For anyone in the field of education earning a Master’s degree of Education is a step in the right direction. With this added training and experience more career opportunities become available as well as a higher salary. Teachers holding a Master of Education can continue teaching in the traditional classroom setting or branch out to other areas of the educational field from administration to becoming an instructional designer or curriculum developer and more.
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A degree in early childhood education can be one of the most rewarding fields to work in and a Med opens more doors. If you already have a bachelor’s degree in education and hold a current teaching license applying for a MEd program in the next step to advance your career. In the Master of Education programs students learn educational philosophy, advanced teaching methods, up to date technological teaching methods, and practice in real life teaching settings. Towards the end of your program you will submit a master’s thesis.
Why choose an online teaching degree program? Most students of this program are currently full-time teachers, meaning they are not able to attend classes during the day. Attending an institution that offers the master’s degree in a fully online format allows these students to continue working full time while they go back to school. The hours are flexible and can fit into whatever schedule is necessary. Online programs have gained not only popularity but are also accredited. They are just as rigorous and demanding as traditional programs. An often overlooked benefit is the fact that students attending online become more tech-savvy and advance their skills of technology use both in and out of the classroom.
Choosing the best affordable online Master of Education program is a personal choice that students need to consider carefully. Assess the strengths and demands of the program and evaluate if you can adequately fulfill those in your current circumstances. Also evaluate what your academic needs are and find a program that matches those needs. Different programs will offer a different emphasis and thus prepare students for different career paths upon completion.
To help you find a program that is right for you a list of the top 47 online Master’s of Education programs has been compiled and ranked.
The ranking is based off the following criteria:
Ranking:
- 35% on Student Performance (Graduation Rate, Best Practices, Class size, Retention Rate)
- 20% For Student Resources (Financial Aid, Technological Infrastructure, Support Services)
- 30% Faculty Experience (Training and Experience of faculty in online education)
- 15% Student Success (Indebtedness, Career Placement)
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clemson University (Moore) | Clemson, South Carolina |
| 2 | University of North Texas | Denton, Texas |
| 3 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | Raleigh, North Carolina |
| 4 | University of Florida | Gainesville, Florida |
| 5 | Creighton University | Omaha, Nebraska |
Top 47 Online Master of Education Programs
Clemson University (Moore)
College Overview
Clemson is a major research and technology oriented university that provides opportunities for students to excel in every way. Students thrive on opportunities in leadership, collaboration, public service, and research.
Online M.Ed. Program
“Our graduate programs at Clemson University builds on the rich experiences and expertise of faculty and students to provide an educational environment in which both groups share in research, exploration, and inquiry. The result of this synergy is impact — on our community and beyond.”
Clemson offers the best trained faculty to support graduate students earning their M.Ed. online. With a rich, engaging and challenging curriculum, students are prepared to advance their career.
School Overview
University of North Texas
College Overview
UNT is a tier one research university that prides itself on having experienced, qualified faculty, driven students and proven success across the board. UNT isn’t just a place they say it is a state of mind. For those pursuing an online degree, this is great place to be. US News and World Report has ranked UNT among the top five universities in the United States for graduate programs offering online and hybrid programs.
Online M.Ed. Program
Ranked among the top five online M.Ed. programs in the country, UNT offers a great education with flexibility and affordability. Students can choose to earn their degree with an emphasis in counseling, leadership, special education, teaching, higher education, or curriculum and instruction. Courses delivered via Blackboard.
School Overview
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
College Overview
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is set within the research triangle of Raleigh and is one of the top research universities in the nation. NCSU also is one of the world leaders among online education for graduate programs.
Online M.Ed. Program
NC State offers an online Master of Education in science education that can be taken entirely online. Students that participate in this course come from backgrounds of teaching as well as science teaching arenas such as zoos and museums. Students can take the courses asynchronously or in real time. This offers as much interaction with their professors as possible while still maintaining the flexibility of online coursework.
School Overview
University of Florida
College Overview
UF has held a reputation of providing low income students the opportunity for higher education at an unprecedented rate. UF boasts land, sea, and space grants that offer a rich opportunity for a very diverse educational experience that most universities cannot match.
