What you’ll learn in this article…
- TEA, not your university, issues the Principal as Instructional Leader certificate.
- Yearly in-state tuition spans $6,157 (Texas A&M-Kingsville) to $7,993 (Prairie View A&M).
- Sul Ross State University posts the highest median earnings among ranked programs.
What does it actually take to move from a Texas classroom into an assistant principal's office? The answer has two parts, earned separately: a master's degree from a university and the Principal as Instructional Leader certificate issued by the Texas Education Agency.
The degree is the more predictable half. Annual in-state graduate tuition at public programs here runs from roughly $6,157 at Texas A&M University-Kingsville to $7,993 at Prairie View A&M University, a narrow spread that pushes the real decision toward format, pacing, and whether a program is state-approved for certification.
That approval matters more than the diploma. Without state approval, a finished degree still leaves you ineligible to sit for the certification exams.
What a Texas Principal Certificate Requires Beyond the Degree
A master's degree builds your leadership knowledge, but the credential that lets you serve as a principal comes separately, from the Texas Education Agency. Your university awards the degree. TEA issues the Principal as Instructional Leader certificate, and only after an approved educator preparation program (EPP) recommends you.
The Path to Certification, Step by Step
- Meet the entry requirements: TEA's principal certificate rules (19 TAC Chapter 241) call for a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, a valid classroom teaching certificate, and two creditable years as a classroom teacher before you enter an EPP.
- Complete the program: The EPP must meet state standards and include a field-based practicum where you show proficiency in each principal standard.
- Pass the exams: You need the TExES Principal as Instructional Leader (268) exam and the ETS Performance Assessment for School Leaders (PASL, 368). TEA describes exam 268 as 70 multiple-choice questions (58 scored) plus 4 constructed responses.
- Get recommended: After you finish the program and pass the required exams, the EPP recommends you to TEA through the state certification system.
- Hold a master's: The standard certificate requires at least a master's degree from an accredited institution.
Enrollment vs. Certification
TEA's rules treat the teaching certificate and two years of classroom experience as prerequisites for entering principal preparation, not just for the final certificate. Those rules do not say that other education roles, such as counseling or district office work, substitute for classroom teaching. If you are short on years, ask a program whether you can begin degree coursework before starting the certification sequence.
Which Track Fits You
Without a master's, look for a degree-plus-certification track. Midwestern State University, Sul Ross State University, and the University of Houston-Clear Lake each list a master's option that names principal certification. If you already hold a master's, a certification-only EPP route may be the more direct path.
Rules and exam details change, so confirm current requirements on the TEA website before you enroll.
Texas Educational Leadership Master's Programs Ranked: 10 Schools Compared
Ten Texas programs made this list, and the mix matters as much as the order. Some are fully online and finish in a year, others meet on campus or by interactive television in the evenings, and in-state graduate tuition across the group ranges from about $4,500 to roughly $31,000. Each entry below pairs the delivery format with the in-state and out-of-state graduate tuition, so you can compare the real cost of the schedule you actually need.
- Student completion and graduation outcomes
- Principal certification alignment
- Graduate tuition and fees
- Delivery format flexibility
- Program-level earnings after graduation
- Federal College Scorecard outcomes data — collegescorecard.ed.gov
- IPEDS institutional survey data from NCES covering graduate tuition — nces.ed.gov
- Program-level records maintained in house
- Independent editorial research
- State cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities — bea.gov
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Concordia University Texas | Austin, TX | $10,000 – $15,000/yr (est.) | Austin-area educators wanting hybrid classes | |
A private university in Austin, Concordia runs its educational leadership master's in a hybrid format that mixes campus and online work, with a 30-credit M.Ed. that includes principal certification preparation and a practicum as acting administrator. Concentrations let students aim at campus administration, instructional leadership, or district-level roles, and the program is accredited by SACSCOC and recognized by the Texas Education Agency. A $10,000 Education Workforce Development Scholarship may be available to eligible students. Graduate tuition is about $31,108, the same for in-state and out-of-state students.
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| #2 | The University of Texas at Arlington | Arlington, TX | ~$11,000/yr (est.) | Working teachers needing fully online coursework | |
UT Arlington delivers its M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies entirely online, with a 30-credit non-thesis plan and a principal certification concentration designed for working teachers. A 12-month accelerated option includes a capstone internship, and no GRE or GMAT is required for admission. Federal outcomes data for 2022 completers show median earnings of about $63,800 one year after finishing and about $70,400 four years out. Graduate tuition is roughly $9,206 in state and $26,838 out of state.
