Master's in Art Education

A master's is rarely what gets an art teacher into a K-12 classroom. Licensure in most states runs through a bachelor's degree plus a certificate, making the graduate degree a second move: the step onto a higher salary lane, or the credential a career changer needs to enter.

Those two groups need different programs. One requires supervised student teaching and a state recommendation; the other has to survive a full teaching load. Delivery ranges from campus to hybrid to fully online.

Districts set the payoff, not the schools. A lane change pays a published rate, and no master's in art education buys more than the schedule allows.

10 Art Education Master's Programs Ranked by Cost, Debt, Earnings, and Format

These ten programs split into two broad groups: degrees built for people who are not yet licensed and want a classroom, and degrees built for working teachers moving up a pay lane. Format varies just as widely, from a campus MA with museum placements in Denton to fully online routes out of Arkansas and North Carolina. Read each entry for the license it leads to, how long it takes, and the price that applies to you.

Rank	School	Location	Net price	Best for
#1	University of North Texas	Denton, TX	$9,000 – $16,000/yr (est.)	Aspiring museum educators in Texas
North Texas reports that its art education program produces nearly half of the state's university-certified art educators, and the Dallas-Fort Worth museum network is built into the coursework. The MA in Art Education carries three options, and the museum route places students in internships at partner institutions with site visits and guest instruction from museum professionals. Students take 30 to 36 credit hours over two to three years, and the Denton campus supplies a 2,500-square-foot gallery plus a large visual resources collection. Art Education Master's — On-Campus 30 to 36 credit hours; most students finish in 2 to 3 years Tracks: Advanced Coursework, Museum Education, Teaching Certification Teaching Certification track leads to K-12 art certification in Texas Museum Education students intern at regional museums Collaborates with the Onstead Institute and Dallas and Kimbell museums Program produces nearly half of Texas's university-certified art educators 2,500-square-foot gallery and 65,000 images in the Visual Resources Collection Visit Website
#2	Eastern New Mexico University	Portales, NM	~$6,000/yr (est.)	Visual arts majors who want an early start
Eastern New Mexico runs an accelerated plan that lets visual arts majors start graduate work in their senior year and apply up to six 500-level credits to both the bachelor's and the M.Ed. Students apply to the Graduate School in the junior year and need a 3.0 GPA, and a C in a 500-level course still satisfies the undergraduate requirement without counting toward the master's. It is a small, low-cost public option in the eastern part of the state, and the M.Ed. qualifies graduates to teach in New Mexico public schools. BA to M.Ed. Visual Arts Secondary Education Plan, Master's — On-Campus Up to six 500-level credits in senior year count toward both degrees Apply to the Graduate School in the junior year; 3.0 GPA required A C in a 500-level course counts for the bachelor's but not the master's M.Ed. graduates can teach in New Mexico public schools Accelerated BA to M.Ed. plan for Visual Arts Secondary Education majors Visit Website
#3	Florida Atlantic University	Boca Raton, FL	$7,000 – $18,000/yr (est.)	Career changers seeking Florida art certification
Florida Atlantic packages initial certification and a master's degree into one 36-credit program, with art as one of seven specialization areas in secondary education. The hybrid format, part-time option, and three start dates per year are built for people who are working while they qualify for a Florida professional certificate. Full-time students can finish in about 24 months, and the final stretch includes a reading practicum and a supervised internship in a secondary classroom. Master's Degree (M.Ed.) in Secondary Education plus Certification — Hybrid 36 credit hours, including a student teaching component Art is one of seven specialization areas in secondary education Hybrid format with fall, spring, and summer start dates Full-time students can finish in about 24 months; part-time available Prepares for Florida professional certification in art Admission requires a 3.0 GPA, a personal statement, and two references Visit Website
#4	University of North Carolina at Pembroke	Pembroke, NC	~$7,000/yr (est.)
UNC Pembroke delivers its MAT in Art Education entirely online, which means a reader can prepare for art licensure without relocating or leaving a current job. The degree is built for applicants who do not already hold a teaching license and who need K-12 art licensure at the end. Admission is comparatively open, with a 2.75 GPA threshold, conditional admission below that, and either a passing Praxis II score or 24 hours of art coursework accepted in place of one another. Art Education (fully online) Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) — Online Fully online option Fully online MAT for applicants who do not hold a teaching license Leads to K-12 art licensure in North Carolina 2.75 GPA required; conditional admission possible below that Praxis II passing score or 24 hours of art coursework accepted Two professional references, including a school administrator where applicable 150 to 250 word statement on goals and teaching philosophy Visit Website
#5	University of Nevada-Las Vegas	Las Vegas, NV	~$7,000/yr (est.)
