Best Master's in Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Programs by Local Teacher Pay

1. 1

   University of Washington-Seattle Campus

   Seattle, WAPublic

   • 25Master's/yr
   • $102,920Metro teacher pay
   • Master in Teaching
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   The University of Washington offers a Master in Teaching (M.I.T.) that fans out into four distinct pathways so candidates can match the format to their circumstances. Aspiring elementary teachers can enter a field-based, hybrid one-year Elementary Teacher Education Program, while secondary candidates follow the STEP track toward a subject-specific endorsement. The Seattle Teacher Residency runs as a residency partnership with Seattle Public Schools and folds in special education, and U-ACT provides a fully online accelerated route designed for people already employed in classrooms. That range reads as a program serving very different entrants, from career-changers to working educators seeking formal certification. Elementary graduates earn a Washington Residency Certificate for elementary education, and secondary graduates earn a Residency Certificate with a subject-specific state endorsement. As a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods, it adds to the master's-level teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods options in Washington.

   Why it ranks here

   For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 25 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

   Heritage University

   Toppenish, WAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

   • 1Master's/yr
   • $98,330Metro teacher pay
   • Master in Teaching
   • Online
   About the program

   Heritage University offers an online Master in Teaching that leads to Washington State Teaching Certification, with candidates earning an Elementary Education K-8 or an English/Language Arts 5-12 endorsement depending on their track. Add-on English Language Learner and Special Education endorsements let candidates broaden their credentials for high-need classrooms. Delivered primarily through synchronous online sessions with some asynchronous coursework, the program pairs its virtual instruction with an in-classroom residency and internship so candidates gain real teaching experience. Three pathways, Theory to Practice, Residency, and Accelerate, range from 11 months to four semesters, and classes are scheduled in evenings, on Saturdays, and over summers. That scheduling and structure mark it clearly as a program built for working adults moving into the profession. It is a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods at the master's level, based 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 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Yakima, WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,330, roughly $102,915 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

   Johnson & Wales University-Providence

   Providence, RIPrivate nonprofit

   • 4Master's/yr
   • $86,720Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Education in Teaching and Learning
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Johnson & Wales University offers a Master of Education in Teaching and Learning that treats currently practicing teachers as its core audience, asking applicants to be employed in a PK-16 teaching role and to use their own classroom as a learning laboratory. The cohort-based, four-semester program meets in evening classes at the Providence Harborside campus and moves through eight courses plus a capstone, with problem-based learning drawn from authentic PK-16 issues, a design that reads as reflective professional growth rather than a route to a new license. It is distinct from JWU's Master of Arts in Teaching, which is the university's approved Rhode Island route to initial certification for career changers. As a program for already-working educators, it specifies no new licensure outcome and admits candidates who meet a minimum GPA and current-employment requirement. As a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods, it adds to the master's-level teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods options in Rhode Island.

   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 4 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Providence-Warwick, RI-MA, where elementary teachers earn a median $86,720, roughly $85,209 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

   Temple University

   Philadelphia, PAPublic

   • 10Master's/yr
   • $78,570Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Education (MEd) in Middle Grades Education/Social Studies
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Temple University offers a Master of Education in Middle Grades Education with a Social Studies focus, an on-campus program that certifies candidates to teach all elementary subjects in grades 4 through 6 while adding single or dual content certification for grades 7 and 8. Students pair Social Studies with Language Arts, Mathematics, or Science, or pursue standalone Social Studies certification, a structure that reflects the multi-subject reality of middle-grades teaching. At 31 credits beyond the bachelor's, with full- and part-time scheduling built for working adults at the Philadelphia main campus, the program reads as an accessible route into a Pennsylvania Instructional I Teaching Certificate covering grades 4 through 8. Certification follows completion of degree requirements and passing scores on the required Praxis examinations, and candidates work within a five-year completion window. This program offers a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods in Pennsylvania.