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| #3 | University of North Texas | Denton, TX | $9,000 – $16,000/yr (est.) | Aspiring principals on a one-year timeline | |
North Texas offers its 30-credit M.Ed. in Educational Leadership as an accelerated online program with eight-week terms, so students can finish in about a year while teaching full time. The curriculum covers instructional leadership, school law, resource management, and diversity, and it leads to Texas principal certification. Faculty bring principalship and district leadership experience to the classroom. Graduate tuition is about $8,319 in state and $18,159 out of state.
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| #4 | Texas Tech University | Lubbock, TX | $5,000 – $10,000/yr (est.) | ||
Texas Tech's online M.Ed. in Educational Leadership is a 30-credit, fully asynchronous program built around school law, data-driven decision making, and educational policy, with eight-week terms and multiple start dates year round. It does not lead to Texas principal certification, so it fits educators who want leadership and policy credentials outside the principal pathway. Per-credit tuition runs about $415 to $500, and graduate tuition is about $8,935 in state and $21,240 out of state. The department also partners with the Raise Your Hand Texas Foundation on professional development work.
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| #5 | Prairie View A & M University | Prairie View, TX | ~$8,000/yr (est.) | ||
Prairie View A&M, an HBCU in the Texas A&M System, offers a 36-credit M.Ed. in Educational Administration that prepares students for principal or superintendent certification. Classes blend face-to-face meetings with interactive television and online delivery, scheduled on weeknights and weekends for working educators, and the program deliberately builds a diverse administrator pipeline. Practitioner faculty supplement regular instruction. Graduate tuition is about $7,387 in state and $22,590 out of state.
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| #6 | The University of Texas at Tyler | Tyler, TX | ~$8,000/yr (est.) | ||
UT Tyler's online M.Ed. in Educational Leadership is a 16-month program for aspiring principals, covering instructional leadership, school operations, community engagement, and data-driven decision making. Coursework is fully online and the degree includes principal certification preparation, plus access to the Teachers in Excellence Scholarship. Program materials cite a total program cost of about $7,751, while institution-wide graduate tuition runs about $9,736 in state and $25,494 out of state.
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| #7 | Stephen F. Austin State University | Nacogdoches, TX | ~$8,000/yr (est.) | ||
Stephen F. Austin's online M.Ed. in Educational Leadership is a 30-credit program with two concentrations, principal certification and athletic director, blending online coursework with regular virtual class meetings and field-based practicum work in every course. A mentor supports field experiences, and the program closes with a comprehensive examination; it is NCATE accredited. Graduate tuition is about $7,842 in state and $17,682 out of state.
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| #8 | Angelo State University | San Angelo, TX | ~$8,000/yr (est.) | ||
Angelo State's M.S. in Educational Leadership is built for Texas certified teachers who want to become principals, with courses in eight-week online terms and a completion path of as little as one year. A practicum requires on-site work in a school, and students prepare for both the 268 Principal as Instructional Leader exam and the 368 PASL. Graduate tuition is about $4,495 in state and $14,335 out of state, the lowest in-state rate on this list.
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| #9 | West Texas A & M University | Canyon, TX | $5,000 – $10,000/yr (est.) | ||
West Texas A&M offers an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership with two paths: a degree-only track open to students who do not hold a teaching certificate and a certification track that requires two years of classroom experience. A superintendent certification option is also available for leaders moving beyond the campus level. Graduate tuition is about $6,372 in state and $8,267 out of state, an unusually narrow gap between the two rates.
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| #10 | Texas A&M University-Victoria | Victoria, TX | $5,000 – $10,000/yr (est.) | ||
Texas A&M University-Victoria delivers its M.Ed. with an educational leadership area on campus in Victoria, aimed at students who want a TEA certification pathway alongside the degree. Applicants need a 2.5 GPA, and those below that threshold submit GRE scores; all graduate students must pass a comprehensive examination. The degree expects at least 18 semester hours of professional education coursework, plus teaching or related experience. Graduate tuition is about $7,149 in state and $16,989 out of state.
