30 Most Affordable Master’s in K-12 Education Online From Public Universities in 2021

Given the 2001 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the University of Wisconsin-Stout is a public, polytechnic WIAC research institution named for Senator James Huff Stout that's endowed for $47 million to enroll 1,258 post-grad Blue Devils in 26 programs on the 124-acre Eau Claire Metro campus and online through Desire2Learn. UW-Stout was chosen for America's 299th top value in Money magazine, 107th best online teaching degrees by the U.S. News World Report, and 142nd best public education on Niche. Touting 99 percent job placement, the School of Education confers an Online Master of Science Degree in Education. The 30-credit, non-licensure program led by Dr. Tony Beardsley has concentrations for Reading and Literacy, E-Learning and Online Teaching, Instructional Design, or Mathematics Specialist. There's also an Online Master of Science in Career and Technical Education.

Hosting an Education Minnesota Teachers of Tomorrow chapter, Bemidji State University is a public, teaching-oriented MNSCU system constituent formed in 1919 that's budgeting $95 million to enlighten 6,396 Beavers from 44 states in Beltrami County, at its partner Liaoning University, and online via D2L Brightspace. Bemidji is declared America's 223rd best online graduate education provider by the U.S. News World Report, 156th best value on College Factual, and 415th top master's institution overall in Washington Monthly. The College of Health Sciences and Human Ecology houses an HLC-accredited Professional Education Department with an MS in Elementary Middle Level Mathematics Education Online. Chaired by Dr. Timothy Goodwin, the 34-36 credit program deepens instructional techniques in courses like Math Pedagogy Planning with two 80-hour practicum blocks. Other BSU students earn the MAT in Online Instruction and M.S. in Special Education.

Recognized as the #1 fastest-growing public, coeducational RU/VH school by the Chronicle of Higher Education, the University of Texas at Arlington enrolls 41,993 Mavericks with a $145 million endowment in the Sun Belt Conference from its 420-acre campus near Six Flags Over Texas and online via Blackboard Learn. UTA was ranked America's 220th best research university on Forbes, 53rd best graduate teaching school online by the U.S. News World Report, and ninth most military-friendly college by Victory Media. Headed by Dr. Teresa Taber Doughty, the College of Education launched the Online Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. The 30-credit, 18-month program admits TExES certified teachers into seven-week courses for Literacy Studies, Mathematics Education, and Science Education options. Don't overlook UTA's Master of Education in Leadership Policy Studies Online either.

Once affiliated with the American Baptist Home Mission until 1940, Jackson State University is the Hospitality State's fourth-largest public, master's RU/H institution that's grown by 11 percent this decade to educate 9,811 Tigers in Jackson, Madison, Holmes, and online through Canvas. JSUMS was designated America's 15th best historically college by the U.S. News World Report, 312th best student life school on Niche, and 201st top teacher preparation value on College Factual. Open for admission until May 1st, November 1st, or May 31st annually, the CAEP-accredited College of Education and Human Development grants the Master of Teachers in Teaching Elementary Secondary Education Online. The 36-credit, internship-included program run by Dr. Chandar Lewis has two Grades 4-6 and 7-12 tracks with distance courses like Planning School Curriculum for novice teachers. Other JSUMS opportunities include the M.S. in Science Teaching and M.S. in Early Childhood Education Online.

Logging over 141,300 community service hours annually, Southern Utah University is a public, civic-engaged liberal arts college opened as the Branch Normal School by Milton Bennion in 1897 that's grown to instruct 892 post-grad Thunderbirds atop its 129-acre Great Basin campus and online. SUU is crowned America's 307th best teachers college on Niche, 249th most popular education school by College Factual, and 332nd best research institution in Washington Monthly. Named for Kids! Foundation founder Beverley Taylor Sorenson in 2013, the CAEP-accredited College of Education and Human Development grants the Online Master in Education (MEd) with or without the Admin License. The 36-42 credit program directed by Dr. Shawn Christiansen has eight K-12 concentrations from Gifted and Talented to Reading and STEM before the digital thesis submission. Canvas courses also work for the Master of Interdisciplinary Studies in Online Teaching or Master of Music Education (MMEd).

