A Guide to Master’s Degrees in Education and Teaching

Updated on April 18, 2024

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Read this comprehensive guide to master’s of education online programs to explore what you should consider when you pursue your advanced degree.

If you want to advance your education career, a master’s in education is a great way to achieve your professional goals. You’d join a rising trend.

More public school teachers in 2020-2021 held master’s degrees than in 2011-2012, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

We’ll walk you through everything you need to know about pursuing a master’s of education online.

What Is a Master’s in Education Degree?

A master’s in education degree provides a broader learning experience than a master’s in teaching, which focuses on classroom management.

A master’s in education online program is ideal if you want a career in educational administration, policy, research, and curriculum development. You can still work in the classroom with the degree too.

This degree can help you advance your education career and qualify for leadership roles as a principal or educational administrator. A master’s degree in education will be especially beneficial if you want to choose a concentration or specialization such as instructional design and curriculum development.

Featured Online Master’s in Education Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

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Master’s in Education Degree Courses and Concentrations

In a master of education program, whether online or in-person, you’ll learn how to sharpen your skills as an educator to either make a bigger impact on your students’ lives or to transition into a leadership position, earning more responsibilities and a pay bump.

As you research programs, you may come across some common specializations, such as curriculum and instruction, educational leadership, educational technology, literacy and digital learning, and school counseling, among many others.

Early Childhood Education: Early childhood education programs focus on how to educate young children from infancy to age eight. Graduates can pursue many roles, including as preschool directors, early education curriculum developers, and classroom teachers.
Elementary Education: Prepares you to work with students at the K-8 level. You’ll study classroom management, learning design, and inclusive teaching methods to create optimized learning environments.
Secondary Education: Secondary education programs focus on the skills and knowledge necessary to promote education from grades 6-12. Students can choose a preferred content subject, including math, science, or social studies.
Higher Education: Topics include higher education finance, college student health, and public policy in higher education. Careers for graduates include community college president, resident director, or policy analyst.
Special Education: Coursework includes instruction on behavior management, goal and objective writing, and data interpretation. Graduates can work as special education teachers, resource room teachers, and individualized case managers.
English Language Learning (ELL): Students learn teaching techniques and strategies to help English language learners succeed. Graduates often become ELL teachers in K-12 or adult education settings.
Educational Administration: You’ll study standards-based systems theory, data analysis for decision-making, and how to manage resources. Graduates can utilize their skills in school principal, dean, or athletic director roles.
Curriculum and Instruction: Students often specialize in a specific area, like secondary language arts or elementary education. You’ll learn how to evaluate different learning materials, create meaningful assessments, and interpret data.
Music Education: You’ll learn both musical theory and music teaching strategies. Classes cover musical analytic techniques, how to develop musical educational materials, and how to utilize music technology in classrooms.
School Counseling: Coursework for this specialization covers group counseling, crisis counseling, and ethical practices. Graduates may consider pursuing further education in school psychology or counselor education.

How Much Does a Master’s Degree Cost?

The average cost of tuition in the 2022-2023 academic year was $9,834 at public institutions and $40,713 at private institutions, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

The University of Cincinnati’s online master of education in curriculum and instruction program costs $662 per credit or $6,612 per semester. Fordham University, a private institution, charges $38,701 per semester for its online master’s in education program.

At the University of Tennessee, you’d pay $744 per credit hour if you’re an in-state student or $819 per credit hour if you’re not a Tennessee resident. You’ll have to earn 30-38 credits to graduate from their online master’s in education program.

What Can I Do With a Master’s in Education?

A master’s in education or teaching can lead to many in-demand education careers, including K-12 teacher, school principal, administrator, curriculum consultant, and other leadership positions.

And here’s more good news: Your degree opens the door to jobs outside the education setting, too.

“Of course a master’s degree in education can lead to opportunities in an educational setting. However, students tend to underestimate how the degree can support a career in other industries and career paths, like EdTech, learning and development, human resources, [and] project management.”

— Dr. Emmanuela Stanislaus, Instructor, Florida International University’s MS in Higher Education Administration Program

Here are popular teaching and non-teaching jobs for master’s in education graduates, including how much they pay and how much they’re expected to grow over the next decade:

Teaching Jobs for Master’s in Education Graduates
Job Title	Median Annual Salary (2023)	Job Outlook (2023-2033)
Middle School Teacher	$64,290	-1%
High School Teacher	$65,220	-1%
Special Education Teacher	$67,190	0%
Career or Technical Education Teacher	$65,130	0%
Adult Education or ESL Teacher	$60,560	-13%

Source: BLS

Non-Teaching Jobs for Master’s in Education Graduates
Job Title	Median Annual Salary (2023)	Job Outlook (2023-2033)
School Principal (K-12)	$103,460	-1%
Postsecondary Education Administrator	$102,610	+3%
Instructional Coordinator	$74,620	+2%
School or Career Counselor	$61,710	+4%

Source: BLS

Do Online Master’s in Education Programs Lead to Licensure?