Online M.Ed. Program
The online M.Ed. Program offers classes in an asynchronously and are recorded so students can access them at their convenience. The program itself accommodates working professionals that are returning to school and are cohort based allowing for increased discussion and learning.
School Overview
Creighton University
College Overview
Creighton is a private Jesuit university that combines excellent education with the values and teachings of the Jesuit Catholic tradition. Faculty and students are trained to excel in what they do and are prepared to give meaningful service to their communities.
Online M.Ed. Program
Students pursing a master degree in education can choose a program that is tailored to their career goals, whether that be administration or leadership. These online programs are rooted in Ignatian values teaching compassion, relationship-building and self-reflection.
School Overview
Northern Illinois University
College Overview
NIU has a very low faculty to student ratio giving students one on one teaching and support. NIU starts their undergraduate students with research and prepares them for graduate research and work.
Online M.Ed. Program
Online courses are created by full-time instructional design faculty and have received the Blackboard Best Online Course Design Award for the years 2014-2017. Students network within their graduate cohort and across other graduate program cohorts. These networks have proven invaluable to later success. Students attending the online graduate programs receive one of the best built and designed online programs in the nation.
School Overview
Utah State University
College Overview
USU’s online degrees are ranked 5th in the nation by US News and World Report. This ranking comes in large part due to its instructional and technological advances. USU offers one of the best online Learning Sciences degree in the nation for a very affordable price.
Online MEd Program
What makes USU’s online M.Ed. a great choice? “The professors are experts at making a remote education experience feel personal, involved and thorough,” said David Moore, a student in the program.
School Overview
University of Georgia
College Overview
University of Georgia is a land- and sea-grant university that offers one of the best research libraries in the nation. UG is also home to Georgia State’s Botanical Gardens, Writer’s Hall of Fame and the Peabody awards.
Online M.Ed. Program
Teachers are prepared to offer teacher preparation programs as well as technology, psychology, cognition and human resource degree emphasis as part of the master of education.
School Overview
University of Houston
College Overview
UH offers cutting edge education utilizing new technology and methods to keep students at the top as emerging professionals. UH is a tier one campus that empowers students to envision their dreams, have the tools to succeed and give back to the community.
Online M.Ed. Program
UH has one of the top online Master of Education programs in the country. The online program is a cohort style and is delivered through Blackboard Learn classroom management system. Faculty teaching these courses all have a great deal of online teaching experience and are experts in their field. Students can access their teachers via their phone, Blackboard, or SKYPE.
School Overview
University of South Florida
College Overview
The online programs designed by USF had the working student in mind. The courses taken online can all be taken asynchronously and are archived to be at the students disposal at their convenience.
Online M.Ed. Program
Currently USF has one of the best Physical Education programs that can be taken entirely online. This program was designed with current teachers in mind. As students complete their coursework they will have real time projects that need to be carried out in a school setting and then reported on. Those already in teaching positions that care able to carry these projects out in real time do very well and graduate in two years.
School Overview
Pennsylvania State University – World Campus
College Overview
Penn State World Campus pulls expertise, faculty, and courses from all the schools in the Pennsylvania State University System. This allows for many more degree options, more flexibility, more faculty all at the finger-tips of students wanting to obtain an education from Penn State.
Online M.Ed. Program
The online environment at Penn State is literally global. Students are highly engaged throughout their entire online experience, they have access to adaptive curriculum, renowned faculty, research opportunities and a global student body. The network students gain through their online education is exponential.
School Overview
Texas A&M University
College Overview
TAMU is ranked in the top universities in the nation under many different banners. TAMU has the top graduation rate among all colleges and universities in Texas and is among the top public universities in the nation.
Online M.Ed. Program
TAMU offers a unique Master of education specializing in special needs utilizing its unique “SPED” program. Students learn to plan and deliver lessons at a high academic level to special needs population and intervene when behavioral issues arise. Coursework in asynchronous and real time with assignments and professors and peers.
School Overview
University at Albany SUNY
College Overview
Named one of “America’s Top Colleges” by Forbes magazine, this is where you’ll learn, live, thrive and succeed. This is excellence – at an extraordinary value.