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Quick Answers About Texas Educational Leadership Degrees
These answers cover the three questions aspiring principals ask most often. Always confirm details with the specific program and the Texas Education Agency before you enroll.
Can I become a principal in Texas with a master's in educational leadership?
Not with the degree alone. The Texas Education Agency requires a master's, a valid Texas teaching certificate, at least two creditable years as a classroom teacher, an approved principal preparation program, and a passing score on the principal certification exam. Confirm that your degree embeds an approved program leading to the Principal as Instructional Leader certificate.
How long does it take to get a master's in educational leadership in Texas?
It varies by school, enrollment pace, and whether certification is included. The University of North Texas describes an accelerated online format that can deliver the master's and principal certificate in one year. Texas State offers a 30-credit M.Ed. and an 18-credit post-master's certification program that can be finished in three semesters.1 Part-time students should expect longer.
Do I need teaching experience to enroll in an educational leadership master's program in Texas?
Often, but not always. Texas Tech requires teacher certification and two years of teaching experience at application, and Texas State asks for documented experience of at least one year. Admission rules differ by school, yet the state still requires two creditable years of classroom teaching for the standard principal certificate. Check each program's requirements.
Cost, Format, and Time to Finish: Side-by-Side
Annual in-state graduate tuition runs from $6,157 at Texas A&M University-Kingsville to $7,993 at Prairie View A&M University, a spread of less than $2,000 a year, so format and time to finish may matter as much as sticker price. The low end mixes formats: Kingsville's online program is the cheapest, followed by hybrid programs at Texas A&M University-Central Texas and UNT Dallas, and the only campus-based option (Sul Ross State) also comes in under $6,700. Credit hours and completion times appear only where a school's own program information confirms them, and a blank cell means the figure was not published, not that the program has no set timeline.
| School | Program | Format | In-State Tuition (Annual) | Out-of-State Tuition (Annual) | Credit Hours | Typical Time to Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas A&M University-Kingsville | Master of Science in Educational Administration | Online | $6,157 | $14,560 | 12 months | |
| Texas A&M University-Central Texas | Master of Education in Educational Leadership | Hybrid (online with 4 on-campus sessions) | $6,242 | $13,586 | 30 | |
| University of North Texas at Dallas | Master of Educational Leadership | Hybrid | $6,379 | $13,759 | Less than 2 years | |
| Sul Ross State University | Educational Leadership, M.Ed. | On campus | $6,661 | $14,220 | 30 | |
| Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi | Educational Administration, MS | Online | $7,179 | $16,031 | 30 | |
| West Texas A&M University | Master of Education in Educational Leadership | Hybrid | $7,284 | $8,574 | ||
| Angelo State University | Educational Leadership M.S. | Hybrid | $7,509 | $14,889 | As little as 1 year | |
| Stephen F. Austin State University | Master of Education in Educational Leadership | Online | $7,829 | $15,209 | 30 | |
| East Texas Baptist University | Master of Education (Educational Leadership) | Hybrid | $7,980 | $7,980 | 30 | |
| Prairie View A&M University | Master of Education in Educational Administration | Hybrid | $7,993 | $17,378 | 36 |
Synchronous, Asynchronous, or Accelerated: Matching Format to Your Schedule
Many Texas online educational leadership degrees now run on accelerated terms, so format deserves as much thought as price.
Three Formats, Three Kinds of Student
- Synchronous: Live sessions at scheduled times. This suits educators who want cohort networking and instructor contact. Texas Tech's certification-oriented M.Ed. is synchronous online and built for working teachers moving toward principal roles.
- Asynchronous: Self-paced work against deadlines, with no set meeting time. This fits a rural-district educator with long commutes or an unpredictable day. Texas Tech's Educational Leadership Policy M.Ed. is asynchronous, but it does not lead to principal certification.
- Accelerated: Short terms, often 8 weeks, with courses taken back to back. This suits a full-time teacher who wants a fast finish. UNT and Angelo State use eight-week terms, and TAMIU runs seven-week terms.2
In the rankings, UT Arlington, UNT, Texas Tech, UT Tyler, and Stephen F. Austin are online. Concordia Texas, Prairie View A&M, Angelo State, and West Texas A&M are hybrid, and Texas A&M-Victoria is campus-based. UTSA describes hybrid online courses as either asynchronous or synchronous.