Granted its eighth Pacemaker Award in 2011, the University of South Dakota is a public, research-based MVFC member established in 1862 that's endowed for $213 million to serve 9,971 Coyotes in 286 academic programs at its 216-acre Vermillion campus and online with the Learning Resources Network (LERN). South Dakota is deemed America's 43rd best online graduate education school by the U.S. News World Report, 200th top university in Washington Monthly, and 370th best college on the Social Mobility Index. The CAEP-accredited School of Education houses an Online M.A. in Educational Administration: PreK-12 Principal for scholar-practitioners ready to lead. Overseen by Dr. Diana Messick, the 32-credit, practice-based curriculum requires a minimum 300 GRE score to enter courses like School Law and the administrative internship. Another USD option is the Online M.S. in Technology for Education and Training.

Running the Erma Byrd Higher Education Center with Marshall and Bluefield State, Concord University is a public, four-year liberal arts institution opened in 1872 that's seen enrollment jump from 70 to 2,834 within 18 academic programs accessed by Blackboard or the 123-acre rural Mercer County campus. Concord is recognized for America's 258th most conservative students on Niche, 43rd most focused teacher education by College Factual, and 216th best graduation rate in Washington Monthly. The CAEP-accredited Department of Education chaired by Dr. Richard Druggish has a Master of Education (M.Ed.) program online. Accepting $50 applications year-round, the 36-credit degree offers content specializations for Reading Specialist, Special Education, or Educational Leadership and Supervision. There's also the Online Master of Arts in Teaching: Physical Education PreK-Adult and Art Education PreK-Adult.

Conducting K-12 outreach with its Center for School Innovation, Ball State University is a public, Mid-American doctoral institution established in 1918 by Francis Palmer that's endowed for $192 million with 1,245 academic staff and teaching 22,513 Cardinals on Blackboard Learn or in the Muncie Metro. BSU was named America's 93rd best education school on Niche, 172nd top state-funded university in Forbes, and 187th best college by the U.S. News World Report. Bestowed a 2017 Insight into Diversity HEED Award, the Teachers College has an asynchronous format for the Online Master of Arts in Mathematics Education (K-12). The 30-credit, NCTM-aligned curriculum coordinated by Dr. Ann Leitze spans two years with three concentrations for Elementary, Middle, and Secondary teachers. Online students also choose the M.A. in Technology Education, M.A. in Special Education, and more.

Attracting 10,490 Nanooks with a mean GPA of 3.3, the University of Alaska Fairbanks is a public, land-grant UArctic Consortium member founded in 1917 that's generating $106 million in research expenditures and employing 562 faculty for courses from Nome to Dillingham and online via Blackboard. UAF was noticed for America's 53rd best graduation rate in Washington Monthly, 314th best faculty credentials on Niche, and 185th top online teaching programs by the U.S. News World Report. Accredited by the CAEP since 2011, the School of Education grants the Master of Education in Special Education K-12 Online. The 36-credit, non-licensure curriculum organized by Dr. Steve Atwater takes 24 months with virtual courses like Culturally Responsive Collaboration. Fairbanks confers the M.Ed. in Online Innovation and Design or M.Ed. in Elementary Education too.

Occupying the 1,262-acre Francis Quadrangle campus with the well-known Hook Center for Educational Leadership, the University of Missouri-Columbia is the oldest public higher institution west of the Mississippi that's budgeting $2.2 billion to serve 7,053 post-grad Tigers. Mizzou is acclaimed for America's 21st best value tuition on WalletHub, 75th highest research expenditures in Washington Monthly, and 75th best teaching degrees by Niche. Reporting an average 25 percent salary jump, the CAEP-accredited College of Education has the Online Master of Education in Learning, Teaching Curriculum on Canvas. The 33-credit, non-licensure program directed by Dr. Kathryn Chval incorporates tracks for K-12 Literacy Education, English Education, Social Studies Education, and Mathematics Education. Other online Mizzou possibilities include the Special Education General M.A. and Technology in Schools M.S.

Linked to 106,609 LinkedIn alumni, including three Greenville County Teachers of the Year, Clemson University is the Palmetto State's second-largest public, sea-grant ACC research center founded in 1889 that's endowed for $621 million to instruct 4,807 post-grads in Clemson and online via Canvas. Clemson was congratulated for America's 15th best internships by the Princeton Review, 127th best salary potential on PayScale, and 73rd most faculty awards in Washington Monthly. Ranked #1 by the U.S. News World Report, the CAEP-accredited College of Education provides the Master of Education: Teaching and Learning PK-12 Online under Dr. Deborah Switzer. The 30-credit, pedagogical-focused program immerses certified post-grads in STEAM, Early Childhood, and Instructional Coaching tracks. Clemson Tigers also consider the Online Masters for Science Educators in Biological Sciences.

Known for its Truman Pierce Institute since 1982, Auburn University is a public, polytechnic sea-grant RU/VH hub endowed for $646 million that's welcoming 4,707 post-grad Tigers into 140+ majors at its 427-building campus within the "Loveliest Village on the Plains" or online through Blackboard. Auburn is designated America's 30th best education college on Niche, 98th top research university in Forbes, and 306th best institution overall by Times Higher Education. The CAEP-accredited College of Education accepts certified teachers into the Online Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Music Education. Overseen by Dr. Nancy Barry, the 30-credit, full-time program lasts 12 months from July to July with courses like Advanced Survey of Exceptionality and practicum. Other Auburn K-12 programs include the Online M.Ed. in French Education, M.Ed. in Library Media Education, and M.Ed. in Collaborative Special Education.

Partnered with the Alaska System for Early Education Development Program, the University of Alaska Southeast is a public, four-year "Last Frontier" branch created in 1972 that's offering financial aid like the $7,500 PITAAS Grant to 3,765 students engaged in Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, and online. Alaska Southeast is recognized for America's 262nd most selective admission on Niche, 151st best graduation rate in Washington Monthly, and 398th most ethnic diversity by College Factual. Chaired by Dr. Deborah Lo, the CAEP-accredited School of Education launched the Master of Arts in Teaching Online for pursuing K-12 initial certifications. The 51-credit curriculum admits cohorts with minimum 3.0 GPAs into courses like Classroom Management and Discipline before the student-teaching term. Online post-grads also access the Master of Education in Reading Specialist and Master of Education in Math Education K-8.

Hosting the Content Teaching Academy every June, James Madison University is a public, civic-oriented SURA member founded in 1908 by the Virginia General Assembly that's budgeting $549 million annually to instruct 22,667 Dukes on its historic 721-acre Bluestone campus and on Blackboard. JMU is celebrated for America's 46th most affordable value in Money magazine, 29th best public education on Forbes, and 17th best Peace Corps volunteer-producing university. Sixty full-time faculty in the CAEP-accredited College of Education run 80+ programs, including the Online Master's of Education in Reading Education (M.Ed.). The 33-credit, non-thesis curriculum is completed 100 percent off-campus with a practicum in teachers' own districts for learning school-wide, K-12 literacy strategies. Check out the Online Educational Technology M.Ed. and Mathematics Education M.Ed. programs too.

Affiliated with nearly 33 percent of State Teacher of the Year recipients, the University of Northern Colorado is a public, research-intensive innovator founded in 1889 that's endowed for $82 million to teach 2,374 post-grad Bears that "Wisdom is Eternal" on the 260-acre Central Campus and Canvas. UNCO is judged for America's 150th best online graduate teaching by the U.S. News World Report, 157th best faculty in Washington Monthly, and 197th top value tuition on WalletHub. Adhering to Quality Matters standards, the CAEP-accredited School of Teacher Education confers the Culturally Linguistically Diverse Education MAT Online. Organized by Dr. Dana Walker, the 30-credit curriculum embeds three practicum credits into courses like Second Language Acquisition. Other K-12 programs include the Science Education MA Online and Teaching American Sign Language MA Online.

Founded as the Alabama Girls' Industrial School in 1896, the University of Montevallo is a public, high-impact liberal arts COPLAC member of the Gulf South Conference that's endowed for $19.9 million to serve 3,033 Falcons on its 160-acre Shelby County campus and via eLearning on Canvas. Montevallo is placed for America's 445th safest college on Niche, 111th highest bachelor's to Ph.D. completion in Washington Monthly, and 143rd most focused teachers school by College Factual. The College of Education led by Dr. Charlotte Daughhetee extends beyond Wills Hall for the Online Alternative Master's in Collaborative Education. Non-teaching post-grads can apply until July 15th, November 15th, or April 15th to pursue K-12 or 6-12 special education certification. Additional online opportunities include the Master's in Deaf and Hard of Hearing P-12 or Master's in Art and Music Education P-12.

Gifting $85.77 million in annual financial aid, including the $395 Kentucky P-12 Educator Tuition Discount per credit, Western Kentucky University is a public, coed teaching institution of Conference USA that's enlightening 3,066 post-grad Hilltoppers in Bowling Green, Glasgow, Elizabethtown, Owensboro, and online. WKU is America's 231st best public university on Forbes, 38th most affordable value by WalletHub, and 228th top master's college in Washington Monthly. The CAEP-accredited College of Education and Behavioral Sciences has four start dates for the Master of Arts in Education Teacher Leader Online. Managed by Dr. Tanja Bibbs, the 30-37 credit program splits into multiple specializations for Biology Education, Elementary Education, Gifted Education Talent Development, Literacy Education, Middle Grades, Secondary Education, and Special Needs before the action research capstone.

Enrolling 3,539 Vulcans each 16-week semester, the University of Hawaii at Hilo is a public, coeducational branch opened in 1941 that's endowed for $180 million within the PacWest to provide international study on the 755-acre campus below Mauna Loa and online via Blackboard. UH-Hilo is deemed America's most diverse college by the Chronicle of Higher Education, 337th most liberal school on Niche, and 92nd top liberal arts university in Washington Monthly. Headed by Dr. Diane Barrett, the School of Education accepts $50 applications from post-grads with minimum 3.0 GPAs for the Online Master of Education (M.Ed.). The 30-credit, cohort-based degree builds on baccalaureate study with K-12 courses like School Curriculum, Technology in Education, and Action Research. Videoconferencing is also available for Hilo's Master of Arts in Indigenous Language Culture Education.

Participating in Troops to Teachers, Slippery Rock University is a public, civic-engaged master's PASSHE member purchased by the Commonwealth in 1926 that's serving 1,257 post-grad Lions from 41 states both online via D2L Brightspace and at the 611-acre Pittsburgh Metro campus. SRU is applauded for America's 224th best online education courses by the U.S. News World Report, 137th best value in Washington Monthly, and 269th top public education on Niche. Ranked in the top 15 percent by College Factual, the CAEP-accredited College of Education confers an Elementary Education: K-12 Reading Specialist M.Ed. online. The 33-credit, practicum-embedded program coordinated by Dr. Suzanne Rose focuses on instructional coaching with literacy endorsements. Other Slippery Rock options include the Special Education: Autism M.Ed. and Elementary Education: K-8 Math/Science M.Ed. Online.

Budgeting $1.1 billion annually, Oregon State University is the Beaver State's largest public, sun-grant Pac-12 research institution established in 1868 that's enrolling 4,458 post-grads from 100 countries and employing 1,079 full-time faculty for 280 academic programs in Corvallis, Bend, and the eCampus. OSU is named America's 130th best education school by the U.S. News World Report, 87th best public college in Forbes, and 106th top choice on the Social Mobility Index. Since 2015, the CAEP-accredited College of Education directed by Dr. Toni Doolen has offered the non-licensure Online Master of Education (Ed.M.) Program in K-12 Education. The 45-credit curriculum is authorized in most states, excluding Kentucky, for four specializations in Advanced Science and Math Education, Social Justice Education, English to Speakers of Other Languages, or Free-Choice Informal Learning.