graduate credits during their bachelor's studies before the internship year. Licensure courses require a B-minus or better, underscoring the emphasis on classroom readiness. The design reads as a carefully sequenced route from undergraduate preparation into a full clinical year and professional certification. Earning a master's degree in secondary education is a common route toward becoming one of New Hampshire'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 18 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
20. 20

    Framingham State University

    Framingham, MAPublic

    • 13Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Secondary Education
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Framingham State University offers a Master of Education in Secondary Education that folds the requirements for Massachusetts Initial Licensure into master's-level coursework, typically completed in about two years. Candidates concentrate in Visual Art, English, History/Social Science, or Mathematics, aligning the degree with the subject they plan to teach. Because it pairs licensure preparation with a graduate credential in a single track, the program suits candidates who want to enter secondary teaching and earn a master's at the same time. Applicants to the Art concentration submit 10 to 15 digital images of their artwork through Slideroom, a portfolio step that reflects the studio grounding that field expects. Delivered in a hybrid format, the program combines flexible study with the classroom preparation that licensure requires. As a master's degree in secondary education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers 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 13 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
21. 21

    Northeastern University Professional Programs

    Boston, MAPrivate nonprofit

    • 4Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education (Boston)
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Northeastern University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education based in Boston, a hybrid program leading to Massachusetts initial teacher licensure for grades 8 through 12. Candidates prepare in one of six content areas, including Biology, Chemistry, English, History, Mathematics, and Physics, pairing online coursework with in-person fieldwork that reflects a practice-forward orientation. The clinical arc runs from a minimum of 55 pre-practicum fieldwork hours to a full term of student teaching in Boston schools. A MAT+ option lets candidates add a second license in Special Education or ESL, and the program director can help chart even triple-licensure plans, an unusually flexible credentialing menu. Students who work in or intend to work in urban public schools may qualify for scholarships of up to $18,700, underscoring the program's commitment to staffing city classrooms. The program is approved for initial licensure by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Earning a master's degree in secondary education is a common route toward becoming one of Massachusetts'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 4 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
22. 22

    Lesley University

    Cambridge, MAPrivate nonprofit

    • 7Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in High School Education
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Lesley University offers a Master of Education in High School Education that prepares candidates for a Massachusetts Initial Teacher License across eight content areas, including Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, English, History, Mathematics, Physics, and Social Sciences at the 8-12 or 5-12 levels. The program uses a low-residency, cohort-based model, so candidates progress alongside peers while keeping much of their study flexible. A defining feature is guaranteed field placement upon acceptance through the Scholar Partner Program or Teacher Residency Program, with candidates in schools beginning in the first semester, an arrangement that reads as a program built to put people in classrooms early and often. Approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, it leads to an initial license in the chosen high school subject. The residency emphasis makes it well suited to candidates who learn best through sustained school-based experience. Earning a master's degree in secondary education is a common route toward becoming one of Massachusetts'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 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
23. 23

    Eastern Nazarene College

    Quincy, MAPrivate nonprofit

    • 4Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education
    • Massachusetts educator licensure program-accredited
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Eastern Nazarene College offers a Master of Education that leads to Massachusetts educator licensure while letting candidates focus their studies through concentrations in Secondary Education and Teaching, TESOL, Curriculum and Instruction, or Educational Leadership. The range of tracks means the degree serves both classroom teachers seeking licensure and educators moving toward specialist or leadership roles. A required 12 to 13 week full-time student-teaching practicum sits at the center of the program, and candidates assemble a cumulative teaching portfolio before graduation, so the experience is anchored in demonstrated practice rather than coursework alone. Candidates must pass the required MTEL exams before their student-teaching placement. Delivered in a hybrid format, the program balances the flexibility working adults need with the hands-on preparation licensure demands. Earning a master's degree in secondary education is a common route toward becoming one of Massachusetts'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 4 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
24. 24

    New York University

    New York, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 126Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • MAT, Secondary Education: Teacher Residency (Initial Certification), Grades 7-12
    • Online
    About the program

    NYU Steinhardt offers an MAT in Secondary Education structured as a one-year teacher residency that fuses graduate study with a full year in the classroom. Across 30 credits, residents co-teach beside a mentor in a partner school in New York City, Upstate or Central New York, or Washington, DC, while meeting online with Steinhardt faculty twice weekly in the evening, an arrangement that keeps candidates immersed in real teaching while they earn the degree. Content specializations cover English, mathematics, science, and social studies for Grades 7-12, with a Grades 5-6 extension and a PreK-12 Students with Disabilities pathway available. Completion leads to eligibility for New York State initial teaching certification in the chosen subject. All residents qualify for scholarships and some level of wage or subsidy, easing the financial demands of the residency model. A master's-level path in secondary education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 126 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
25. 25

    Pace University

    New York, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 77Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    About the program

    Pace University previously offered Master of Science for Teachers programs in adolescent education, including tracks in general adolescent education and combined childhood and adolescent education. These programs were discontinued effective Fall 2026 and are closed to new applicants, so no currently enrollable secondary-education master's is available at the school. Graduates of this secondary 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 77 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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