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

1. 1

   Simmons University

   Boston, MAPrivate nonprofit

   • 1Master's/yr
   • $98,060Metro teacher pay
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Simmons University, a private nonprofit institution in Boston, is listed as offering graduate study in subject-specific teacher education. As a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas, it adds to the master's-level teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas options in Massachusetts.

   Why it ranks here

   For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

   School site
2. 2

   Gordon College

   Wenham, MAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

   • 2Master's/yr
   • $98,060Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Education
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Gordon College offers an online Master of Education with an unusually broad menu of 28 programs, from content fields such as biology, chemistry, physics, English, history, and mathematics to specialized tracks in early childhood with a Montessori option, educational leadership, reading, and moderate disabilities education. The program supports pathways to both initial and professional Massachusetts teacher licensure, with out-of-state options referenced, making it a flexible home for new teachers and practicing educators alike. Its distinguishing mark is accreditation by the International Dyslexia Association, placing Gordon among a select group of U.S. programs recognized for teaching the science of reading, which gives its reading and literacy tracks particular weight. Courses run in a mix of synchronous and asynchronous formats with four start dates a year, easing entry for working adults. The breadth of concentrations and the reading-science credential together read as a program that serves a wide range of teaching goals while staking a clear claim to literacy expertise. As a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas, it adds to the master's-level teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas options 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 2 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

   School site
3. 3

   Merrimack College

   North Andover, MAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

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

   Merrimack College offers a Master of Education in Middle School (5-8) and High School (8-12) Education that pairs a chosen content area, from biology and physics to English, math, and history, with Massachusetts Initial licensure at the middle or high school level. Accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education and approved by the state as an Educator Preparation Program, it centers on a 450-hour, 15-week full-time practicum supported by three pre-practicum observations. Built-in MTEL preparation and an SEI endorsement signal that the program is designed to carry candidates all the way to a classroom-ready credential, not just coursework. A tuition-free fellowship option, completed in 13 months through partner districts, makes it especially attractive to career-changers who can commit to an immersive year. With no GRE or GMAT required, the emphasis stays on clinical readiness and subject mastery. As a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas, it adds to the master's-level teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas options in Massachusetts.

   Why it ranks here

   Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

   School site
4. 4

   Lesley University

   Cambridge, MAPrivate nonprofit

   • 13Master's/yr
   • $98,060Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Education (M.Ed.) in High School Education
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   Lesley University offers a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in High School Education that prepares candidates to teach a single content area, choosing from eight subjects across grades 8-12, with English, History, and Social Sciences licenses spanning grades 5-12. The program leads to a Massachusetts Initial teaching license, and its low-residency, hybrid structure lets students move through it part-time or full-time depending on their circumstances. What distinguishes it is a guaranteed field placement, arranged either through a Scholar Partner School or a Teacher Residency set in the candidate's own school. That residency option, in particular, reads as a route built for people already working in classrooms who want to earn licensure without stepping away from their jobs. The result is a subject-focused, clinically grounded path into secondary teaching that flexes around a working schedule. This program offers a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas 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 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
5. 5

   CUNY City College

   New York, NYPublic

   • 20Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts / Master of Science in Science Education
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   CUNY City College offers a Master of Arts or Master of Science in Science Education, a hybrid program that prepares candidates to teach middle and high school science and earn New York State certification. Concentrations span middle school science along with biology, chemistry, earth and atmospheric science, and physics at the 7-12 level, giving science-minded candidates a clear path into a specific certification area. A notable feature is the program's openness to applicants who lack an undergraduate science-education background, positioning it as an entry point for career changers and scientists moving into teaching. Its partnerships with the American Museum of Natural History and the New York Hall of Science ground the coursework in inquiry-based, museum- and field-based learning, an approach that mirrors how science is actually practiced. CCNY's educator preparation is continuously accredited under New York Commissioner's Regulations, and the program leads to state teaching certification in middle and high school science. As a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas, it adds to the master's-level teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas options in New York.

