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

1. 1

   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
2. 2

   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

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

   School site
3. 3

   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

   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 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
4. 4

   Wilkes University

   Wilkes-Barre, PAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

   • 77Master's/yr
   • Master of Arts in Teaching with Initial Teaching Certification
   • Online
   About the program

   Wilkes University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching with Initial Teaching Certification, a 30-credit fully online program that opens a route into the middle-level classroom for aspiring teachers in grades four through eight. Candidates choose a content focus in mathematics, science, social studies, or English and language arts, matching the degree to the subject they intend to teach. The design keeps candidates close to home, with a twelve-week student teaching placement completed in the student's own local school district and no campus travel required. A Pennsylvania intern certification option lets candidates begin teaching under state certification before the degree is finished, and reciprocity supports portability for those who plan to work in other states. The result is a flexible entry pathway shaped for people balancing certification with the realities of where they live and work. This program offers a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas in Pennsylvania.

   Why it ranks here

   For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 77 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

   School site
5. 5

   Eastern University

   Saint Davids, PAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

   • 55Master's/yr
   • Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum & Instruction, Secondary Education Concentration
   • Online
   About the program

   Eastern University offers a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction with a secondary education concentration, a program that folds teaching certification into the degree so candidates earn both together. Delivered fully online and largely asynchronous, apart from required live sessions in the Student Teaching Seminar, it targets working adults who need to complete preparation on a flexible 12-to-18-month timeline. Concentration options extend well beyond secondary teaching to include PK-4 early childhood, middle-level content areas, special education, world languages, and health and physical education, and candidates are organized into peer cohorts by grade-band specialization. That cohort model, combined with faculty who are practicing teachers and principals, gives the program a grounded, practitioner-led feel. The result reads as a route into the classroom for career changers and aspiring teachers who want certification and a master's degree in a single online pathway. This program offers a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas in Pennsylvania.

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

   School site
6. 6

   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

   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 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
7. 7

   Drexel University

   Philadelphia, PAPrivate nonprofit

   • 30Master's/yr
   • Master of Science (MS) in Teaching, Learning and Curriculum
   • CAEP-accredited at initial and advanced levels
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   Drexel University offers a Master of Science in Teaching, Learning and Curriculum, a hybrid program whose three-track structure makes it adaptable to very different career stages. Track I leads to initial Pennsylvania certification for PreK-4, 4-8, or secondary 7-12 candidates and can be taken online or on campus, while Track III adds a dual secondary or middle-level and PreK-12 special education certification. Track II, by contrast, is a fully online advanced-studies path with no certification, offering nine or more concentrations such as autism spectrum disorders, learning technologies, reading specialist, and TESOL for teachers already in the field. Secondary subject certifications span biology, chemistry, computer science, earth and space science, English, general science, mathematics, physics, and social studies. Running on Drexel's quarter-system calendar, the certification tracks weave supervised field experiences throughout, culminating in full-time student teaching. The program is CAEP accredited at both initial and advanced levels, and its certification tracks lead to Pennsylvania Instructional I licensure. It is a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas at the master's level, based in Pennsylvania.

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

   School site
8. 8

   Bowling Green State University-Main Campus

   Bowling Green, OHPublicOnline available

   • 29Master's/yr
   • Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Teaching
   • Online
   About the program

   Bowling Green State University offers a fully online Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Teaching, a part-time program shaped around working educators who want to deepen their practice and add targeted endorsements. Its flexibility is deliberate: six annual start dates, seven-week terms during the academic year, and six-week summer terms let teachers fit graduate study around a classroom schedule. Twelve credit hours of electives let candidates build toward Ohio endorsements and certificates ranging from reading and middle childhood generalist to autism spectrum disorders, assistive technology, and workforce development, so the degree can be tailored to a teacher's own goals. The program is grounded in the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and Ohio Standards for the Teaching Profession, reinforcing its orientation toward practicing professionals. This particular track does not itself lead to initial licensure, and any Ohio endorsements chosen as electives may carry their own prerequisites or exams. The School of Inclusive Teacher Education program is CAEP accredited, with the university institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. This program offers a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas in Ohio.