Online M.Ed. Program
UAlbany students benefit from two decades of exemplary course and program development. OpenSUNY+ designation provides access to extensive support, including a personal concierge, 24/7 help desk, and online tutoring.
School Overview
University of Massachusetts – Lowell
College Overview
UMass Lowell offers a low student to faculty ratio, financial aid, over 175 degree programs and 17 division athletic teams. Everyone will find their place at UMass.
Online M.Ed. Program
Online programs at the University of Massachusetts Lowell are developed by and are taught by full-time faculty. This online course is demanding, and highly interactive. Students participate in weekly discussions and chat sessions with the instructor, as well as complete readings and assignments. Group work is a feature of many courses and group sessions are often facilitated through video-conferencing. Students are expected to complete field-based work in their school setting to link theory to practice.
School Overview
Ohio University
College Overview
Ohio University has a long list of awards for its faculty, students and accomplishments. Among these recognitions are marching band, Fulbright student awards, sports administration, and best buys for affordability.
Online M.Ed. Program
Ohio University’s online master’s degree in physical education prepares active coaches with technical proficiency, tactical knowledge, and leadership skills to build their coaching abilities. Two tracks are offered: one specializing in soccer coaching, the other in general coaching education content based on NASPE’s 8 core domains.
School Overview
University of Utah
College Overview
Set on a beautiful campus with excellent research and a leader in the future of health care. Whether students are interested in the arts, health care, innovation, start-up companies, or the PAC 12, the “U” has it all.
Online M.Ed. Program
Live synchronous IVC for all classes. In person supervision of student teaching. The online M.Ed. program exactly mirrors content of on-campus Master’s programs.
School Overview
East Carolina University
College Overview
East Carolina University has strong leadership and dynamic faculty to meet the needs of a diverse student body and offer an exceptional educational experience. Currently ECU offers 40 online degrees that are not offered at any other institution in the online format.
Online M.Ed. Program
Students work and research in areas related to their professional goals and interests. The student to instructor ration is low and allows for more personal correspondence and individualized academic preparation. Students feel a strong personal connectedness to other online students in their cohort.
School Overview
University of Iowa
College Overview
University of Iowa sees all its students as creators, whether they be in the engineering department or visual arts, all are creators. Each student creates their own path to their future of success.
Online M.Ed. Program
All online curriculum within this program is taught by tenured faculty and clinical faculty, including the lectures. The Master of Education is in Leadership and includes clinical field based work that is monitored online and onsite by faculty.
School Overview
University of North Carolina – Charlotte
College Overview
There is never a dull moment in Chapel Hill with concerts, Holi Moli, performances and athletic competitions. UNC views global engagement as a fundamental part of education.
Online M.Ed. Program
The faculty that teaches the online courses for Master of Education are exceptionally prepared and able to deliver the curriculum using a variety of methods. The online programs are fully accredited nationally.
School Overview
San Diego State University
College Overview
SDSU provides many leadership opportunities for students to grow and experience their degree in the field of their choice. SDSU offers a variety of international opportunities for their students to grow.
Online M.Ed. Program
The Educational Leadership program is designed for school administrators and teachers who aspire to leadership roles within their school, district or county office of education. The MAT in Elementary and Secondary Education is designed for teachers and provides them the opportunity to research inquiry-education and culturally relevant education.
School Overview
University of North Carolina
College Overview
There is never a dull moment in Chapel Hill with concerts, Holi Moli, performances and athletic competitions. UNC views global engagement as a fundamental part of education.
Online M.Ed. Program
The faculty that teaches the online courses for Master of Education are exceptionally prepared and able to deliver the curriculum using a variety of methods. The online programs are fully accredited nationally.
School Overview
University of Central Florida
College Overview
This is one of the largest institutions for higher learning in the United States. For the past 20 years UCF has built a phenomenal online program to reach students across the globe. UCF has earned the title of offering some of the best online programs internationally.