   Why it ranks here

   For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 20 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

   School site
6. 6

   Hofstra University

   Hempstead, NYPrivate nonprofit

   • 1Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Science in Education (MSEd) / Master of Arts (MA) in Secondary Education
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   Hofstra University offers a Master of Science in Education or Master of Arts in secondary education, a hybrid program that lets candidates certify in one of a broad range of subjects while completing graduate study. The concentration list runs unusually wide, covering English language arts, mathematics with a STEM integration track, the sciences, social studies, foreign language, music, fine arts, business education, and family and consumer sciences, so the program accommodates teachers across nearly the full secondary curriculum. Small class sizes and dedicated facilities such as the STEM Studio and Hagedorn Hall shape a hands-on preparation experience, and long-standing Long Island school partnerships supply field placements close to campus. Rolling admissions and the hybrid format add flexibility for candidates balancing other commitments. The program is CAEP accredited, with the School of Education also earning AAQEP accreditation in 2025, and it leads to New York State Initial Teacher Certification in the chosen subject and grade band, with some tracks adding a Work-Based Learning Coordinator credential. It is a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas at the master's level, based in New York.

   Why it ranks here

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

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

   School site
7. 7

   Concordia University-Saint Paul

   Saint Paul, MNPrivate nonprofitOnline available

   • 42Master's/yr
   • $79,730Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) with K-6 Licensure
   • Higher Learning Commission (HLC)-accredited
   • Online
   About the program

   Concordia University-Saint Paul offers a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) with K-6 Licensure, an online program that leads to a Minnesota Initial teaching license for kindergarten through grade 6. Delivered on an accelerated 22-month cohort schedule with a single synchronous session each week, it is clearly shaped for adults balancing work and family who want a predictable, part-time rhythm. The 36-credit curriculum builds toward a 6-credit Clinical Experience and a Professional Foundations K-6 placement, so candidates finish with supervised classroom time rather than coursework alone. Institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, the program reads as a structured, licensure-focused entry into elementary teaching for career-changers. Its cohort format keeps students moving together from foundations through student teaching. It is a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas at the master's level, based in Minnesota.

   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 42 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI, where elementary teachers earn a median $79,730, roughly $76,062 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

   School site
8. 8

   The College of New Jersey

   Ewing, NJPublic

   • 11Master's/yr
   • $77,850Metro teacher pay
   • Five-Year Secondary Special Education Program (Master of Teaching, MAT, in Special Education with subject-area certification)
   • On-campus
   About the program

   The College of New Jersey offers a five-year Master of Teaching (MAT) in special education paired with secondary subject-area certification, an integrated bachelor's-to-master's pathway aimed at students who commit early to a teaching career. Candidates pursue content certification in English, mathematics, social studies, or biology alongside Teacher of Students with Disabilities certification, graduating prepared to teach both a general-education subject in grades 6-12 and special education across K-12. Spreading the coursework over five years rather than compressing it does more than lighten the load; it opens room for study abroad and other enrichment before the culminating MAT capstone year. That design reads as a program for undergraduates who want breadth and dual credentials without rushing the professional preparation. TCNJ describes its educator programs as fully accredited licensure pathways, with the School of Education referencing CAEP accreditation, and the dual certification broadens graduates' reach across both content and special-education settings. This program offers a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas in New Jersey.

   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 Trenton-Princeton, NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $77,850, roughly $75,451 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

   Dallas Baptist University

   Dallas, TXPrivate nonprofit

   • 9Master's/yr
   • $65,070Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Education in Teaching
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Dallas Baptist University offers a Master of Education in Teaching, a non-thesis program of 30 to 36 hours that pairs graduate study with a Christ-centered curriculum grounded in servant leadership. Candidates demonstrate subject-area expertise through the Content PACT exam or through content coursework, with twelve semester hours in most fields and fifteen for secondary math or science. Coursework can be combined with the university's Educator Preparation Program requirements, giving graduates a route toward Texas teacher certification. A service-learning component reinforces the program's emphasis on teaching as an act of service. The practical, non-thesis structure keeps the focus on classroom readiness for those preparing to enter or advance in the profession. This program offers a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas in Texas.