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

   School site
9. 9

   Rutgers University-Camden

   Camden, NJPublic

   • 28Master's/yr
   • Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Secondary Content Area Certification
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Rutgers University-Camden offers a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in secondary content area certification, a program built to move subject-matter graduates into New Jersey classrooms with a full initial teaching credential. Candidates choose a P-12 concentration across a wide spread of fields, from biological science and mathematics to art, music, world languages, and social studies, so the degree serves aspiring teachers in nearly any secondary discipline. What defines the experience is its clinical emphasis: a two-phase progression that pairs Clinical Practice I fieldwork and seminar with a full-semester student teaching placement, layered on top of a 50-hour clinical experience embedded in the foundations coursework. That structure signals a program that treats supervised classroom time as central rather than supplemental. The MAT is CAEP accredited and aligned with New Jersey Professional Standards for Teachers, leading to initial licensure in the chosen subject, typically at the grades 5-12 level. This program offers a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas in New Jersey.

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

   School site
10. 10

    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

    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 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
11. 11

    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
12. 12

    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

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 20 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. 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
13. 13

    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
14. 14

    Cumberland University

    Lebanon, TNPrivate nonprofit

    • 18Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts in Education
    About the program

    Cumberland University offers a Master of Arts in Education built for already-licensed Tennessee teachers who want to add endorsements and sharpen a professional focus rather than enter the profession. The degree runs 30 credit hours and is structured to finish in about twelve months across three semesters, each split into two eight-week terms, a pace suited to educators studying while they teach. Its concentrations reflect distinct career directions, from Athletic Coaching and Physical Education and Physical Activity Leadership to a customizable Professional Studies track that layers on endorsements such as ESL, special education, biology, or mathematics. A comprehensive final examination in the closing semester anchors the program. Teachers seeking initial licensure instead are pointed to Cumberland's separate Master of Arts in Teaching, keeping this degree squarely aimed at advancement for practicing educators. This program offers a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas 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 18 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
15. 15

    Mount Vernon Nazarene University

    Mount Vernon, OHPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 17Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts in Education, Professional Educator's License (M.A.Ed. PEL)
    • Online
    About the program

    Mount Vernon Nazarene University offers an online Master of Arts in Education, Professional Educator's License (M.A.Ed. PEL), a program that pairs a graduate degree with a clear route to Ohio licensure. Candidates select from one of eleven specialized licensure areas and complete 43 credit hours over roughly 22 months, with multiple annual start dates that ease entry for career changers and working adults. The clinical component is substantial: two 75-clock-hour practicums followed by a 12-week student teaching placement, a field-experience load the university notes exceeds Ohio's minimum requirements. That emphasis on supervised practice, delivered in an online format, signals a program aimed at candidates who need flexibility without sacrificing hands-on preparation. Completion leads to an Ohio Professional Educator's License, contingent on background checks, the Ohio Educator Assessments, and a state licensure application. The curriculum is aligned to Ohio Department of Education and Workforce requirements. This program offers a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas in Ohio.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 17 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
16. 16

    Northwest University

    Kirkland, WAPrivate nonprofit

    • 16Master's/yr
    • Master in Teaching
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Northwest University offers a Master in Teaching that pairs a graduate degree with Washington State teacher certification in a single, tightly scheduled program on its Kirkland campus. The cohort-based evening format, meeting Monday through Thursday from 6:00 to 8:50pm, reads as a design for career-changers and recent graduates who need daytime hours free, and the full-time track can be finished in as little as one year. Candidates prepare for either K-8 elementary teaching or a secondary endorsement in areas such as English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Music, Health and Fitness, ELL, or Special Education. The path culminates in a Washington State Residency Teacher Certificate, supported by 460 hours of student teaching and the required WEST-B and NES/WEST-E endorsement exams. The combination of intensive scheduling and embedded clinical hours makes this a program for those committed to entering classrooms quickly. 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 Washington.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 16 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
17. 17