UNLV's MAT in secondary education is a licensure-first degree: students can hold a conditional Nevada teaching license after one semester and then finish the master's while teaching. Art Education is one of eight concentration areas, alongside English, math, science, social studies, and world languages. The university does not issue the license itself, since Nevada credentials teachers through the state department of education, so students track those requirements directly while the program posts plans of study through 2026-27. Master of Arts in Teaching Secondary Education — On-Campus Conditional Nevada teaching license possible after one semester Art Education is one of eight concentration areas Open to holders of a bachelor's degree outside education Nevada licenses teachers; students meet state requirements directly Plans of study posted through 2026-27 Visit Website
#6	Arkansas State University	Jonesboro, AR	$7,000 – $13,000/yr (est.)
Arkansas State publishes a flat price for its online MAT in Art K-12: $350 per credit, or $13,650 for the 39-credit degree with all fees included, and a $30 application fee. The internship is the one thing that cannot be done remotely, since it runs a full 15-week semester inside an approved Arkansas school. Students can finish in as few as 18 to 24 months, several start dates run through the year, and no prior teaching certification is needed to enter. Master of Arts in Teaching - Art K-12 Online — Online Fully online option $350 per credit, or $13,650 total for the 39-credit degree, fees included Fully online MAT with an Art K-12 concentration 15-week internship in an approved Arkansas school Finish in as few as 18 to 24 months Praxis Art Content Knowledge 5134 required, score of 145 CAEP-accredited licensure programs Applicants need a bachelor's degree and a 2.75 GPA $30 application fee; U.S. citizenship and background check required Visit Website
#7	Southern Arkansas University	Magnolia, AR	$5,000 – $10,000/yr (est.)
Southern Arkansas does not run a standalone art education master's; the Art and Design department instead directs students who want to teach in public schools toward the university's MAT after a BFA. The department's undergraduate degrees cover studio art, graphic design, game animation and simulation, and interactive media and marketing, and every BFA student takes drawing, painting, and art history. Graduate admission, credit hours, tuition, and start terms for the MAT sit with the School of Graduate Studies rather than the department. Master of Arts in Teaching — Online MAT follows a BFA in art Prepares art teachers for Arkansas public schools Department BFA options include studio art, graphic design, and game animation Graduate admission and tuition handled by the School of Graduate Studies Visit Website
#8	Utah State University	Logan, UT	$8,000 – $25,000/yr (est.)
Utah State offers an M.Ed. with a specialization in art through the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services, with the Department of Art and Design cooperating on the degree. That structure makes it an education-college credential rather than a studio-department MA, which suits teachers who want coursework in curriculum and instruction with an art focus. It is a campus-based program in Logan. Master of Education (MEd) with a specialization in art — On-Campus M.Ed. with a specialization in art Offered through the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services Department of Art and Design cooperates on the degree Campus-based in Logan, Utah Visit Website
#9	New Mexico Highlands University	Las Vegas, NM	~$8,000/yr (est.)
New Mexico Highlands folds art into a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction, where art is one of roughly 20 emphasis areas inside a 36-credit degree. The structure is 12 credits of core, 12 in the emphasis area, and 6 in research methodology, capped by a field project, thesis, or comprehensive exam, and the exam option trades the project for six approved elective credits. Applicants must hold a New Mexico teaching license or its equivalent, so this is a degree for practicing teachers rather than career changers. Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction — On-Campus 36 credit hours: 12 core, 12 emphasis, 6 research methodology Art is one of about 20 emphasis area options Capstone options: field project, thesis, or comprehensive exam Requires a New Mexico teaching license or the equivalent Courses offered fall, spring, and summer Applicants name their intended emphasis area Visit Website
#10	University of North Carolina Wilmington	Wilmington, NC	$8,000 – $24,000/yr (est.)
UNC Wilmington's MAT in Art Education runs 30 credit hours and can be finished in one year with a summer start or in 17 months beginning in spring, with part-time study available for working professionals. Courses are online and instructor-led, but field experiences and a full-time student teaching internship happen in North Carolina public schools under a mentor teacher and faculty supervisor. The Watson College works with 12 school districts in southeastern North Carolina, the curriculum aligns with National Art Education Association standards, and the university has added a combined art and art education bachelor's-to-master's pathway. Art Education, MAT, Master's — Hybrid 30 credit hours; one year with a summer start or 17 months from spring Online, instructor-led courses with field experiences in NC public schools Full-time student teaching internship in the final semester Cohort structure with full-time and part-time options Prepares for North Carolina K-12 art teaching licensure Watson College partners with 12 school districts in southeastern NC Curriculum aligned with National Art Education Association standards Visit Website