   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 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, where elementary teachers earn a median $65,070, roughly $63,120 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

    Old Dominion University

    Norfolk, VAPublicOnline available

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $63,380Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education (Grades 6-12) with Initial Virginia Licensure
    • Online
    About the program

    Old Dominion University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education (Grades 6-12) with Initial Virginia Licensure delivered fully online through ODUGlobal, and its structure is unmistakably built for aspiring teachers entering the profession by an efficient route. Candidates choose a content-area track in English, Social Studies, or Math and Science, then move through accelerated eight-week asynchronous courses that fit around existing work and life. A supervised student-teaching field placement anchors the coursework in real classrooms, and completion prepares graduates for initial Virginia teacher licensure at the secondary level. The program is CAEP-accredited through the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies, signaling a nationally recognized standard of educator preparation. A 25% tuition discount for Virginia public school employees further orients the degree toward those already working in or near the state's schools. As a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas, it adds to the master's-level teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas options 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 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC, where elementary teachers earn a median $63,380, roughly $64,712 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 Nebraska at Kearney

    Kearney, NEPublicOnline available

    • 27Master's/yr
    • $62,380State teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.) in Physical Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Nebraska at Kearney offers a fully online Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.) in Physical Education designed as an advanced degree for practicing K-12 physical education teachers rather than a route to initial licensure. Students choose between a Pedagogy emphasis, covering instruction from the elementary through post-secondary levels, and an Adapted Physical Education emphasis focused on physical activity for individuals with disabilities, particularly school-age learners. The 30-credit program lets candidates complete their studies through a Comprehensive Examination, a Comprehensive Project, or a Thesis, giving both practitioner-minded and research-minded teachers a fitting capstone. Admission asks for a personal statement and a short video on teaching philosophy and technology integration, hinting at a program attentive to how educators reflect on and communicate their craft. It suits current PE teachers seeking to deepen their pedagogy or specialize in adapted instruction. As a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas, it adds to the master's-level teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas options in Nebraska.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 27 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Nebraska statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $62,380, roughly $69,232 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

    Drake University

    Des Moines, IAPrivate nonprofit

    • 5Master's/yr
    • $61,650Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Drake University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching that prepares graduates for Iowa licensure to teach middle and high school, grades 5 through 12, across more than thirty endorsement areas including math, science, special education, and ESL. What distinguishes the program is a fork in the road: candidates can follow a Teacher Intern Program, spending a year on coursework before teaching full-time with salary and benefits in the second year, or choose a standard MAT capped by a 14-week mentored student teaching placement. Both pathways include eighty hours of practicum, and evening, weekend, and some synchronous online courses keep the schedule workable for adults balancing jobs. The intern option in particular reads as a program built for people who want to earn while they learn and step quickly into a paid classroom. The result is a flexible, licensure-focused route that meets candidates where their careers already are. It is a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas at the master's level, based 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 5 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, where elementary teachers earn a median $61,650, roughly $67,229 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

    Alverno College

    Milwaukee, WIPrivate nonprofit

    • 4Master's/yr
    • $61,480Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Education (License to Masters, Secondary Education Grades 4-12 track)
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Alverno College offers a Master of Arts in Education whose Secondary Education (Grades 4-12) track sits within an unusually broad licensure architecture, marking it as a program built to meet educators wherever they are in their careers. Candidates can pursue initial licensure in bands from Birth through 12th grade, add endorsements in areas like ESL, Reading, or Bilingual and Bicultural Education, or move toward advanced roles as principal, director of instruction, or reading specialist. The whole curriculum is competency-based, organized around five core educator abilities including diagnosis, coordination, and integrative interaction, which signals a hands-on, performance-oriented philosophy rather than a purely lecture-driven one. The hybrid License to Masters pathway lets candidates earn both licensure and the degree in roughly two years. Programs are approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, and Alverno holds regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission. It is a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas at the master's level, based in Wisconsin.