    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
18. 18

    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

    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 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
19. 19

    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
20. 20

    University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

    Denver, COPublicOnline available

    • 10Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts in STEM Education
    • Online
    About the program

    The University of Colorado Denver offers an online Master of Arts in STEM Education built for teachers who are already in the classroom and want to grow their practice. The 30-credit program lets students concentrate in Mathematics, Math-Science, or Middle School Math, and its Middle School Math track carries an optional endorsement pathway for candidates who can show an existing teaching license. A stated focus on equity and culturally sustaining STEM teaching gives the coursework a clear point of view rather than a purely technical one. Fully online delivery, rolling admissions, and a choice of full-time or part-time enrollment make the program adaptable to a working teacher's schedule. It reads as a professional-growth degree for licensed educators sharpening how they teach mathematics and science. This program offers a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas in Colorado.

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

    School site
21. 21

    Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

    Slippery Rock, PAPublicOnline available

    • 9Master's/yr
    • Master of Education in Secondary Education: English
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Slippery Rock University offers a Master of Education in Secondary Education: English, a 36-credit program that serves two distinct audiences through parallel concentrations. Its Basic Teaching Concentration is aimed at career changers seeking initial Pennsylvania certification to teach secondary English, and it builds in student teaching offered in either fall or spring, while the fully online Advanced Concentration deepens the practice of teachers already certified in English or language arts. That split lets the degree function both as an entry route into the classroom and as an advanced credential for those refining their craft. Graduates of the Basic track may qualify for Pennsylvania secondary English certification, pending transcript review or the state's Content Knowledge Certification Exam. Accredited by CAEP and completable in a single calendar year, the program sits within a family of SRU M.Ed. tracks that apply the same model to history, math, and 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 Pennsylvania.

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

    School site
22. 22

    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
23. 23

    Georgia College & State University

    Milledgeville, GAPublicOnline available

    • 8Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in Secondary Education
    • Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC)-accredited
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Georgia College and State University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education that leads to Level 5 Georgia educator certification once candidates clear the GACE Ethics and content-area assessments. Prospective teachers choose from grades 6-12 fields such as biology, chemistry, English, history, and mathematics, along with P-12 tracks in art, French, and Spanish, and can enter through either a June-start on-campus cohort or a four-semester online track. Five integrated study strands run through the coursework, weaving technology, classroom inquiry, content applications, literacy, and attention to diversity and exceptionalities into a coherent whole. Online candidates who already hold a provisional certificate may complete fieldwork in their own classrooms, which reads as a deliberate accommodation for people teaching while they credential. The cohort structure and GaPSC Pre-Service Certificate requirement mark this as a guided, certification-driven 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 Georgia.

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

    School site
24. 24

    Utah State University

    Logan, UTPublicOnline available

    • 8Master's/yr
    • Master of Education (Science) / Master of Mathematics (Mathematics) via the Graduate Route to Licensure
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Utah State University offers a Graduate Route to Licensure that pairs a master's degree with secondary teaching certification for people who already hold a bachelor's in a science or mathematics discipline. Depending on the field, candidates earn a Master of Education for the secondary science track or a Master of Mathematics for the secondary mathematics track, combining a Plan C master's with a full student teaching semester and subject-specific teaching-methods coursework. The model is built for content experts pivoting into the classroom, translating disciplinary knowledge into the pedagogy of teaching teenagers. A content-coursework contract must be established with an advisor before applying, reflecting a carefully advised, individualized path. Aligned to Utah State Board of Education standards, the program leads to secondary certification in science or mathematics, though it cannot guarantee licensure outside Utah. 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 Utah.

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

    School site
25. 25

    Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education

    Kirkland, WAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 7Master's/yr
    • Online
    About the program

    Northwest University's Center for Online and Extended Education administers online and continuing education offerings for the institution. A specific master's program in this discipline could not be confirmed from the available materials. It is a master's degree in teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas 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 7 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site

← Back to the overall Best Master's in Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas