15 Most Affordable Master’s in Higher Education Online in 2021

Retaining 89 percent of its 18,811 Mountaineers, Appalachian State University is a public, state-funded globally proficient institution opened by the Dougherty Brothers in 1899 that's charging our list's smallest price for 128 majors finished online via Moodle and face-to-face at its 31-building Blue Ridge campus. ASU is declared America's 36th best online graduate teacher's college by the U.S. News & World Report, 90th top public university on Niche, and 144th best school according to the Social Mobility Index. The Cratis D. Williams Graduate School has funds like the Mary Kistler Scholarship for the Online Higher Education: Master of Arts (MA). Coordinated by Dr. Vachel Miller, the 36-credit, non-thesis program accepts applicants until June 1st into three specializations: Adult and Developmental Education, Community College and University Leadership, or Teaching.

Given University of Business Magazine's Model of Excellence Award, Sam Houston State University is Texas' 12th largest public, doctoral-granting RU/H college that's seen enrollment jump 74 percent since 2000 to serve 20,120 Bearkats both on Blackboard and its 272-acre Piney Woods campus. SHSU has America's 28th best online teacher education on the U.S. News & World Report, 67th best standout academics on Niche, and 11th top graduation rate in Washington Monthly. The CAEP-accredited College of Education has application deadlines of August 1st, December 1st, and May 1st for the Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration Online. Chaired by Dr. Forrest Lane, the 30-credit curriculum trains cohorts of 15-20 in courses like Resource Development & Allocation with thesis or non-thesis practicum tracks.

Reporting 98 percent job placement with Cougar Careers, the University of Sioux Falls is a private, civic-oriented Baptist NSIC member founded in 1883 that's providing a "Culture for Service" to 1,419 students enrolled on its 58-acre Minnehaha County campus and online. USF is crowned America's 176th best Christian school on Niche, 205th best online graduate college by the U.S. News & World Report, and 199th top value on WalletHub. Directed by Dr. Beth Jernberg in Glidden Hall, the Frederick School of Education was reaffirmed by the CAEP through Fall 2019 with the Online M.Ed. in Educational Administration/Adult and Higher Education. The 33-credit, non-GRE program admits post-grads with minimum 2.6 GPAs for faith-forward courses like Sociology of Adult Education and Quality Assurance ahead of the internship.

Founded by Alva J. McClain in 1937, Grace College and Theological Seminary is a private, evangelical Christian character-building institution affiliated with the Brethren Church that's endowed for $10 million to enlighten 1,773 Lancers on its 21-building Wayne Township campus and online through Blackboard. Grace is ranked America's 121st best religious college on Niche, 186th most focused teacher education school by College Factual, and 118th best baccalaureate value in Washington Monthly. Approved by the ACSI to train "Teachers as Moral Practitioners," the School of Education upholds Micah 6:8 with the Master of Science in Higher Education Online. The 36-credit, Biblical-based major begins every Fall or Spring with courses like Student Affairs and Grant Writing before the integrative application project.

Known for the Institute for P-20 Educational Policy Research and Evaluation, the University of Houston is Texas' third-largest public, doctoral-granting RU/VH hub that's generating a $3 billion economic impact by training 42,704 Cougars at its 667-acre "Space City" campus and online via Blackboard. UH was judged America's 119th best public school by Forbes, 12th best standout college on Niche, and 301st top university overall in Times Higher Education. The CAEP-accredited College of Education follows ASHE standards when awarding its Online M.Ed. in Higher Education Program. Headed by Dr. Tiffany Davis, the 36-credit, cohort-based master's takes two years full-time with required courses like Cultural Foundations of American Education, an internship, and the comprehensive exam.

Standing atop a 380-acre Kittitas Valley campus in Cascadia with eLearning on Blackboard, Central Washington University is a public, coeducational Hispanic-serving school of the Great Northwest Conference that's endowed for $18.1 million to enroll 11,799 Wildcats and employ 942 staff. CWU is recognized for America's 242nd top public education on Niche, 398th best value tuition in Money magazine, and 379th best salary potential by PayScale. Led by Dr. Kate Mastruserio Reynolds in Black Hall, the School of Education launched the Masters of Education Higher Education Online with thesis and internship capstone options. The 45-credit, two-year curriculum focuses on the organizational development of colleges with courses like Diverse Leadership and Student Program Evaluation.

Owned by Graham Holdings Company since November 2000, Kaplan University is a small test-prep pioneer turned mega online for-profit that's generating net income of $101 million while training over 30,000 working adults at 15 physical campuses and online via KU Campus. Kaplan is deemed America's 199th safest college on Niche, 17th most popular teacher education school by College Factual, and 28th top military-friendly university by the Online Schools Center. Directed by Dr. Jeffrey Bailie, the School of Education houses six graduate degrees like the Online Master of Science in Higher Education with monthly starts. The 50-credit, HLC-accredited curriculum includes one 120-hour internship for specializations in Student Affairs, College Administration and Leadership, or College Teaching.

Generating research expenditures of $338 million, Colorado State University is a public, land-grant URA member of the Mountain West that's employing 1,540 faculty and training 33,058 Rams in 150+ programs either at its 583-acre, elm-lined Fort Collins campus or online. CSU is distinguished as America's 69th top public university on Forbes, 125th best online graduate teaching school by the U.S. News & World Report, and 12th best bet in Financial Times. Admitting fall cohorts until June 1st annually, the CAEP-accredited School of Education awards the Master of Science (M.S.) in Student Affairs in Higher Education Online via Canvas. The 45-credit, portfolio-based program managed by Dr. Jennifer Johnson blends virtual courses like Campus Ecology with two practica and an eight-week capstone.

Named to Chronicle of Higher Education's Honor Roll, McKendree University is a private, coeducational Methodist GLVC member founded in 1828 that's currently endowed for $35.8 million to inspire 2,937 Bearcats with an average class size of 14 from Lebanon to Shepherdsville and online. McKendree is ranked America's 107th best online teachers college by the U.S. News & World Report, 152nd best free application school on Niche, and 126th most service-oriented university in Washington Monthly. The CAEP-accredited School of Education grows post-grads' LiveText portfolios with an Online MAED Degree in Higher Education Administrative Services. The 36-credit program requires 3.0 GPAs in courses like Student Access Issues before the capstone.

Endowed for $106 million, Lenoir-Rhyne University is a private, Lutheran liberal arts school of the South Atlantic Conference that's grown since 1891 to teach 2,523 Bears from 45 states at 100 combined acres in Hickory, Asheville, and Columbia or online through Blackboard. LRU was noticed for America's 317th most conservatism on Niche, 224th highest graduation rate in Washington Monthly, and 52nd best-paid education grads by College Factual. CAEP-accredited through 2020, the College of Education & Human Services offers a Master of Arts in Community College Administration and Master of Arts in University Leadership online. Both 33-credit, interdisciplinary programs headed by Dr. Molly Dugan study higher education dynamics in courses like Budget Management with six practicum credits.