A teaching license or certification provides people the authority to teach legally. Teachers and principals need licenses to work in P-12 public schools. State governments issue licenses if you meet predetermined criteria, such as having a degree, completing field experiences, and passing a state exam. Specific requirements vary by state and by the type of license, certification, or endorsement.

An online master’s in education can be a pathway to licensure if the program is approved by the state. Online programs that lead to an initial teaching license typically include an in-person student-teaching component. If you already have a teaching license, you can apply to master’s programs that lead to add-on endorsements or other certifications, such as an administrator license.

Non-licensure M.Ed. programs are typically designed for students who already hold a teaching credential or who plan to work in settings that do not require a license, such as private schools. These online programs often don’t have any field requirements.

What to Consider Before Choosing a Master’s in Education Program

You may have some concerns regarding costs, program length, and maybe even the program format. Below, you’ll find details about these common concerns.

Cost

Tuition costs can affect your life long after college, so consider how much your online master’s in education program costs before you enroll. Keep in mind that you can offset some of the costs by applying for grants and scholarships and by pursuing in-state and accelerated programs.

Compare the total cost of your degree with the amount of money you hope to make after you graduate to determine the rate of investment (ROI) of your desired program.

Program Length

Master’s programs in education require one to three years of study. The longer you stay in school, the longer you delay your ability to start a career.

Although the amount of time you spend earning your master’s degree will depend on whether you study part time or full time, whether you pursue an accelerated program, and how many credits you need to get to earn your degree.

Accreditation

If a school or program is accredited, this means they’ve been verified by an accreditation agency as an institution that provides rigorous, high-quality education.

There are two types of accreditation. Institutional accreditation means the entire college or university has been accredited, while programmatic accreditation means the program has been accredited.

Program Format

Choosing the right format for your learning style and lifestyle can set you up for academic success. Consider whether you want to directly interact with your instructors and classmates in a classroom environment. If so, an in-person program would suit you.

If you need the flexibility to study anywhere at any time through asynchronous coursework, you may be comfortable in an online program.

A hybrid program will give you the direct contact of an in-person program with the flexibility of an online program.

Is an Education Master’s Degree Worth It? Grads and Instructors Weigh In

The graduates and instructors we spoke to agreed that a master’s in education leads to better opportunities, better pay, and greater impact — though you need to be mindful of the reasons why you want it.

They also say the degree helped them reach specific career goals, which varied depending on their values.

What Grads Are Saying

“A master’s in education gives a teacher a far wider perspective on how the system works and how students learn. A graduate with a master’s in education becomes a problem-solver who can zoom in and out of a problem, seeing it at both micro and macro levels.”

— Mindy Kay Smith, M.Ed., Ohio University

“[A master’s in education] has served me well. … I’m a more creative problem-solver, a more empathetic product builder, and a stronger collaborator because I have spent time deeply understanding the problems and people in my industry.”

— Lisa Jiang, MA in Education, Stanford University

“My master’s degrees helped me get more leadership positions in education and helped me attain committee roles with the Ohio Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Education. In addition, I am able to provide professional development at the collegiate level because of my two graduate degrees.”

— Charesha Barrett, M.Ed., Cleveland State University

What Instructors and Administrators Are Saying

“I think that it is worth it to pursue a master’s in education. Having said that, I think that it is important for students to be strategic if and when they decide to pursue it. Go through the exercise of asking yourself why you want to pursue the degree. What opportunities will a master’s degree open up for you, and will it be enough to support your lifestyle?”

— Dr. Emmanuela Stanislaus, Instructor, Florida International University’s MS in Higher Education Administration Program

“I consider a bachelor’s degree to be like an appetizer when it comes to education. You just get a little taste and you don’t have the full understanding of what it means to be an educator. After being in the classroom, having exposure to systems and structures, individuals pursuing a master’s degree begin to ask better questions, challenge inequitable practices, and gain confidence in using their voice to advocate for research-based approaches to supporting students and programs.”

— Dr. Kasey Johnson, Lead Faculty, Ottawa University School of Education

“Earning a master’s degree in education will help graduates be a part of a group of professionals who have the credentials, licensures, and industry-relevant skills and knowledge that current employers seek.”