10 Best Online Master’s in Education Degree Programs in 2021

Old Dominion University is another online option that offers graduate degrees outside of what you'd normally expect to see. Whether you want to major in Community College Teaching, School Librarianship, or STEM education, ODU has you covered. It's also the only university on this list to offer programs in all four main areas of education: teaching, counseling, administration, and research/policy. And when it comes to online learning, Old Dominion University exceeds expectations. Certified instructional designers lend their expertise to all courses and help craft online tools that help students learn. These resources include smartphone and tablet applications, virtual simulations and labs, software-based readers, and real-time lectures that your master's in education online courses to life.Tuition: $7,948/yr (In-state) $23,200/yr (Out-of-state)Score: 218.37

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It's no surprise that the American College of Education makes it into the #2 spot on this online master's degree in education ranking, given that the entire school is dedicated to helping teachers reach their professional goals. M.Ed. programs include Educational Leadership, Curriculum and Instruction, Health and Wellness, Instructional Design, and Teaching English Learners, to name a few. You might also consider augmenting your studies with a subject-area certificate or continuing on to an Ed.D. or Ed.S. specialist degree. ACE is also proudly adding 12 new graduate education programs to its repertoire for the fall of 2015, which will cover Teacher Leadership, Early Childhood Education, Online Learning and Teaching, Elementary/Secondary Literacy, and much more. These 12 new programs will increase ACE's selection of education graduate programs to about 30 in total, which could easily boost its ranking for 2016!Tuition: $5,250/yrScore: 212.35

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The University of Northern Colorado's "Online and Mostly Online" master's in education programs include many unique topics that you wouldn't be able to find elsewhere. You could study Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education, Sign Language, Geography Education, Gifted and Talented Instruction, Educational Psychology, Dance Education, and even Principal Licensure. These degrees cover three of the four essential areas of graduate education programs: teaching, counseling/psychology, and administration. UNC students who opt for the "extended campus" experience the same rigorous coursework and talented professors that others enjoy on campus, but with generous added flexibility. This university is also one of the more selective on this list, bringing in students with an average 3.6 undergraduate GPA.Tuition: $8,996/yr (In-state) $17,640/yr (Out-of-state)Score: 208.13

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If you're looking for a master's in education online that is both affordable and comprehensive, consider Emporia State University. The school offers an impressive number of graduate programs online, including about a dozen that are related to teaching and school administration. In addition to degrees in Early Childhood Education and Educational Administration, ESU also offers a Curriculum and Instruction program with concentrations in Effective Practitioner, Instruction, and National Board Certification - all of which focus on PreK-12 education. Distance education students at Emporia also enjoy access to a surprising selection of learning tools, including the virtual writing center, "SmartThinking" online tutoring, and online mathematics and reading labs.Tuition: $5,448/yr (In-state) $16,994/yr (Out-of-state)Score: 195.45

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Northwestern State University of Louisiana is another top public school with an "e-Campus" branch of its main university. Through "eNSU" you can attain an advanced graduate degree in Adult Education, Student Affairs, Educational Technology Leadership, Gifted Education, Early Intervention, Professional Teaching Standards, School Librarian, and much more. Northwestern State offers more unique online master's in education degrees than any other school on this list, most of which cover teaching/instruction and administrative topics. Post-graduate and add-on certifications further increase the number of options for aspiring teachers attending NSU. The overall low tuition rates at this university provide an added appeal to budget-conscious master's students.Tuition: $5,738/yr (In-state) $16,526/yr (Out-of-state)Score: 194.52

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Texas A&M University's College of Education and Human Development offers a distinguished selection of M.Ed. degrees to qualifying students. Although you'll have to earn nearly a 3.4 in undergrad to have a good chance of being accepted to TAMU's program, the hard work is worth it. Online master's of education options at this university include Educational Psychology - Creativity and Innovation, Bilingual Education, Educational Human Resource Development, and TESOL Curriculum and Instruction. Texas A&M's selection of online learning tools is impressive as well; you'll benefit from software-based readers, simulations and online labs, smartphone applications, and live-streaming lectures.Tuition: $5,741/yr (In-state) $14,429/yr (Out-of-state)Score: 192.61

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Although the Wisconsin campus of Concordia University places 7th on this list of top programs in masters in education online, remember that CU also has many other satellite locations around the country. Many of these campuses offer high caliber teaching and instruction degrees, but CUW stands out for its especially wide coverage - from Educational Leadership to Learning Disabilities. CUW also offers an M.S. in Education that allows aspiring teachers to concentrate in one of seven subject areas, such as literacy, counseling, and educational technology. Concordia's programs cover three of the four main educational subcategories: teaching, counseling/psychology, and administration, all of which have been designed by certified instructional professionals.Tuition: $9,540/yrScore: 184.93

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WebsiteThe "e-Campus" at the University of Nebraska at Kearney provides distance students with a selection of more than 30 degree programs, more than half of which fall under the category of education. From K-12 Curriculum and Instruction to Student Affairs, UNK's master's in education online programs cover both administrative and instructional topics. You will also find specific teacher training degrees, including Music Education, Special Education, Biology, Reading, and Physical Education. You'll also enjoy distance education at this university because of its comprehensive online learning tools, which include simulations, virtual labs, and tablet/mobile apps.Tuition: $5,196/yr (In-state) $11,400/yr (Out-of-state)Score: 182.31

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Pittsburg State University's school of Graduate and Continuing Studies covers a range of online master's degrees in education, from School Health and Leadership to Special Education and ESOL. Programs are available at the certificate, M.A., M.S., and Ed.S. levels, allowing students to pursue everything from Autism Spectrum Disorders to General School Administration through curricula that range from six to sixteen classes. Many of these advanced degrees require students to complete practicums and learn how to conduct research, ensuring that you will feel adequately prepared for work in any field of education. The average undergraduate GPA of PSU applicants is above a 3.5, suggesting that admittance is beyond competitive.Tuition: $5,690/yr (In-state) $15,110/yr (Out-of-state)Score: 181.32

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The University of Georgia makes this online master's in education list for both its breadth of programming options and stellar online resources. Whether you want to major in Adult Education or Educational Psychology, the University of Georgia has what you need. Other academic options cover gifted and creative education, organizational development, instructional technology, digital literacy, and even workforce education. The university also offers a wide range of technological resources online, including live streaming audio and video and an interactive learning management system. And if a master's degree isn't enough for you, UGA also offers a specialized Ed.S. in Educational Psychology/Gifted and Creative Education.Tuition: $8,088/yr (In-state) $23,388/yr (Out-of-state)Score: 180.1

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