What you’ll learn in this article…
- NYSUT members receive a 40 percent discount on all ELT courses.
- ELT credits transfer to master's degrees at partner universities.
- Online master's programs run through Mercy University and Empire State University.
Forty percent is the discount NYSUT members receive on ELT graduate courses, a benefit supported by decades of partnerships with New York higher education institutions, according to NYSUT's ELT grad school news. Mercy University and Empire State University currently deliver full online master's degree programs through that arrangement.
The practical tension for most New York teachers is not whether to earn graduate credit, but whether the master's in education cost and schedule will fit a full-time classroom position. A master's degree moves educators into a higher salary schedule column in many districts, so discounted ELT credits carry a direct return on the time invested.
What Is NYSUT ELT and Who Can Access It?
Forty percent is the baseline discount NYSUT members receive on every ELT course1, but that number only tells part of the story. NYSUT ELT is a professional learning trust established by the New York State United Teachers, not a degree-granting school itself. It functions as a NYSED-approved course provider that partners with universities, including Empire State University and Mercy University degree programs, to deliver graduate credit and full master's degree programs.
A union-built provider, not a university
ELT's design is intentionally practitioner-focused. Its instructors are veteran educators themselves, so the coursework tends to connect directly to classroom realities, certification requirements, and salary advancement. Because ELT courses are reviewed and approved by the New York State Education Department1, they carry credibility for both district salary lanes and potential university transfer, though that approval is separate from M.Ed. accreditation.
Who can actually access the discount?
The standard 40 percent course discount is tied to current active, dues-paying NYSUT membership at registration.2 ELT verifies membership through NYSUT's system2, and there is no minimum membership duration.1 Retired members have used ELT in the past: Darlene Petschke, a retiree from the Newfane Teachers Association, completed 9 credits in under five months. However, because current promotional instructions emphasize active, dues-paying, in-service membership, retired members should verify their current eligibility before enrolling.3
Part-time teachers and school-related professionals are not explicitly excluded from ELT materials, but they also are not separately addressed.2 If you fall into one of those categories, confirm with your local union or contact ELT directly before assuming the 40 percent discount applies.
Courses that carry state credibility
NYSED review is a meaningful marker. It means the courses are designed to meet state expectations for professional learning, making them a practical option for teachers who need graduate credit, certification updates, or a pathway toward a master's degree while balancing teaching and grad school.
Can NYSUT ELT Credits Transfer to a Master's Degree?
Educators considering ELT often weigh the same tradeoff: the work is discounted and convenient, but it only holds full value if the credits move into a recognized graduate degree. The answer is yes, with an important boundary. NYSUT ELT credits transfer to master's programs at the two partner universities, Empire State University and Mercy University. They do not automatically transfer to every graduate school, and outside those partnerships there is no universal guarantee.
The B Average Baseline
Both partner universities require a B average in ELT coursework before accepting it for credit.34 This matters before you register, because a course completed with a lower grade may not apply, even if the subject area is otherwise relevant. Keep that threshold in mind if you plan to stack multiple ELT courses into a degree.
What Each Partner Will Accept
The credit caps are not identical. Empire State University accepts up to nine graduate credits toward its online M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction and M.Ed. in Special Education programs.12 For the 30-credit Curriculum and Instruction degree, that is a meaningful head start. Mercy University allows more latitude in some programs: up to 15 education credits, or five courses, can apply to M.S. programs. Advanced Certificate programs accept fewer, typically one to two courses, or three to six credits.4
Certification Work Can Double as Degree Progress
Consider Kenneth Aubin, a member of the Green Island Teachers Association, who took a 10-week course, Middle Childhood and Adolescent Development, over the summer to update his certification to teach middle school math. When an ELT course lines up with a partner degree's requirements, the same work can satisfy teaching licensure with master's in education requirements and reduce the remaining graduate load. But not every ELT course maps to every master's track. Exact course equivalencies vary by program, and some tracks accept more credits than others. Confirm the fit with the partner university before assuming a course will count.
Empire State University Vs. Mercy University: NYSUT ELT Master's Programs Compared
Both universities deliver graduate work through NYSUT ELT, but they differ in credit transfer limits, certification areas, and tuition incentives.