Online M.Ed. Program
Currently UCF offers five fully online Master of Education programs. At UCF, students can earn an online master’s of education in applied learning and instruction, career and technical education, educational leadership, exceptional student education, or instructional design and technology. Degree programs vary in length from 30 to 45 credit hours, depending on concentration.
School Overview
Michigan State University
College Overview
MSU began as a pioneer institution for higher learning making it more accessible to the common population. MSU continues to lead the world in areas of science and research and is the largest green university in the nation.
Online M.Ed. Program
The MSU College of Education offers innovative, high-quality online programs. Students gain knowledge relevant in their careers by engaging with expert faculty and classmates who live and work around the world
School Overview
Pittsburg State University
College Overview
Pittsburg State provides a variety of opportunities to serve within the community and be involved. A great benefit of Pittsburg State is a flat rate tuition fee that extends well beyond the borders of just Kansas.
Online M.Ed. Program
Online courses are taught by full time faculty and adjuncts that have real world experience in the program in which they teach. Faculty teaching courses regularly attend training sessions to ensure they are prepared to effectively teach online materials.
School Overview
University of Nebraska
College Overview
University of Nebraska is a leader among higher learning institutions and is a member of the Big Ten Conference and a member of the Big Ten Alliance. University of Nebraska has had a long history of being among the top universities in the nation and was the first institution for higher learning west of the Mississippi.
Online M.Ed. Program
Professionals across the nation and internationally interact extensively with students and faculty to ensure the best teaching methods and practices are utilized in online teaching delivery. Courses are taught by experiences faculty and researchers experienced in educational administration, instruction, and curriculum.
School Overview
John Hopkins University
College Overview
John Hopkins is a leader among universities in research, global reach, and more. Nobel Prizes have been given to 27 faculty members, past and present, of John Hopkins University. In the words of current students “we are doing some really awesome stuff.”
Online M.Ed. Program
John Hopkins University offers four Master of Education Programs; Master of Education in the Health Professions, Master of Science in Education, Master of Science in Organization Leadership, Master of Science in Education.
School Overview
University of Southern California
College Overview
USC is one of the leading research universities and home to a distinguished faculty of more than 4,000 scholars. USC also ranks third in the nation for faculty and student body diversity. Not only is it an anchor institution for Los Angeles it is also a global center for the arts.
Online M.Ed. Program
The online Master of Education in Learning Design and Technology programs helps students either start a career in instructional design or advance in their career in education design, online education, and evaluation in a variety of settings.
School Overview
Sam Houston State University
College Overview
The motto of SHSU is “A measure of a life is its service.” This motto echoes across the college and throughout the programs. Community service and outreach is a large part of students experience at SHSU.
Online M.Ed. Program
Expert faculty have long experience teaching online, with extraordinary support provided by the university. The Educator Preparation program is among the top programs in the country and is available completely online.
School Overview
University of Kansas
College Overview
Since its founding as a free state of the union, Kansas next step was to open an institution for higher learning. UK special education program is currently ranked Number 1 in the nation.
Online M.Ed. Program
The programs are all taught by the same accredited and nationally recognized faculty that teach on campus. Students will benefits form recent research whether they are traditional or online students, both receive the same instruction and resources. The online program is offered via Canvas LMS.
School Overview
George Washington University
College Overview
George Washington University is one of the few institutions in the nation where students can truly follow in the footsteps of giants or forge their own path. This university offers very unique internships unlike any other. Faculty is passionate and highly trained to teach using the most current methods and techniques.
Online M.Ed. Program
The online Master of Education program upholds the GW reputation of quality and intellectual inquiry. Faculty are accessible and support staff assist in all facets of the GW experience.
School Overview
Gratz College
College Overview
Gratz College is a unique institution as it is the oldest independent institution for higher learning for Jewish studies.
Online M.Ed. Program
The program is structured around three core courses and then is personalized to what direction the student desires to go into. The core courses are instructional design, legal and ethical issues and effective learning assessment. Specialization allows students to build their professional portfolios prior to graduation.
School Overview
St. John’s University
College Overview
St. John’s University is a private coeducational Roman Catholic university. Numerous internship opportunities allow students to network and build professional relationships prior to graduation.