How the Internship Works for Working Teachers
Principal tracks require supervised field work. UT Austin's Texas Principal Leadership Academy requires 160 internship hours, split between fall and spring. Texas State's principal-certification M.Ed. includes a year-long internship.1 Stephen F. Austin builds a field-based practicum into each course with an assigned mentor, and Angelo State's practicum requires on-site work.
Other schools publish the practicum only as credit hours. UTSA's practicum can reach 6 credits, and UT Tyler offers two practicum courses. Credit hours are not clock hours, so ask each program for its required hours and how your district signs off before you enroll.
Admission Requirements to Confirm Before You Apply
Admission rules vary more than you might expect across Texas educational leadership programs. Check each item below against the school's own admissions page, since several schools update requirements and dates each fall.
- Bachelor's degree and minimum GPAEvery program requires an accredited bachelor's degree. Texas State asks for a 2.75 GPA overall or across your last 60 undergraduate hours. Texas A&M–San Antonio grants unconditional admission at 3.00 and higher, and applicants with a 2.60 to 2.99 GPA may qualify under additional program requirements.
- GRE requirement or waiverUT Austin, Texas Tech and Texas State do not require the GRE. UT Tyler waives it with a 2.75 GPA, either overall or across your last 60 hours. Otherwise it asks for recent scores.
- Teaching experienceTexas A&M's PK–12 Educational Leadership program expects at least two years of full-time teaching by the time you enter or complete the program.
- Teaching certificateTexas A&M's PK–12 track requires a PK–12 teaching certificate. Confirm whether other programs require one before you apply.
- Recommendations and interviewsTexas A&M–San Antonio scores a recommendation from a current or former school leader, a peer, a program alumnus or a current student. Texas A&M's PK–12 program adds a faculty interview.
- Application deadlinesDeadlines vary widely. Texas A&M's PK–12 deadline was October 15, 2026, and UT Austin's is December 1. Texas Tech's early spring deadline is December 18, 2026, with a late spring deadline of March 5, 2027. UT Tyler's spring deadline is December 20.
Before you enroll, confirm the program is approved by the State Board for Educator Certification as a Texas educator preparation program. The diploma alone will not make you eligible for a principal certificate, and certification eligibility is what opens the door to campus leadership.
Affordable Educational Leadership Master's Programs in Texas: Tuition at a Glance
These figures show published graduate tuition and fees before financial aid, not net price, for the lowest-cost programs on this page. In-state and out-of-state rates appear side by side. Every school in this low-cost group is a public university, and in-state rates fall within a narrow band, from $6,157 at Texas A&M University-Kingsville to $7,284 at West Texas A&M University. None of the private schools elsewhere on the page are in this group. Residency changes the price more than school choice does. Most out-of-state rates are roughly double the in-state rate, but West Texas A&M's nonresident figure of $8,574 is close to its in-state rate. Texas A&M-Kingsville and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi offer fully online study. Texas A&M-Central Texas, UNT Dallas, and West Texas A&M combine online and in-person coursework, and Sul Ross State is campus-based.
Schools in Texas
- Tarleton State University
- Texas A & M University-College Station
- Texas A & M University-Kingsville
- Texas A&M University-Central Texas
- Texas A&M University-San Antonio
- Texas A&M University-Texarkana
- Texas Christian University
- Texas Southern University
- Texas State University
- Texas Tech University
- Texas Wesleyan University
- Texas Woman's University
- The University of Texas at Arlington
- The University of Texas at Austin
- The University of Texas at El Paso
- The University of Texas at San Antonio
- The University of Texas at Tyler
- The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
- Trinity University
- University of Houston
- University of Houston-Downtown
- University of Houston-Victoria
- University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
- University of North Texas
- University of North Texas at Dallas
- University of St Thomas
- Wayland Baptist University
- West Texas A & M University
Explore other Texas related topics
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Early-Career Earnings at a Top-Earning Ranked Program
Sul Ross State University in Alpine posts the highest program-level median earnings among the schools ranked here.
Other Texas Schools Offering Educational Leadership Degrees
The programs ranked above are only part of what Texas offers. Public and private universities across the state award master's degrees in educational leadership, and many build principal certification into the same credit hours. The directory below groups additional options by region, with delivery format and a link to each program's own page.