   Why it ranks here

   A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 10 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, where elementary teachers earn a median $78,570, roughly $76,613 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

   School site
5. 5

   Wilmington University

   New Castle, DEPrivate nonprofitOnline available

   • 9Master's/yr
   • $78,570Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Secondary Teaching (6-12)
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Wilmington University offers a Master of Arts in Secondary Teaching for grades six through twelve aimed squarely at career-changers who hold a bachelor's degree in a non-education field and want to move into the classroom. Accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, the program qualifies graduates for Delaware licensure to teach in public and charter secondary schools. New cohorts begin every eight weeks across fourteen courses and forty-two credits, an unusually frequent intake that lets candidates start soon after they decide to switch careers. Students choose between a traditional eighty-day student-teaching internship and a Year-Long Residency option, matching the clinical experience to their circumstances. Offered at the New Castle and Dover locations, the program reads as an accessible, licensure-focused route for professionals redirecting into teaching. This program offers a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods in Delaware.

   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 9 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, where elementary teachers earn a median $78,570, roughly $76,613 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

   School site
6. 6

   Concordia University-Chicago

   River Forest, ILPrivate nonprofit

   • 31Master's/yr
   • $78,390Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Teaching: Secondary Education
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   Concordia University Chicago offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education built for candidates preparing to lead a subject-area classroom in grades 9 through 12. The 36-credit program, plus a content concentration in English, mathematics, biology, or social studies, threads 100 pre-professional clinical hours through its coursework so candidates are in schools well before student teaching. An edTPA portfolio serves as the capstone, and candidates can pace their final placement through a traditional 16-week term or an accelerated option, a flexibility that suits both recent graduates and career-changers. An optional Lutheran Teacher Diploma track reflects the university's faith-based roots. The program meets Illinois State Board of Education guidelines and leads to a Professional Educator License with secondary and content-area endorsements, with the required content-specific ILTS exams completed before student teaching. As a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods, it adds to the master's-level teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods 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 31 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
7. 7

   McDaniel College

   Westminster, MDPrivate nonprofitOnline available

   • 8Master's/yr
   • $76,400Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Science in Elementary Education
   • Online
   About the program

   McDaniel College offers a Master of Science in Elementary Education, an online degree designed for teachers who already hold certification and are looking to deepen and extend their practice. Rather than routing students through a fixed sequence, the program is built around a self-designed academic plan developed one-on-one with a program coordinator, an approach that reads as highly individualized professional advancement. Its concentration menu is wide, ranging from Elementary Math Instructional Leader and Gifted and Talented Education to Special Education, TESOL, Equity and Excellence, and Writing for Children and Young Adults, and several tracks carry add-on certification endorsements such as Administrator I, EMIL, or GATES. The 33-credit degree requires a capstone project and assumes applicants already hold a Maryland Standard Professional Certificate or equivalent. The program holds initial AAQEP accreditation through June 2029. It is a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods at the master's level, based in Maryland.

   Why it ranks here

   Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 8 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD, where elementary teachers earn a median $76,400, roughly $73,119 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

   School site
8. 8

   Western Illinois University

   Macomb, ILPublic

   • 51Master's/yr
   • $75,320State teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Teaching (Alternative Licensure)
   • Online
   About the program

   Western Illinois University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching for alternative licensure, a route designed for people ready to start teaching immediately rather than waiting to finish a degree first. Candidates are hired by a school district on a provisional license and paid a beginning teacher's salary while completing online coursework across a one-year residency anchored by an internship in teaching. The structure reads as earn-while-you-learn, aimed at career-changers and paraprofessionals who need income and a classroom of their own from day one. Concentration options are unusually broad, reaching from early childhood and elementary through middle grades, secondary content areas, special education, music, art, physical education, and world language. Completing the paid residency converts the provisional credential into a full Illinois Professional Educator License. It is a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods at the master's level, based in Illinois.