    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 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
14. 14

    College of Charleston

    Charleston, SCPublic

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $61,020Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Teaching, Learning & Advocacy
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    The College of Charleston offers a Master of Education in Teaching, Learning and Advocacy, a 36-credit program designed for already-licensed educators who want to grow their influence rather than earn an initial credential. Its structure balances shared purpose with individual focus, pairing 18 core credits in research, advocacy, and policy analysis with 18 credits in a chosen concentration. Candidates can specialize in Curriculum and Instruction, Diverse Learners with ESOL and multilingual or special education options, or Science and Mathematics, letting the degree bend toward the populations and subjects they serve. The advocacy-oriented core signals a program that sees teachers as agents of change in their schools and districts, not only in their classrooms. Optional add-on endorsements, including multilingual learner, special education, and project-based learning, give graduates concrete ways to expand what they are qualified to do. As a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas, it adds to the master's-level teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas options in South Carolina.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into 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
15. 15

    Morehead State University

    Morehead, KYPublicOnline available

    • 6Master's/yr
    • $60,610State teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Morehead State University offers a fully online Master of Arts in Teaching that qualifies graduates to teach grades 5 through 12 in Kentucky across concentrations spanning early childhood, elementary, middle grades, secondary, and special education, with agricultural and music options among them. The program keeps two doors open: a Traditional Pathway with supervised clinical practice for those new to the classroom, and an Option 6 Pathway that lets full-time Kentucky teachers earn certification while employed under a Temporary Provisional Certificate. That dual structure, together with the online delivery, reads as a program deliberately shaped for working adults across the state. Cost is a central part of its pitch, marketed as Kentucky's most affordable MAT at $275 per credit hour, roughly $8,250 to $10,450 for the full 30 to 38 hours, with no application fee and no admission testing. Accredited by AAQEP, it positions accessibility and affordability as the heart of its appeal. As a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas, it adds to the master's-level teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas options in Kentucky.

    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 6 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Kentucky statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $60,610, roughly $67,226 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

    American College of Education

    Indianapolis, INPrivate for-profitOnline available

    • 96Master's/yr
    • $60,510Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education
    • Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
    • Online
    About the program

    American College of Education offers a fully online Master of Education aimed squarely at already-licensed educators looking to deepen subject expertise or step into leadership, distinct from the college's separate M.A.T. tracks built for initial licensure. Students assemble a highly customizable course of study by choosing from specializations such as Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Technology, Early Childhood Education, Educational Leadership, STEM Education, Mathematics, Special Education, and Literacy. Multiple start dates throughout the year and a completion timeline as short as twelve months signal a program engineered for busy practitioners advancing on their own schedule. The self-directed specialization model gives working teachers latitude to align the degree with their current role or intended next step. American College of Education is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. This program offers a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas in Indiana.

    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 96 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
17. 17

    University of Central Florida

    Orlando, FLPublicOnline available

    • 20Master's/yr
    • $60,190Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching in Teacher Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Central Florida offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Teacher Education that carries candidates toward initial Florida certification in a chosen secondary subject, from art and English language arts to mathematics and the sciences. The concentration list spans middle grades and full 6-12 fields, and several tracks run fully online while the program as a whole blends coursework with a two-semester internship guided by a mentor teacher. That internship includes an on-the-job option, which lets candidates who are already teaching earn credentials while employed rather than stepping away from a classroom. A professional portfolio replaces any thesis, and neither a thesis nor the GRE is required, signaling a program built around demonstrated practice rather than research. As a state-approved Educator Preparation Program, it leads to licensure once candidates pass all sections of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination. As a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas, it adds to the master's-level teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas options in Florida.