| Feature | Empire State University | Mercy University |
|---|---|---|
| Primary degree options | Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction; Master of Education in Special Education; Master's in Adolescent Special Education. | Master of Science in Teaching Students with Disabilities (Early Childhood and Childhood); M.S. in Literacy and Multilingual Studies Birth–Grade 12; M.S. in Childhood Education Grades 1–6; advanced certificates in Teaching Students with Disabilities (7–12 Generalist) and Bilingual Extension. |
| Delivery format | Fully online degree programs. ELT courses may be site-based or online. Current ELT materials do not specify asynchronous vs. synchronous meeting requirements. | Online delivery emphasized across programs. Current ELT pages do not guarantee asynchronous-only scheduling or specify synchronous requirements. |
| NYSUT ELT credit transfer limit | Up to 9 graduate credits from NYSUT ELT may apply toward the M.Ed. programs. | Up to 15 credits may apply toward M.S. programs; 3–6 credits may apply toward advanced certificates. |
| Total credits required | 30 credits for the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction. Total credits for the M.Ed. in Special Education are not stated in current NYSUT ELT materials. | Total program credits are not listed in current NYSUT ELT partnership pages; credit requirements vary by program. |
| Time to completion at part-time pace | Part-time completion time is not published in current ELT materials. Pace depends on course load per term and transferred credits. | Part-time completion time is not published in current ELT materials. Time depends on program, fieldwork, and transfer credits applied. |
| NYS certification alignment | The Adolescent Special Education path aligns with New York State Students with Disabilities certification. M.Ed. options are designed to support certification requirements broadly. | Teaching Students with Disabilities programs align with NYS Teaching Students with Disabilities certification; literacy program aligns with Birth–Grade 12 literacy; childhood education aligns with Grades 1–6; advanced certificates align with 7–12 Generalist and Bilingual Extension areas. |
| Partnership tuition benefits | Orientation fee waiver: $50 for degree, $25 for certificate. One-time $100 Presidential Scholarship for eligible students enrolled past day 28. | One-third tuition scholarship on remaining courses after matriculation. Fieldwork of 10–15 hours is required. |
| Course grade requirement | Complete NYSUT ELT courses with a grade of B or better before applying for matriculation. | Complete NYSUT ELT courses with a grade of B or better before applying for matriculation. |
| Unique structure | Statewide open-university structure with multiple online M.Ed. pathways. Advising contact: [email protected]. | Specific program concentrations in disabilities, literacy, childhood education, and bilingual extension, with advanced certificate options. |
Despite decades of higher education partnerships, NYSUT ELT does not publish one annual number for members served, courses offered, or graduate credits delivered online. You can confirm the 40 percent member discount at nysut.org, then request current totals directly from NYSUT ELT or check the New York State Education Department's CTLE provider records.
What NYSUT ELT Master's Degrees Cost After Discounts
The figures below reflect published rates for NYSUT ELT master's pathways as of the current 2026 academic year. Tuition, scholarship amounts, and fee schedules may change, so verify current costs directly with ELT and the partner university before enrolling.
| Program | Standard Per-Credit Rate | After ELT Discount | Estimated Total Cost | Additional Aid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empire State University Master of Education via NYSUT ELT (NYS resident, non-MBA) | $471 per credit (1-11 credits per term) | 40% discount on qualifying ELT courses; exact dollar tuition per credit not listed | $5,655 tuition for 12 or more credits per term (fees separate); $1,653.35 total for 3 credits including college, activity, health and wellness, and technology fees | 40% ELT course discount; up to 9 ELT credits may transfer toward the degree |
| Mercy University master's programs through NYSUT ELT | $959 per 3-credit course | $959 per 3-credit course (ELT notes 30% discount applicable to active dues-paying UFT/NYSUT members; exact discounted dollar amount not stated) | Not specified | One-third Mercy tuition scholarship reduces cost to $2,090 per 3-credit Mercy course for NYSUT members (rates subject to change) |
| NYSUT ELT standalone online graduate courses (TESOL pathway) | $665 per 3-credit online course plus textbooks | $665 per 3-credit online course (presented as ELT course tuition for NYSUT participants; no separate pre-discount rate) | Not specified | None listed |
Related Articles
TESOL, Literacy, Special Education, and More: ELT Certification Pathways
For many New York educators, the bottleneck is not willingness to learn; it is finding coursework that satisfies NYSED requirements without stalling a full-time job. NYSUT ELT answers that by offering courses reviewed and approved by the New York State Education Department as fulfilling specific certification requirements, not as standalone certificate programs in most cases. The distinction matters: you still apply for certification individually and must meet all other NYSED conditions.
Which Pathway Fits Your Certification Stage
ELT's catalog spans five high-utility areas. Students with Disabilities preparation supports an additional certificate, but candidates still complete the SWD Content Specialty Test, any required Multi-Subject test, and the autism workshop on their own. School Counselor coursework counts toward the 60 credits required for permanent certification. Career and Technical Education courses can satisfy the 9-credit initial pedagogical core and the additional 9 credits for professional certification after the Educating All Students exam and three years of experience. TESOL and Literacy courses cover methods and assessment competencies, but not a complete initial or professional certificate on their own. TESOL candidates still need the ESOL Content Specialty Test and DASA training, plus 50 clinical hours. Literacy candidates complete 50 clinical hours and a 3-semester-hour students with disabilities component.