   Why it ranks here

   A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 51 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Illinois statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $75,320, roughly $75,352 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

   Southern New Hampshire University

   Manchester, NHPrivate nonprofitOnline available

   • 153Master's/yr
   • $72,410State teacher pay
   • Master of Education (MEd) in Curriculum and Instruction
   • New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)-accredited
   • Online
   About the program

   Southern New Hampshire University offers a fully online Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, a 36-credit program structured in accelerated 10-week terms for educators who want to deepen expertise without stepping away from work. Rather than leading to licensure, the degree is meant to broaden and refine practice, and candidates choose from concentrations in dyslexia and language-based learning disabilities, educational leadership, online teaching, reading, special education, and technology, or a general track with no concentration. The dyslexia focus was built in partnership with the Landmark School, lending specialized weight to that path. Study closes with a capstone project and a professional portfolio that lets candidates showcase applied work. The program accepts up to twelve transfer credits and advises prospective students to check their state licensure board, since it does not itself confer a teaching credential. As a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods, it adds to the master's-level teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods options in New Hampshire.

   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 153 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New Hampshire statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $72,410, roughly $69,515 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

    Georgia Southern University

    Statesboro, GAPublicOnline available

    • 113Master's/yr
    • $72,290State teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Secondary Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Georgia Southern University offers a Master of Education in Secondary Education, a fully online, 36-credit degree for certified teachers looking to advance within their content area. Candidates align the program with the subject they already teach, choosing from concentrations that span biology, chemistry, physics, broad field science, English, mathematics, economics, geography, history, and political science. The four-to-six-semester timeline and online format accommodate teachers balancing coursework against a full schedule, while optional endorsements in ESOL, Reading, and Online Teaching and Learning let them broaden their reach. A certificate in Curriculum and Pedagogy for Social Justice offers a further avenue for candidates drawn to equity-focused practice. Approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, the program leads to a Georgia Level 5 certificate upgrade for eligible Level 4 teachers. It is a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods at the master's level, based 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 113 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Georgia statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $72,290, roughly $75,073 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
11. 11

    Georgia Southwestern State University

    Americus, GAPublic

    • 153Master's/yr
    • $72,290State teacher pay
    • Master of Education
    • Online
    About the program

    Georgia Southwestern State University offers a Master of Education built for certified teachers who want an efficient, fully online path to an advanced degree. Candidates concentrate in Elementary Education, Middle Grades Education, or Special Education, and the asynchronous format lets them study on their own schedule without set meeting times. At 33 credit hours, the program can be finished in as little as 13 months, and it waives the GRE and GMAT, lowering the barriers for busy educators returning to graduate study. Admission opens only in the Summer semester, which points to a structured, cohort-like intake rather than rolling enrollment. Applicants must already hold or be eligible for a professional teaching certificate, confirming the degree serves practicing teachers advancing their credentials. It is a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods at the master's level, based in Georgia.

    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 153 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Georgia statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $72,290, roughly $75,073 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
12. 12

    Wayne State University

    Detroit, MIPublicOnline available

    • 19Master's/yr
    • $65,210Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Teaching and Learning
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Wayne State University offers a Master of Education in Teaching and Learning, a CAEP-accredited degree that lets educators sharpen their practice within a chosen area of the field. Its concentrations map to the specialties teachers actually work in, from bilingual education, English as a second language, and English education to mathematics, science and STEM, visual art, early childhood, and special education tracks in autism spectrum disorder and cognitive impairment. Several of these paths can lead to a teaching endorsement, though the outcome depends on the concentration a candidate selects. The program spans a minimum of 30 credits, with at least 24 taken at Wayne State, and follows the master's Plan B, closing with a terminal seminar and an essay or project rather than a thesis. That applied capstone signals a program oriented toward classroom improvement over academic research. It is a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods at the master's level, based in Michigan.