    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 20 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
18. 18

    Arizona State University Campus Immersion

    Tempe, AZPublic

    • 1Master's/yr
    • $59,180Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Secondary Education – Teacher Certification
    • Online
    About the program

    Arizona State University offers an online Master of Education in Secondary Education with Teacher Certification, a degree built to move candidates into grades 6-12 classrooms with a credential in hand. Completion earns an ASU institutional recommendation for Arizona teacher certification through the state Department of Education, with a reciprocity review pathway for those licensing elsewhere. Students tailor the degree by selecting a subject-area methods course from options that include biological science, chemistry, Earth and space sciences, physics, mathematics, English, and history, so the program fits a wide range of content backgrounds. Its 30 credit hours span 16 courses of 15 weeks each and weave in hands-on middle and high school field experiences alongside a final applied research project. Requiring an IVP fingerprint clearance card, it reads as a fully online but classroom-serious route into secondary teaching. This program offers a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas in Arizona.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 1 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ, where elementary teachers earn a median $59,180, roughly $57,281 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

    Florida Atlantic University

    Boca Raton, FLPublic

    • 5Master's/yr
    • $58,300Metro teacher pay
    • Master's Degree in Secondary Education plus Certification
    • Online
    About the program

    Florida Atlantic University offers a Master of Education in Secondary Education plus Certification designed for professionals who hold a bachelor's degree in another field and want to move into the classroom. Delivered online across 36 credit hours, the program lets candidates specialize in art, biology, chemistry, English, mathematics, physics, or social sciences while completing an integrated internship that anchors the coursework in real teaching. ESOL preparation is built directly into the curriculum, reflecting Florida's multilingual classrooms, and student teaching leads graduates to eligibility for state professional certification in their chosen subject. The roughly 24-month pace reads as a route for working career changers who need structure and flexibility at once. The combination of subject depth, embedded fieldwork, and certification focus makes this a practice-oriented path into secondary teaching. As a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas, it adds to the master's-level teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas options 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 5 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL, where elementary teachers earn a median $58,300, roughly $51,071 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

    Campbell University

    Buies Creek, NCPrivate nonprofit

    • 3Master's/yr
    • $54,930State teacher pay
    • Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Secondary Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Campbell University offers a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Secondary Education designed for teachers who already hold initial licensure and want to advance toward master-teacher status. Rather than certifying newcomers, the program builds on candidates' existing classroom experience, extending the INTASC standards and North Carolina competencies and grounding its work in the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Concentrations are available in English, mathematics, and social studies, keeping the focus tightly on secondary content teaching. The 33-semester-hour curriculum culminates in individualized capstone projects, a structure that reads as built for practicing educators refining their craft on their own terms. Completion leads to advanced-level North Carolina licensure in the chosen subject area. This program offers a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas in North Carolina.

    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 North Carolina statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $54,930, roughly $58,234 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

    Northern Arizona University

    Flagstaff, AZPublicOnline available

    • 5Master's/yr
    • $53,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Science Teaching (MAST)
    • Online
    About the program

    Northern Arizona University offers a Master of Arts in Science Teaching that is aimed squarely at practicing science teachers rather than at candidates seeking a first license. The cohort-based, part-time online structure spans about two years and lets working educators deepen their content and pedagogy without leaving the classroom. Students choose science-content electives with an advisor and close the program with either a final project or a thesis, defended orally, which gives the degree a scholarly capstone even in its applied track. This MAST route does not by itself produce K-12 teacher certification, and NAU points candidates who need an Arizona secondary science license toward its separate MAT-S program. Eligibility for Arizona Teachers Academy tuition support makes it especially attractive to in-state teachers advancing their careers. This program offers a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas in Arizona.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 5 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Flagstaff, AZ, where elementary teachers earn a median $53,900, roughly $53,725 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 Central Missouri