Online M.Ed. Program
Instructors are a group of distinguished school professionals and academics with national and international reputations in their field. There is on-site supervision of special education practicums. St. John’s boasts a large comprehensive digital library, remote support and continuous training for online professors.
School Overview
Mississippi College
College Overview
Mississippi College is Accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE. The college’s Baptist traditions infuse all of its programming, giving the core curriculum a strong basis in faith.
Online M.Ed. Program
Students can select from graduate degrees in in the following; special education, elementary education, educational leadership, and curriculum and instruction. Each program requires students to hold a current teaching certificate and earn a minimum of 30 credits. Students in the educational leadership track must take additional classes, totaling 39 credits.
School Overview
Western Kentucky University
College Overview
WKU has a reputation of being an award winning university and consistently ranks nationally in academic programs.
Online M.Ed. Program
Students of the online M.Ed. can expect a high level of dedication and assistance from faculty and staff at the university. There are many resources available, including online presentation coaching, career services, the online writing center, IT support, an online orientation, remoted proctoring of exams and library services
School Overview
Arizona State University
College Overview
Arizona State has been among the top ranked institutions for some time, in fields such as innovation and graduates with career readiness along with being among the top graduate schools. ASU also leads the nation in being an affordable university .
Online M.Ed. Program
The online M.Ed. programs were developed by the same world-renown faculty who teach at ASU’s on-campus programs, the online curriculum empowers students to apply learnings to the challenges they face in their roles as educators. ASU utilizes technology to facilitate substantive engagement among students and between students and faculty, and offers robust academic support and advising.
School Overview
Appalacian State University
College Overview
Appalachian State University prides itself on preparing students to lead pursposeful lives as global citizens. Bringing not only students together but ideas and research is what Appalachian State does.
Online M.Ed. Program
Appalachian State utilizes asynchronous teaching methods to allow flexibility for the Master of Education online program. Every course and class is archived to be accessed at the students convenience.
School Overview
Ball State University
College Overview
Ball State University is proud to have its roots as the Teachers College. Ball State has been named one of the best universities in the Midwest for the past 13 years. Ball State has also been ranked as one of the top 20 in graduate programs.
Online M.Ed. Program
BSU offers one of the widest arrays of online graduate education programs in the nation, including one of the largest-enrolled master’s programs in applied behavior analysis. The majority of online courses are taught by full-time, tenure-line faculty. Enrollments are limited so that student engagement with educational experts is increased.
School Overview
University of St. Thomas
College Overview
As one of the long standing Catholic institutions for higher learning, University of St. Thomas offer online graduate programs that can be tuned specifically to meet the interests of the student. Students can attend courses either on campus, online or a hybrid.
Online M.Ed. Program
The master’s of education program is designed to benefit a range of professionals, including teachers, specialist instructors, school leaders, and professional counselors. These degrees uphold St. Thomas’ Catholic ideals of social justice and ethics. Students can choose from tracks in counselor education, curriculum and instruction, dual language instruction, educational leadership, generalist, and special education.
School Overview
University of Dayton
College Overview
University of Dayton is the top Catholic University in the nation in engineering and STEM research. UD believes in increasing their global foothold while decreasing its local footprint. With new centers of education open in China, more global opportunities are available for students.
Online M.Ed. Program
Distinct benefits of the University of Dayton online education programs include small class sizes and individualized attention, high levels of interaction with faculty during online coursework and faculty accessibility outside of the course. These distinct benefits help ensure the success of each student.
School Overview
University of Missouri
College Overview
Mizzou is one of the most affordable universities for graduate programs that offers extra discounts for military service members and their family.
Online M.Ed. Program
Mizzou’s College of Education offers more than 30 accredited online masters, educational specialist and certificate options. Affordability is key because graduate students pay in-state tuition. Specializations student can choose include educational technology, curriculum and instruction, special and gifted education and educational counseling.
School Overview
Augustana University
College Overview
Augustana is a private university that is affiliated with the Lutheran church where aspects of faith and values blend into daily life and education. Students are encouraged and supported to make educational and career decisions that that are consistent with their faith.