What Our Ranking Rewards, and Where the Data Runs Thin

A low sticker price and a strong earnings record rarely appear in the same program brochure, and the scores here are built to make that tension visible.

What the Score Rewards

Affordability carries real weight, but not on its own. Programs earn credit for keeping tuition within reach, for graduates who leave with modest federal debt, and for earnings that hold up after the degree. Completions count too: a program that gets its students to the degree is doing something right. Format availability rounds it out: online, hybrid, and on-campus routes are all treated as legitimate, so a working teacher is not penalized for needing asynchronous coursework.

Where the Numbers Thin Out

Two of the most quoted figures, graduation rate and net price, describe whole institutions rather than art education departments. They are useful context and imprecise evidence at the same time. Some programs also do not publish earnings or debt at the program level, which leaves their scores resting on cost and completions alone. Read a blank as unknown, not as a warning.

Verify These Three Directly

• Current tuition: published rates lag, and per-credit or cohort pricing can differ from the headline number on a program page.
• Program length: ask how many terms a part-time student actually needs once studio and practicum sequences are counted.
• Licensure outcome: if you want a teaching credential, ask where recent graduates were hired and which state licenses the program satisfies.

The scores narrow the field. A short call with an advisor settles the rest.

MA, Med, MAT, and Edm in Art Education: What the Labels Actually Change

Does an MEd in art education pay more than an MA, or lead to jobs an MAT or EdM cannot? National data don't support that claim. The labels are real, but they describe how a school structures its program far more than they sort graduates into different jobs.

What the labels usually signal

NCES describes the general split this way: an MA tends to emphasize advanced subject scholarship and research, while an MEd is more professionally oriented.¹ That is a general pattern, not a rule. NCES also warns that institutions may award different degrees for similar education programs, so two schools can put different labels on nearly identical coursework.

The MAT and EdM are less standardized still. The MAT is often built around initial certification, and the EdM is used by some universities in place of the MEd. Treat both as tendencies. Check each program's own curriculum description.

What federal data can and can't tell you

NCES classifies Art Teacher Education under CIP code 13.1302, but IPEDS generally reports a single master's award level and does not consistently separate these labels.² No national source we found isolates art educators by degree label, so there is no reliable salary premium, completion trend, or employer preference to cite for any one of them.

Broader figures give context only. NCES reports that 54% of teachers overall hold a master's as their highest degree, compared with 44% of career and technical education teachers.³ That says nothing about label, subject, state, or pay.

How to compare programs instead

Since the name alone settles little, check these:

• Licensure: Does the program lead to initial certification, or does it assume a current teaching license? Eligibility depends on state, grade level, and clinical preparation, not the degree title.
• Coursework mix: Look for studio work, research methods, and a capstone or thesis, and decide which fits your goals.
• Pay lane: Ask your district whether it credits any master's degree or only certain ones.
• Next steps: If you want doctoral study or museum and curriculum roles, a research-heavy MA may fit. If you want classroom practice, a professional MEd or MAT may.

The program's design and your state's rules will matter more than the letters on the diploma.

Can You Earn the Degree While Teaching Full Time?

A fully asynchronous online course and a hybrid program with a two-week summer studio are both pitched at working teachers, but they ask different things of your week. One fits around parent conferences and grading; the other asks you to protect specific dates on the calendar.

Many art education master's programs are built for practicing teachers, and the schools ranked here include fully online and hybrid formats. The practical question is not whether the degree can fit your job, but which delivery model fits the way you actually work.

Synchronous, asynchronous, and your weeknights

Asynchronous courses set deadlines but not class times, so you can read, post, and submit after dinner or on Sunday morning. Synchronous courses meet live at a fixed hour, which means blocking that time every week and protecting it from meetings, rehearsals, and family obligations. Many programs blend the two: asynchronous coursework plus occasional live critiques or advising calls. If your district schedule is unpredictable, lean toward asynchronous sections and confirm how often live attendance is required.

A realistic timeline

Part-time study typically runs about two to three years, though the pace depends on how many courses you take each term and whether summer sessions count toward the total. Ask each school how many credit hours the degree requires and whether transfer credits or prior graduate work can shorten the sequence.

Watch for studio and residency requirements

A program labeled fully online may still require a campus residency, summer studio intensive, practicum, or supervised teaching placement. Those obligations are manageable, but they are real. Check the schedule before you apply, especially if you teach in a district with a short summer break.

A pacing plan that survives the school year

Take one course per term during fall and spring, then add a second course in summer if the program allows it. This keeps heavy reading and critique weeks away from your busiest grading periods and uses the summer window when your daytime schedule opens up.

Tuition, Debt, and Earnings: What Art Education Graduates Get Back

One year of in-state graduate tuition at the schools below runs from $5,706 to $11,612. Districts set the payoff on their salary schedules: a mid-career move from the bachelor's lane to the master's lane is commonly worth about $5,000 to $7,000 a year (White Plains, NY paid first-year master's teachers $9,679 more in 2025-2026, and Massachusetts pays about $4,729 more in 2026-2027), so a teacher whose district recognizes the degree can often recover a year of in-state tuition in roughly one to two and a half years of higher pay. The earnings figures count every graduate of each program, including museum educators and others outside the classroom, while working teachers are paid by their district's step-and-lane schedule, so check that your program meets your district's credit and approval rules before you count on the raise.

What Teachers Earn at the Low, Middle, and High End of the Pay Range

The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not report art teachers as a separate group, so this chart shows May 2025 pay for high school teachers overall: the lowest 10 percent earned less than $48,780, the median was $72,040, and the top 10 percent earned more than $107,600. Middle school teachers show a similar spread ($48,080-$102,540, median $64,370), and kindergarten and elementary teachers earned a median of $63,820. A master's pay lane generally moves you up within this band, while experience, state, and your district's salary schedule account for most of the gap between the low and high ends.

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More Art Education Master's Programs to Consider

Beyond the programs profiled in the ranking above, a wider set of art education master's degrees serves working teachers and career changers. The directory below lists each program by location, delivery format, and any tuition details the school publishes. Entries are not ranked against one another.