    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 19 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI, where elementary teachers earn a median $65,210, roughly $65,016 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

    Creighton University

    Omaha, NEPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 4Master's/yr
    • $62,670Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Secondary School Teaching
    • Online
    About the program

    Creighton University offers a Master of Education in Secondary School Teaching, a 30 credit-hour program built on a 12-month teacher residency model that immerses candidates in a classroom for a full year alongside a mentor. Delivered largely online, with synchronous classes in the summer and asynchronous fall and spring courses plus on-campus support in Omaha, it accommodates candidates preparing to teach grades 7-12. The residency structure, backed by a 100% average pass rate on certification exams, marks a program that treats sustained classroom experience as the heart of teacher preparation. Current educators receive a guaranteed minimum $3,000 scholarship, and a distinctive Magis Catholic Teacher Corps option adds a two-year volunteer teaching commitment with formation requirements for those drawn to service. Accredited by CAEP and the Higher Learning Commission, the program advises candidates to confirm their own state's certification rules. As a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods, it adds to the master's-level teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods options in Nebraska.

    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 4 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Omaha, NE-IA, where elementary teachers earn a median $62,670, roughly $68,186 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

    Morningside University

    Sioux City, IAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 16Master's/yr
    • $62,270Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching
    • Online
    About the program

    Morningside University offers a fully online Master of Arts in Teaching aimed squarely at practicing educators looking to deepen their expertise and advance on district salary schedules. The program's defining feature is breadth, with more than ten concentrations ranging from autism education, literacy, and special education to STEM, gifted education, English as a second language, and teacher leadership. Alongside these specializations sit initial-licensure tracks in elementary, secondary, and K-12 special education, so the degree serves both credentialed teachers and those still seeking a first license. Candidates can pursue up to twelve Iowa endorsements concurrently or separately, a design that reads as a flexible menu built around each teacher's career goals rather than a single fixed path. The initial-licensure tracks lead to Iowa teacher licensure. As a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods, it adds to the master's-level teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods options in Iowa.

    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 16 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Sioux City, IA-NE-SD, where elementary teachers earn a median $62,270, roughly $72,027 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

    University of Louisville

    Louisville, KYPublic

    • 11Master's/yr
    • $61,610Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Teaching and Learning
    • Online
    About the program

    The University of Louisville offers a fully online Master of Education in Teaching and Learning designed for already-certified educators who want to grow as teacher leaders. Admission requires a current Kentucky teaching certificate, which frames the degree as advanced study for practicing teachers rather than an entry route into the profession. Concentrations reach across early childhood, elementary, middle, and secondary grades and extend into special education, learning and behavior disorders, and social justice education, letting teachers deepen the area they already work in. Built collaboratively with P-12 teachers and administrators, the program follows a three-tiered leadership development model and offers an optional pathway toward National Board Certification. Out-of-state applicants are advised to verify their own state's requirements, since the emphasis here is professional advancement rather than initial licensure. It is a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods at the master's level, based in Kentucky.

    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. Its graduates step into Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,610, roughly $66,195 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

    Bellarmine University

    Louisville, KYPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 31Master's/yr
    • $61,610Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Bellarmine University offers an accelerated, outcome-based Master of Arts in Teaching that leads to initial Kentucky certification across the P-12 span, with elementary, middle, and secondary tracks. The cohort model is built around working adults, combining a single weekly evening class with online work and Saturday sessions so candidates can prepare to teach without leaving the workforce. Distinctive funded pathways sharpen that focus: the Louisville Teacher Residency provides a one-year cohort with a $33,000 stipend, and the Noyce Knights Scholars Program offers free tuition to STEM degree holders entering high-need classrooms. Together these features read as a program deliberately lowering the financial and scheduling barriers to becoming a certified teacher. Recognized by the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board and fully CAEP accredited, it also offers an alternative certification pathway. This program offers a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods in Kentucky.