Online M.Ed. Program
The Master of Education program offers a variety of options to specialize in. It is set up with a cohort model and asynchronous. Completion will require a minimum of 30 credit hours.
School Overview
Kansas State University
College Overview
K-State is a unique university where its core value is family. Everyone, tenured professor and freshman alike, is family at Kansas State. Known for its community and global service rendered by students and alumni, K-State truly is out to change the world regardless of differences. Even online and distant learners come to feel the family bond at Kansas State University.
Online M.Ed. Program
Online classes are characterized by low student to teacher ratio. Courses are interactive and engaging for distance students. Distance students are part of the Kansas State University family and receive the same opportunities for assistance as do on-campus students in areas of student services, financial aid, library services, and technical assistance.
School Overview
University of South Dakota
College Overview
USD boasts being a big university with a small college feel, where mentors become students friends and life changing opportunities do just that, change lives. For students unable to attend class on campus the online programs offer the same USD quality education at the convenience of students.
Online M.Ed. Program
USD provides students with NCATE-accredited programs – the highest professional standards for schools and colleges along with a professional faculty and clinical experiences in P-12 classrooms.
School Overview
California State University – Fullerton
College Overview
CSUF is also renowned for its commitment to diversity, having a diverse faculty and student body as well as being one of the first institutions to be included in the AACTE Network’s initiative to increase teaching certification among black and Hispanic men and women.
Online M.Ed. Program
CSUF offers online master’s of education programs in educational technology, reading education, special education, instructional design, elementary instruction, and secondary education. An MS in educational leadership is also available as a hybrid program. Students on an elementary curriculum and instruction track can further specialize in one of six concentrations, including diversity, math and science, and professional inquiry and practice.
School Overview
Central Michigan University
College Overview
Central Michigan University (CMU), a nationally ranked university, was the home of alumni that graduated to become doctors, physical therapists, physicians, C-level executives, lawyers, journalists, fashion designers, teachers, and many more. They have over 200,000 alumni that took advantage of CMU’s transforming power of higher education. CMU teaches their students to embrace their community and to make a difference in all people’s lives within their circle of influence — local, national, and the world. Their health professional programs, their engineering programs, business programs, communication programs, and their science and technology programs are nationally acclaimed. CMU is home to more than 28,000 students between their campuses and online learning opportunities, and they are able to offer more than 200 academic courses for students to obtain a bachelor’s degree, master’s, or a doctorate.
Online M.Ed. Program
The online M.Ed. programs developed by CMU faculty. CMU offers a diverse range of educational disciplines at the graduate level and provides students the opportunity to learn from a combination of tenured, and tenure-track, research faculty and experts working in the field of education.
School Overview
Florida International University
College Overview
Florida International University (FIU) is a top-tier public research university in Miami, Florida. FIU offers students excellent opportunities to increase their skills and knowledge via their bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. FIU has been able to set new standards and increase students hiring potential through their different colleges and schools: Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine and the School of Computing and Information Sciences. The two colleges and schools, their Discovery Labs, are top-tier and students are able to graduate with practical workforce knowledge, not just book knowledge. FIU currently offers schooling to more than 50,000 students and is one of the top 10 largest universities in the nation.
Online M.Ed. Program
The MS in Curriculum & Instruction offers students the opportunity to complete an Action Research Project in their preferred area of focus, while being guided by a Faculty Mentor. The MS in Special Education gives students the opportunity to seek an Autism Endorsement.
School Overview
Wright State University
College Overview
Wright State University is a public research university that offers students an exceptional and affordable education. Students are able to discover or find their targeted path with over 230 degree programs to choose from. The university campus is in Dayton, Ohio, and it currently offers exceptional schooling for around 18,000 students. Wright State University is on 730 acres of land with 32 academic buildings that offer the classrooms and labs for increased learning and study. How did Wright State University get named? It is named after the Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur Wright, who invented the airplane!
Online M.Ed. Program
Faculty not only have terminal degrees but also many years of experience as teachers and administrators. Courses are designed to meet state and national standards. Courses are convenient and cost-competitive. All programs are fully accredited.