    Warrensburg, MOPublicOnline available

    • 19Master's/yr
    • $50,910State teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
    • CAEP-accredited
    • Online
    About the program

    The University of Central Missouri offers a CAEP-accredited Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), an online program that leads to Missouri initial teaching certification through its Alternative Pathways Certification route. Candidates select a concentration spanning elementary, middle, secondary, and K-12 education, and the 30-credit curriculum can be completed in 18 to 24 months. A full-semester student teaching practicum, guided by both a mentor teacher and a university supervisor, keeps the program grounded in supervised classroom practice despite its online delivery. A District Partnership Award offering a 20 percent tuition reduction for school-district employees signals a program tuned to paraprofessionals and career-changers already working in schools. A reported 86 percent job placement rate within six months of graduation reinforces its focus on classroom-ready outcomes. As a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas, it adds to the master's-level teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas options in Missouri.

    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 Missouri statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $50,910, roughly $56,058 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

    Mississippi State University

    Mississippi State, MSPublic

    • 11Master's/yr
    • $49,790State teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching - Secondary Teacher Alternate Route
    • Online
    About the program

    Mississippi State University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in its Secondary Teacher Alternate Route, a fully online, 30-credit program that leads to Mississippi secondary teaching licensure across Class A and Class AA tracks. Candidates choose from a broad slate of subjects, from the sciences and mathematics to world languages, business, and special education, and the alternate-route design requires them to secure a teaching position before enrolling in methods and internship courses. That structure makes it a program for people already hired, or actively pursuing hires, who need to formalize their credential while teaching. Two internship semesters and a capstone in the final six credit hours anchor the coursework in real classroom practice. In-state tuition for all students, regardless of residence, keeps the online pathway affordable. As a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas, it adds to the master's-level teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas options in Mississippi.

    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 11 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Mississippi statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $49,790, roughly $57,261 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

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

    School site
24. 24

    University of Southern California

    Los Angeles, CAPrivate nonprofit

    • 123Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Single Subject credential (offered in English, Mathematics, Science, or Social Science)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Southern California's Rossier School offers a Master of Arts in Teaching designed to move candidates into California classrooms quickly and with a credential recommendation attached. Meeting California Commission on Teacher Credentialing standards, the program leads to a preliminary teaching credential and supports both Multiple Subject elementary and Single Subject tracks in English, mathematics, science, social science, and world languages, with added authorizations such as Education Specialist, Bilingual Spanish, and English Learner. The 11-month, 28-unit format is intensive and clinically driven, integrating student teaching in which candidates take on gradually increasing classroom responsibility under a mentor teacher. An explicit emphasis on placements in high-needs schools signals a mission-oriented program aimed at equity. Merit scholarships of up to $30,000 further position it for candidates committed to teaching where the need is greatest. As a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas, it adds to the master's-level teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas options 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 123 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
25. 25

    The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

    Knoxville, TNPublic

    • 149Master's/yr
    • Master of Science with a Major in Teacher Education (Practitioner Concentration)
    • Online
    About the program

    The University of Tennessee, Knoxville offers a Master of Science with a major in Teacher Education and a Practitioner Concentration, a job-embedded pathway that lets candidates earn initial Tennessee licensure while serving as the teacher of record in a partner school. Aimed at high-needs content areas such as math, science, special education, world languages, and ESL, the fully asynchronous online design fits people who are already teaching and cannot step away to student teach. The program spans roughly 30 to 38 credit hours over about two years, and its structure recognizes classroom work as the site where licensure is earned. Alongside the practitioner track, a Student Teaching Concentration with a Deaf Education specialization leads to a Tennessee special education hearing license after a fifteen-week placement. Non-licensure concentrations in Applied Behavior Analysis, Educational Studies, and Instructional Technology round out the degree for educators pursuing other goals. It is a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas at the master's level, based in Tennessee.

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

    School site

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