    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 31 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,610, roughly $66,195 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

    Mercer University

    Macon, GAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 42Master's/yr
    • $61,510Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education (The Advanced Teacher)
    • Online
    About the program

    Mercer University offers a Master of Education branded as The Advanced Teacher, a fully online degree built to sharpen the practice of educators already at work in schools. Candidates select a level of focus from Early Learning and Development, Elementary Education, Middle Grades Education, Secondary Education, or a broad P-12 track, matching the program to where they teach. Flexible 8-week and 16-week terms allow completion in roughly 12 to 16 months, and optional face-to-face faculty meetings add a human touchpoint to the online experience. Teachers can layer on up to two endorsements in areas such as Autism, Dyslexia, ESOL, Gifted, or STEM, extending their qualifications while they study. Graduates become eligible to upgrade their teaching certification to Level 5 through the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. As a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods, it adds to the master's-level teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods options in Georgia.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 42 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Macon-Bibb County, GA, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,510, roughly $69,481 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

    Alverno College

    Milwaukee, WIPrivate nonprofit

    • 2Master's/yr
    • $61,480Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Education
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Alverno College offers a Master of Arts in Education (M.A.) that functions less as a single degree than as a menu of Wisconsin licensure routes under one roof. Its ten license and degree tracks reach from early grades and Birth to 3rd Grade through K-9 and secondary 4th-12th grade teaching, and extend into specialist and leadership roles including Reading Specialist, Reading Teacher, Special Education K-12, Principal, and Director of Instruction. The schedule is built for people already working, blending online study with face-to-face weekend and weekday-evening classes. A clinical practicum of at least one 15-week semester grounds each track in supervised school practice. Depending on the pathway chosen, graduates qualify for the corresponding Wisconsin DPI license. This program offers a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods 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 2 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,480, roughly $63,423 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

    Vanderbilt University

    Nashville, TNPrivate nonprofit

    • 2Master's/yr
    • $61,460Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Secondary Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Vanderbilt University's Peabody College offers a Master of Education in Secondary Education that prepares candidates to teach and earn state licensure across grades 6-12. Students specialize in a content area such as social studies, science, mathematics, or English, with additional pathways for K-12 music through the Blair School and PreK-12 multilingual education, so the program spans a wide range of subject specialists. Spread over two years, it gives candidates time to build both disciplinary depth and classroom skill before completing their clinical year. That final year is deliberately flexible, allowing either traditional student teaching or a job-embedded pathway for those already working in schools. A Teacher Pathway Scholarship guaranteeing at least 30 percent funding for newly admitted students underscores the program's intent to make preparation accessible to aspiring teachers. It is a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods at the master's level, based in Tennessee.

    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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,460, roughly $63,796 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

    Belmont University

    Nashville, TNPrivate nonprofit

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $61,460Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Leadership and Learning Innovation
    • Online
    About the program

    Belmont University offers a Master of Education in Leadership and Learning Innovation, delivered fully online and entirely asynchronously with no campus visits. Unlike many education graduate programs, it does not require a current teaching license to apply and does not lead to an initial teaching license, opening the door to a broader range of professionals interested in education. Students combine two concentration certificates from options that include Higher Education, Teacher Coach, Teacher of English Language Learners, Special Education, and Instructional Design, building a degree around their own goals. The English Language Learners and Special Education tracks add endorsement pathways for those already teaching. Structured to finish in about eighteen months, the program reads as a flexible, customizable credential for educators and adjacent professionals seeking leadership and innovation expertise. It is a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods at the master's level, based in Tennessee.

    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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,460, roughly $63,796 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

    Columbus State University

    Columbus, GAPublicOnline available

    • 23Master's/yr
    • $61,360Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction in Accomplished Teaching
    • Online
    About the program

    Columbus State University offers a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction in Accomplished Teaching, a fully online, 36-credit degree delivered collaboratively with two partner institutions in the University System of Georgia. Sharing coursework across Columbus State, Georgia Southern, and Valdosta State pools faculty expertise from three campuses into one credential, and the online format keeps it within reach of teachers who are already working. The program typically takes about two years part-time, a pace that fits practicing educators studying alongside full teaching loads. Its focus on accomplished teaching signals a program meant to refine the craft of experienced classroom teachers rather than launch newcomers. Graduates become eligible for advanced professional certification at Level 5 in Curriculum and Instruction through the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. It is a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods at the master's level, based 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 23 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Columbus, GA-AL, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,360, roughly $68,715 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
22. 22