A Working Educator's Example
Melissa Hrycko, a pre-K teacher at Weedsport Central School District, is pursuing a Students with Disabilities certificate through ELT. Her coursework includes special education foundations, behavior management, assessment, and instructional practices. That sequence shows how ELT allows a full-time teacher to build a new credential around a current schedule rather than stepping away from the classroom.
Stacking Toward a Master's
In several areas, ELT coursework can be applied toward a full master's degree through Empire State University or Mercy University rather than living as an isolated credential. That means a certificate path can later shorten the time and cost of a graduate degree.
High-need areas such as Students with Disabilities, TESOL, and Literacy continue to have persistent shortages in New York schools. Adding one of these credentials can shift a teacher into a new salary lane or open positions with additional pay.
How an ELT Master's Degree Moves Your Career, and Your Paycheck, Forward
In most New York school districts, your paycheck is tied to more than years of service. Graduate credits and a master's degree move you across salary schedule columns: bachelor's, master's, MA+30, and MA+60. Each column carries a higher annual step increase, so the same year of teaching pays more after you earn credits. Because salary schedules repeat that difference every year, earning a master's raises both current pay and lifetime earnings. NYSUT ELT courses supply those credentials without pulling you out of the classroom.
Salary lanes reward credits
A master's degree typically shifts you into a new salary column. An ELT master's, or a stack of ELT certificates, can do the same. Because ELT offers a 40 percent member discount, the tuition you pay is lower than many graduate programs, so the extra salary arrives faster than the loan payment. The exact break-even depends on your local contract, but the discounted tuition shortens the time it takes for the salary bump to cover your costs.
Specialist roles often pay more
ELT's certification areas also unlock positions beyond the standard classroom. Literacy coach, instructional support teacher, department head, and school counselor roles usually require advanced study and carry higher base pay or stipends. Completing ELT's programs in areas like literacy, TESOL, special education, or school counseling signals that you have the coursework districts look for when posting those jobs.
The break-even calculus
If a master's degree moves you to a higher salary column, the annual increase can offset the program cost within a few years. With a 40 percent discount on ELT tuition, that break-even comes sooner. Teachers often find the degree pays for itself through the column bump, then continues to pay every year after.
CTLE hours included
NYSED-approved ELT courses also count toward Continuing Teacher and Leader Education requirements. That means the credits you earn for a master's or certificate can satisfy your professional learning hours, so the work does double duty. For certificate holders, this removes a separate tracking burden and makes the graduate credit go further.
Time to Degree: How Long Does an ELT Master's Actually Take?
How long does an NYSUT ELT master's degree actually take for a working teacher? The honest answer is that it depends on the pace you choose, but most pathways are built around part-time study over two years. Mercy University's M.A. in English, for example, recommends six credits per semester and notes that most students finish in about two years, with a maximum of six years to complete. Empire State University's online M.Ed. options vary by background: the curriculum and instruction M.Ed. is 30 credits1, while the Adolescent Special Education M.Ed. can run 33 to 42 credits depending on your prior coursework.
Pace Options That Fit a Teaching Schedule
A full-time pace is possible for students who can dedicate themselves to graduate study, but most working teachers take one or two courses per term to protect M.Ed. school schedule flexibility. Six credits a semester is a typical part-time load. Darlene Petschke's experience shows the accelerated end: she completed nine credits in under five months through ELT, taking one course at a time in weekend and five-day intensive formats.
How Transfer Credits Compress the Timeline
If a program accepts 12 transfer credits, a 36-credit degree becomes effectively a 24-credit program. Those accepted credits can remove two or three semesters of work, making a two-year program feel more like 16 to 18 months for students who enter with relevant coursework.
Summer Intensives and School Break Options
Weekend and five-day intensive formats allow you to complete courses during summer or school breaks without taking time off. That pacing can stack up quickly: a summer intensive plus two courses in the fall and spring puts nine to twelve credits on your transcript within a calendar year.
For union educators, NYSUT ELT turns graduate work into a practical, affordable path: online master's programs, accelerated formats, and a 40 percent member discount make advanced degrees and certifications achievable without pausing your teaching career.
Forty percent is the discount NYSUT members receive on every ELT course. That affordability combines with online, weekend, and intensive formats to make a master's degree or added certification realistic while you keep teaching. The career payoff is concrete: graduate credits and a completed degree move you across salary schedule columns and open pathways in special education, TESOL certification, literacy, and school counseling.
Start small. Visit elt.nysut.org, confirm your NYSUT membership eligibility, and register for one course before committing to a full program. ELT has run for decades and keeps expanding university partnerships, making it a model other states can learn from.
