Best Online Master’s in Adult Education Programs

A master’s in adult education program can prepare learners for careers ranging from instructional coordinator to community college professor.

This program typically takes about two years to complete, regardless of whether you go to graduate school online or on campus.

According to Education Data Initiative, a master’s degree in education usually costs around $55,200.

Tuition for private schools typically costs more than tuition for public schools. In fact, the average cost of a master’s degree at a public school is $54,500, and the average cost at a private school is $81,100.

Out-of-state tuition is usually higher than in-state tuition as well. However, some online schools charge lower rates to attract out-of-state students.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports the median annual salary for adult basic and secondary education and (English as a second language) ESL teachers is $55,350, as of May 2020.

The BLS projects a 5% decline in the number of jobs for these professionals from 2020-2030. The projected decline is partly due to increased high school graduation rates and changes in government funding.

The qualities of a good teacher include strong speaking, writing, and listening skills; teamwork; patience; empathy; and a love of learning. These qualities also help learners excel in their master’s in adult education programs. Working on your communication skills is one way to prepare for graduate school.

An online master’s in adult education program generally requires the same courses and the same number of credits as an on-campus program. This program usually requires 30-36 credits and takes about two years to complete.

Students enrolled in a master’s in adult education program learn about educational policy, the social and cultural foundations of education, and methods for teaching adult students. They also gain skills in organization and administration of higher education.

Some schools require a final master’s project or thesis from students. This capstone project may be worth 1-6 college credits, and students may need approval from an advisor before beginning the project.

A master’s in adult education can be a master of arts (MA), master of science (MS), or master of education (MEd). An MA usually includes more humanities, while an MS focuses more on science. An MEd focuses solely on education.

In this course, students learn the foundations of adult education, including popular learning theories that apply to adult students. They learn various characteristics of adult learners and engage in interactive activities related to adult education.

Students examine learning principles, models, and theories and learn how they apply to adult students. They evaluate their ethics, dispositions, and personal philosophies and how they relate to adult education.

In this course, students examine cultural diversity within adult education. They study strategies for handling diversity and theories on multicultural education.

Students learn how to use their knowledge of program planning, evaluation models, policies, and theoretical foundations to create education programs for adult learners. They learn to manage instructional environments and engage their students.

In this course, students learn about the role of leadership in adult education and higher education settings. They learn how to lead ethically, build effective relationships, and evaluate leadership effectiveness based on self-reflection and theory.

Although the job outlook for this career is declining, the BLS still projects about 5,100 job openings for adult basic and secondary education and ESL teachers from 2020-2030. Most of these jobs are expected to be the result of workers retiring or changing careers.

Payscale reports the annual average base salary for people with a master of education in adult education and training is $68,000, as of January 2022. Common job titles include training manager, human resources manager, instructional designer, learning and development consultant, and training director.

The average annual base salaries for these positions range from $64,800 for instructional designers to $89,370 per year for training directors, both as of January 2022. The median annual salary for adult basic and secondary education and ESL teachers, as reported by the BLS, is $55,350, as of May 2020.

See where a master’s in adult education can take you. Learn more about teaching careers.

Instructional designers create instructional materials for their companies’ technical products. For example, they might design customer training courses that teach customers how to use the products. Instructional designers must understand the customers’ needs as well as the correct way to use the company’s products.

Median Annual Salary (as of January 2022): $64,800

Instructional coordinators work with principals and teachers to create effective curriculums for the classroom. They evaluate curriculum standards, discuss them with staff members, and create procedures for implementing the curriculum. They train teachers and other staff members in using the new curriculum and any supplemental materials.

Median Annual Salary (as of May 2020): $66,970

Training managers identify the training needs within a department or sometimes within an entire company. They research the types of training that are available, coordinate the training schedule, and conduct the training. In some cases, team trainers conduct the training and the training manager oversees the trainers.

Median Annual Salary (as of January 2022): $69,890

Learning and development consultants provide leadership for an educational institution’s learning initiatives. They talk to students and staff to determine the learning goals for the organization. Learning and development consultants define the scope of the learning program and help to implement it.

Median Annual Salary (as of January 2022): $80,000

Training directors determine the training needs of the organization and establish the goals for training programs. They gather data about the current training programs and work with subject matter experts to determine the strengths and weaknesses of those programs. Then they write a report stating what they think the goals of the program should be. These professionals also offer recommendations on how to improve the current program by building on its strengths and eliminating its weaknesses.

Median Annual Salary (as of January 2022): $89,370

Some master’s in adult education graduates go on to earn a doctorate in education. They may also opt for a related degree, such as a doctorate in special education, a doctorate in educational administration, or a doctorate in higher education.

According to Payscale, people with a doctor of education degree earn an average annual base salary of $80,000, as of January 2022. Common job titles include assistant postsecondary professor, executive director, academic dean, postsecondary professor, and elementary school principal.