    University of Richmond

    University of Richmond, VAPrivate nonprofit

    • 2Master's/yr
    • $61,290Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Teaching
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Richmond offers a Master of Teaching that leads to an initial Virginia Department of Education teaching license earned alongside the graduate degree. Candidates can pursue elementary education at the PreK-6 level, secondary content areas in English, history and social sciences, mathematics, or science, or comprehensive PreK-12 licensure in foreign language, theater arts, or visual arts, with add-on endorsements available in ESL, gifted education, and special education. Its accreditation for initial teacher preparation through CAEP signals externally reviewed quality. What most distinguishes the program is its flexibility in field experience, offering a traditional 15-week internship, a yearlong paid internship for provisionally licensed teachers, or a STEP residency pathway. Those varied routes let the degree accommodate both full-time students and those already teaching under provisional licenses. It is a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods at the master's level, based in Virginia.

    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 Richmond, VA, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,290, roughly $62,632 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

    College of Charleston

    Charleston, SCPublic

    • 8Master's/yr
    • $61,020Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Teaching, Learning and Advocacy
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The College of Charleston offers a Master of Education in Teaching, Learning and Advocacy, an on-campus degree built for practicing educators who want to deepen their craft while completing coursework at a manageable pace. The 36-credit program is designed to be finished in about two years of part-time study, a rhythm that fits teachers balancing classroom work with graduate study. Candidates shape the degree around one of three concentrations, Curriculum and Instruction, Diverse Learners, or Science and Mathematics, letting them align the work with the subjects and students they serve. The Diverse Learners track carries particular weight, opening add-on certification opportunities tied to multilingual learners and special education. Every student closes the program with a required Capstone Project, framing the degree as an applied, reflection-driven experience rather than a purely theoretical one. It is a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods at the master's level, based in South 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 8 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Charleston-North Charleston, SC, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,020, roughly $60,439 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

    American College of Education

    Indianapolis, INPrivate for-profitOnline available

    • 174Master's/yr
    • $60,510Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education
    • Higher Learning Commission-accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    American College of Education offers a Master of Education built for experienced educators who want to deepen subject-area expertise or step into leadership. A wide slate of specializations spanning curriculum and instruction, educational technology, early childhood education, educational leadership, STEM education, mathematics, special education, and literacy lets teachers align the degree with their own trajectory. The college positions this M.Ed. distinctly from its Master of Arts in Teaching programs, which serve aspiring licensure-seekers, so the M.Ed. reads as an advancement credential for those already in the field. Flexible pacing lets students take multiple courses at once and finish in as little as twelve months, and faculty are practicing educators, principals, and superintendents who bring current school experience into the online classroom. Most of its master's degrees cost under ten thousand dollars, and the program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The affordability and practitioner faculty underscore its focus on working professionals. As a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods, it adds to the master's-level teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods options 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 174 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN, where elementary teachers earn a median $60,510, roughly $63,231 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
25. 25

    University of Central Florida

    Orlando, FLPublic

    • 14Master's/yr
    • $60,190Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Central Florida offers a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction aimed at educators who want to deepen their expertise rather than earn an initial credential. The degree explicitly does not prepare students for initial, administrative, or supervisory certification, positioning it instead as advanced professional study for those already in practice. A range of concentrations, including Supporting High Needs Populations, Gifted Education, Intervention Specialist, Educational Technology, Global International and Comparative Education, and Curriculum Leadership, lets candidates tailor the program to a specialization. Students complete either a six-credit thesis or a three-credit capstone action-research project, a choice that accommodates both scholarly and applied interests. According to the program page, admissions to the program have been temporarily suspended effective Summer 2021. It is a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods at the master's level, based in Florida.

    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 14 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL, where elementary teachers earn a median $60,190, roughly $59,348 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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