Master’s in Education and Teaching Program Guide
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Educators are tasked with an honorable responsibility — shaping the minds of their students and fostering critical and independent thinking in the next generation of adults.
A master’s in teaching and education can lead to a satisfying educational career whether you want to work directly with students or behind the scenes as an academic administrator, researcher, or policymaker.
Our guide will walk you through these programs and outline career options, including how much money you can expect to earn once you start your education career.
What Is a Master’s Degree in Education and Teaching?
While it’s easy to confuse a master’s in teaching and a master’s in education as the same, these are actually two separate types of degrees. The difference lies in their focus areas and the career paths available once you graduate.
In a master’s in teaching program, you’ll focus on classroom instruction and management. These programs teach instructional strategies, emphasizing teaching skills and subject-specific educational content.
A master’s in education degree is more broad. It goes beyond classroom teaching to cover curriculum development, educational policy, and research. Your coursework will center on systemic education and educational leadership and administration issues.
A teaching degree is ideal if you want to work as a classroom teacher. In contrast, an education degree is helpful if you’re interested in administration, academic research, or policy.
Both degree programs are interdisciplinary, involving pedagogical theories as well as child and curriculum development.
What Can You Do With a Master’s Degree in Education?
Keep reading to learn what jobs you can pursue with a master’s degree in education, whether earned online or in person.
“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
Master’s Degree in Education Jobs
Once you earn your master’s in education and teaching, you’ll have diverse career opportunities. Common options for master’s in education and teaching degree holders include classroom teaching, curriculum development, school administration, and educational consulting.
Specific roles include instructional coordinator, curriculum developer, school principal, special education teacher, and postsecondary education administrator.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), educational roles will grow slower than the average for all occupations from 2023 to 2033. However, the BLS projects an average of 868,000 job openings annually until 2033 due to the number of workers permanently leaving the profession.
How Much Money Can You Make With a Master’s in Education?
According to the BLS, master’s in education degree holders earn a median salary between $61,000 and $103,000 per year. Education roles vary from teaching to administrative positions.
Elementary, middle, and high school principals earn the most — a median annual salary of around $103,000 per year — while middle school and high school teachers earn a median salary of around $65,000 a year. But as a postsecondary education administrator, you can earn nearly as much as an elementary, middle, or high school principal.
| Job Title | Median Annual Salary (2023) | Job Growth Rate (2023-2033) |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals | $103,460 | -1% |
| High School Teachers | $65,220 | -1% |
| Instructional Coordinators | $74,620 | 2% |
| Middle School Teachers | $64,290 | -1% |
| Postsecondary Education Administrators | $102,610 | 3% |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Other Degrees in Education and Teaching
A master’s in education makes you eligible for advanced degrees like a Ph.D. in education or doctor of education (Ed.D.) These terminal degrees require 3-5 years of study beyond a master’s degree, including a written dissertation.
If a doctoral degree doesn’t interest you, you can pursue another related master’s degree to specialize your skills and advance your career. Some options include a master of science in educational psychology, a master of educational leadership, or a master’s in curriculum and instruction.
Whether or not you pursue another graduate degree after you finish your master’s in education program, you can pursue certifications in specialized areas of interest, such as special education and educational technology. In addition, as a teacher or school administrator, you may be required to take continuing education every few years in order to progress in your career.
How Much Does a Master’s Degree in Education Cost?
Based on our research, two-year master’s degree programs cost an average of $73,520. To give you an example of a specific program’s tuition costs, Purdue Global charges $420 per credit for a master’s in education degree that requires 45-46 credits.
Miami University’s 30-credit master of education in curriculum and instruction degree costs nearly $600 per credit. At the University of Cincinnati, you’d pay $662 per credit hour or $6,612 per semester for a 30-credit master of education degree.
Get Financial Aid for Your Master’s in Education Degree
How to Get a Master’s Degree in Education and Teaching
You’ll need to submit a solid application to get accepted into a master’s in education program. Then, you’ll have to dedicate around two years of study toward your degree if you enroll full time. Your coursework may include an internship or practical experience.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Master’s in Education?
Typical # of Credits
30-60 Credits
Typical Program Length
2 Years
Most master’s in education programs require 30-60 credits, which takes around two years to complete. However, accelerated programs can help you earn your degree faster. Here are some real-world examples: Purdue Global’s online master’s in education program takes one year to complete and requires 45-46 credits.
If you enroll in Clemson University’s online teaching and learning M.Ed. program, you can earn your degree in as few as 18 months.
How to Apply for a Master’s Degree in Education Program
You’ll need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 3.0 to apply to a master’s in education program. Here are some more common application components:
How to Choose a Master’s Degree in Education Program
Several key factors can help you determine your choice of a master’s in education program. These include program accreditation, content, and format. Learn about these factors below.
Is It Accredited?
Accreditation is one of the most important factors in choosing a master’s in education program, whether you choose to learn online or in person.
Before you apply, make sure your college or university has institutional accreditation. Institutional accreditation ensures that your university provides a quality education and that your degree will be accepted by future employers.
You should also make sure that your master’s in education program has programmatic accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Programmatic accreditation ensures your program properly prepares you for the education profession. You can find your desired program’s accreditation status by visiting its websites, contacting the school directly, or searching the CAEP website.
What Courses and Concentrations Does It Offer?
Curious about what courses you’ll take in your master’s in education and teaching program? You can expect to gain expertise in teaching, curriculum design, and educational assessment.
Some common concentrations include experiential learning for early childhood, effective and reflective teaching, instructional coaching, and science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM).
Below is a list of courses you may encounter in your master’s in education program:
- Curriculum design
- Academic integrity and scholarly writing
- Classroom management
- Assessment in education
- Curriculum theory
What Is the Format of the Program?
Should you study online or in person? Online programs offer the ultimate flexibility, allowing you to learn remotely, while in-person programs let you interact with your professors and fellow graduate students. Consider how you learn best.
In a hybrid program, you can have opportunities to learn both remotely and with your classmates and instructors.
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.”
— Dr. Stacey Ludwig Johnson, Senior VP and Executive Dean of the School of Education, Western Governors University
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